Pilmico promotes sustainability through upcycled flour sacks

Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) has been in the flour manufacturing industry for 60 years. Aside from its high-grade quality flour, Pilmico is also known for its brightly colored flour sacks made with katcha, which helps maintain the quality of the products.

Throughout the years, Pilmico puts used sacks from its dealers and partner bakeries into better use as they partnered with several non-profit organizations and sewing cooperatives to upcycle these for various corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. 

Kutitap Care Package

Pilmico’s Kutitap Care Package with pieces of bread and eggs was distributed to beneficiaries in Tarlac. 

The ‘Kutitap Care Package’ is a spin-off of the annual Kutitap Feeding Program previously held by Pilmico and KINDER by Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (AFI). In 2021, students from Bueno Integrated School in Capas and Malasa Integrated School in Bambam, Tarlac received freshly baked bread and eggs. Thirteen pieces of bread from Pilmico’s partner bakery, Norms Chaves of Norlyn’s Bakery, and 12 large eggs from Pilmico farms were packed in upcycled Pilmico flour sacks. The sacks were turned into multi-purpose drawstring bags for the students to use for school or for their everyday needs.

Reusable Face Masks 

Pilmico tapped seamstress cooperatives and Mask4AllPH to produce over 210,000 reusable face masks which were distributed to various communities. 

The height of the pandemic also saw the strong ‘Bayanihan’ spirit from various sectors. For Pilmico, they partnered with seamstress cooperatives and Mask4AllPH, a volunteer organization that distributed free facemasks.

In 2020, Pilmico tapped 30 seamstresses in Taguig and Cebu City to make upcycled reusable face masks. The initiative produced over 50,000 face masks that were distributed to Pilmico customers, employees, and partner communities. 

Aside from this, Pilmico turned over 23,000 pieces of flour sacks which were upcycled into 160,000 reusable face masks through the Mask4AllPH initiative.

The project ensured the masks passed all the standards that the Philippine General Hospital recommended.

CORA Philippines Partnership 

Pilmico’s Sun Moon Star bread flour sack is turned into a drawstring bag, face mask, and tote bag. 

In July 2021, Pilmico collaborated with Aboitiz Foundation and CORA Philippines, a non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable programs. The enterprise and development initiative aims to upcycle used Pilmico flour sacks through the help of CORA. The program’s objectives are to provide capacity and skills training to the target beneficiaries and equip them with sustainable and long-term livelihoods within their communities. 

Pilmico puts primary focus on maintaining the highest standards for its products, especially flour, through the use of quality packaging. At the same time, by upcycling these sacks, they fulfill a greater purpose of contributing to sustainability.