Jollibee ramps up shift to renewable energy

The Jollibee Group is ramping up its sustainability efforts this year with plans to bolster further the shift of its stores and manufacturing facilities to renewable energy.

With energy efficiency one of the major focus areas under the group’s sustainability agenda, Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) has been implementing several energy-saving measures in its stores and commissaries.

JFC said the company would continue increasing the total number of solar-paneled stores to 64 this year, on top of solar installations in its facilities.

Last January, the company launched its most extensive solar panel installation by operating 6,300 solar panels in its Canlubang Baking Facility in Laguna.

JFC said the group’s supply chain will mark another milestone by solarizing its two remaining sites, C3 and Jollibee Worldwide Services Logistics, by the second quarter of 2024.

“To continuously contribute to the company’s growing sustainable business practices, these manufacturing and logistics sites are targeting to improve its energy reduction further by the end of the year, following their achievement of a 28.2 percent reduction in energy use ratio in 2023,” JFC said.

Under the Jollibee Group’s sustainability agenda called “Joy for Tomorrow,” the company has set reduction goals and initiatives that are aligned with and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly “Affordable and Clean Energy” and “Responsible Consumption and Production.”

Over 4,700 stores and facilities of the Jollibee Group from the Philippines, China, North America, Europe, Middle East and Asia turned their lights off on Earth Hour last March 23 in solidarity with over 190 countries to raise awareness about the environmental impact on the planet of climate change.

“We believe that all actions count in helping ensure a sustainable future. While participating in Earth Hour starts with turning off the lights, it serves a bigger purpose of being a visible and important reminder that we can take deliberate steps to make a profound difference on the planet,” Jollibee Group chief sustainability and public affairs officer Pepot Miñana Jr. said.

JFC has a store network of 6,887 worldwide as of end-January – 3,332 in the Philippines and 3,555 overseas.

It operates 556 in China, 387 in North America, 344 in EMEA, 786 with Highlands Coffee mainly in Vietnam, 1,168 with CBTL and 314 with Milksha.

Its largest brands by store outlets worldwide are Jollibee with 1,668, CBTL with 1,168, Highlands Coffee with 786, Chowking with 614 and Mang Inasal with 572.