The country’s very first plant billboard was unveiled by

Coca-Cola Philippines and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) on June 23. It represents the long-standing partnership between the two organizations and their common goal of making a positive difference for the benefit of the environment. The billboard is perched on top of the Adriano Building, between Buendia and Kalayaan Avenues in Makati City.

The partnership is part of Coca-Cola Philippines’ Live Positively sustainability program and covers the areas of water stewardship and climate protection.

The 60 x 60 feet plant billboard uses a thriving species of Fukien tea plant, which absorbs air pollutants. Botanist Anthony Gao said each plant can absorb on average up to 13 pounds of carbon dioxide in a year. “This billboard helps alleviate air pollution within its proximate areas as it can absorb a total of 46,800 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, on estimate,” said Gao.

Earth-friendly recyclable materials were also used for the overall make-up of the billboard. Some 3,600 pots were used by recycling old bottles of various Coca-Cola products. These bottles were filled with a potting that is stable and light-weight. It is a combination of industrial by-products and organic fertilizers. These bottles are designed to hold the plants securely and allow them to grow sideways. The pots were riddled with holes for proper drainage and for holding the drip lines in place.

A trickle irrigation or micro-irrigation system was installed for an efficient water distribution. This saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing and emitters. The system is operated on a schedule to provide the plants with what they need at the time they need it.

With all the eco-friendly mechanism it employs and the relevant advocacy it stands for, this innovative advertisement is a salient reminder for Filipinos to take an active hand in protecting and saving the environment.

“We are proud that we have brought to life the first plant billboard in the country. It is an embodiment of our company’s Live Positively commitment to making a positive difference in the world by incorporating sustainability into everything that we do. With this, we hope to inspire Filipinos to join us in our journey, because we know that together, we can make a positive impact,” said Guillermo Aponte, President of Coca-Cola Philippines.