Got an empty water bottle or soda can? At BPI’s Buendia Center in Makati, that piece of trash could earn you rewards points.
BPI Reverse Vending Machine | Photo: BPI
The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) has just made history as the first bank in the country to install a Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) right in the workplace as part of its new Turn Waste Into Points program. The goal is to make recycling simple, convenient, and even rewarding for employees and guests.
Located at The Fifth in BPI Buendia Center (BBC), the RVM accepts clean, empty PET bottles and aluminum cans (labels intact) and converts them into BPI Rewards Points redeemable through the VYBE by BPI app.
“This initiative is a reflection of how we walk the talk when it comes to sustainability,” said Cathy Santamaria, BPI’s chief customer and marketing officer. “We are encouraging every BPI employee and guest to make recycling a habit—by making it simple, convenient, and rewarding.”
How it works
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Drop your clean PET bottles or aluminum cans into the machine.
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The RVM credits you with BPI Rewards Points.
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Use your points for vouchers and other perks via VYBE.
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Collected items are sold to recycling facilities and upcycled into products like t-shirts, eco-bricks, chairs, and tables.
The machine, supplied by Spurway Enterprises, supports BPI’s waste management program while promoting the circular economy, keeping materials in use and out of landfills.
Why it matters
PET bottle waste at BBC alone averages 20 kilograms a month. That’s around 500 half-liter bottles, each taking 450 to 1,000 years to decompose. By diverting even part of that waste stream, BPI is reducing its environmental footprint while showing employees that small actions can create a big impact.
The “Turn Waste Into Points” campaign runs until September 24, 2025, but BPI says it’s part of a long-term commitment to sustainability. By combining technology, incentives, and environmental responsibility, the bank is proving that green habits can be part of everyday corporate culture.
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So the next time you finish your drink at the office? Don’t toss that bottle—turn it into points.
What are your thoughts on BPI’s reverse vending machine?
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