Local Brand Makes Sabon Refilling Possible

Local Brand Makes Sabon Refilling Possible

There is a global call from environment advocates to urge multinational companies and leading consumer goods brands to lessen the use of plastics in their product packaging by refilling. It is yet to happen.

However, a local brand called SABON EXPRESS. has joined the global reuse and refill revolution to spur a transition to a plastic-free future. Its founder and Chairman, Mellany Zambrano, believes it is time to shift consumer behavior and habits when buying household products.

SABON EXPRESS, an innovative consumer goods brand and franchisable store chain, is paving the way for locally manufactured liquid soaps and detergents to have a strong foothold in the market with its first-of-its-kind mechanized and automated ‘sabon’ refilling stations that allow consumers to have a refill of highly essential and consumable household products like dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, liquid hand soap, car shampoo, reusing their own bottles and containers – in a hygienic way.

SABON EXPRESS dubbed as The Refill Authority is trailblazing a more appropriate way of sabon refilling – one that does not require the ‘tindera” to use “tabo” or dipper to fetch products from the drum to manually refill bottles, which is a current practice of most local sabon refilling stores in the country. Said manual process potentially contaminates products and makes refilling messy and unhygienic. Sabon Express launched its liquid soap dispensing unit at the Zero Waste Bazaar in Uptown Mall BGC Taguig last July 18-21 – as the first and only automated and hygienic sabon refilling station in the country.

The Zero Waste Bazaar is celebrating Plastic-Free July, a collaborative event of Ecowaste Coalition of the Philippines, Greenpeace Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation, Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Health Care Without Harm together with Break Free from Plastic, Oceana Philippines International, and Megaworld Lifestyle Malls. It showcased a photo exhibit and bazaar featuring art and eco-friendly stores to make plastic-free Pilipinas a reality.

Mellany Zambrano

Sabon Express founder and Chairman, Mellany Zambrano

SABON EXPRESS strongly advocates for “a world with less plastic” by promoting the reuse of plastic containers for household products via its conceptual and innovative hygienic ‘sabon’ refill dispensing unit in all its stores which comes in both manual and automated machines – a game changer in the local ‘sabon’ refilling industry.

With a vision to serve the country’s increasingly demanding market at scale, Sabon Express is committed to continuous research and development. It is being assisted by the Department of Science and Technology’s Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) for further product development, technical advancement, and good manufacturing technology and processes.

“At Sabon Express, we are always looking for ways to innovate in order to serve our consumers better and to help save the environment in our own little way because our business is advocacy-driven”, says Mellany Zambrano.

Open for Franchise, Distribution, And Reselling

Sabon Express Refilling Station

Sabon Express Refilling Station

Among the signature products of Sabon Express are the Deesh dishwashing liquid, Lanza fabric conditioner, Hush hand soap, Savonex multipurpose cleaner, SoFresh washing machine tub cleaner, Glim glass cleaner, Switch liquid detergent, Vorox toilet care, and CarZ car care.

Sabon Express ALL-IN franchise+ package is worth P388,000 which includes a Sabon refill dispensing machine, store fabrication and installation, display racks and counter table, store signages, and P50,000 worth of initial product inventory, product marketing/sales training, and more.

For franchise, distribution, and reselling inquiries, call Sabon Express hotlines: 0919-0967602/0970-5614670/0965-6912553 or visit their office at 1023 10th Floor, City & Land Mega Plaza, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City.

DigiCon 2022 Set to Highlight the Startup Economy

DigiCon 2022 Set to Highlight the Startup Economy

The Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) has finally unveiled this year’s theme for the biggest and most anticipated Digital conference in the country.

DigiCon Valley 2022 will tackle the landscape of digital marketing transformation with brands, advertising professionals, and business leaders to celebrate innovation, problem-solving, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Philippine firms. Happening from October 10-14 from 9 AM to 1 PM PST, official delegates will be able to learn from four all-new tracks that tackle the different stages of innovation: Launchpad, Hypergrowth, Breakthrough, and Enterprise.

This year’s theme is an allude to the Gobi-Core Philippine Fund Ecosystem Report of 2021 which perceived that the growing startup scene in the country is ripe for it to finally become a key player in the technology sphere, in relation to its ASEAN counterparts.

The future for development and expansion is projected with optimism as logistics, e-commerce, and fintech sectors continue to rise locally, especially in a post-pandemic economy. It is expected that Philippine firms will raise more investments in the next three years versus the past five years combined.

Leading 100 speakers across the 65 sessions of the 5-day event, keynote Speakers include world-renowned marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in the world and founder of the Huffington Post, Ariana Huffington; and the co-founder of Character Ventures and the inventor of the Design Sprint, Jake Knapp. More internationally-acclaimed speakers and guests are set to be announced soon.

After two years of virtual connections, DigiCon Valley 2022 is finally bringing back face-to-face networking through DigiCon After-hours. Held between 6-9 PM on select evenings across the city, major sponsors will host physical gatherings which promise to provide cocktails, entertainment, and speed networking, allowing delegates to reconnect with others in the industry.

Tickets are now available for purchase with the early bird discount of 40% off in limited supply. For more information and updates on DigiCon Valley 2022, visit www.digicon.com.ph and follow their social pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 is co-presented by Angkas, and would like to thank Platinum sponsor Manulife Philippines and Tiktok; Gold Sponsor Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government; and Silver Sponsor, Hepmil Philippines.

RHC Builders Warehouse Opens its 6TH Branch in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan

RHC Builders Warehouse Opens its 6TH Branch in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan

RHC Builders Warehouse, one of Luzon’s most prominent one-stop building and construction shops, opens its 6th and newest branch in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.

The newest addition to the growing number of RHC Builders Warehouse in Luzon is also the home of some of the brands under The Racal Group of Companies. RHC Builders Warehouse aspires to serve not only its corporate clients but also the residents living in the vicinity.

Staying true to its tagline “You Build, We Provide,” RHC Builders Warehouse ensures that its one-stop-shop will provide its consumers with brands from both local and international markets.

For more information, visit RCH Builders’ Website at http://ourbuilderswarehouse.com.ph or its Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/rhcbuilderswarehouse.

Emma by AXA PH: Your partner for health and financial wellness

Emma by AXA PH: Your partner for health and financial wellness

In life, support comes in different forms. It may be from our loved ones, from things that bring us comfort, and even from tools that make our lives easier. One such tool is Emma by AXA PH, an app by leading insurance provider AXA Philippines. Emma aims to be your dedicated partner in digital health and financial wellness.

Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines

Rahul Hora, President, and CEO of AXA Philippines

“Emma by AXA PH was designed to make every Filipino’s health and financial journey convenient and that much easier to achieve. It provides instant access to various health and financial products and services all in one app, always ready whenever they may be needed,” said Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines President and CEO.

The award-winning app, which has won Mobile App of the Year at the Insurance Asia Awards 2021, has features that help policyholders conveniently update their plans to match their life goals and needs. Tasks like paying their premiums, topping up their investment, viewing and changing their beneficiary, changing their payment method, filing of claims, and plan reinstatement, can all be done via Emma.

Aside from empowering AXA customers to do their AXA transactions on the app safely and conveniently, the Emma by AXA PH app also offers access to its AXA Rescue Line feature. Rescue Line allows users, both AXA customers and non-customers alike, access to 24/7 emergency assistance, including police, fire, ambulance, and roadside assistance. The app also allows users to contact their loved ones in case of emergencies quickly, letting them list up to three emergency contacts on the app.

Moreover, AXA customers can easily accomplish other essential transactions on the app, such as accessing their ePolicy, avail of medical teleconsultation, and accessing their Global Health Access or Health Care Access eCard.

Downloading the app is free, with a quick and simple registration process. But the app doesn’t only serve to benefit individual users, but the community as well. Just recently, AXA partnered with Communities Organized for Resource Allocation (CORA) for the “Adopt a Mangrove Seedling” promo wherein for the first 2,000 app registrations, AXA Philippines, through AXA Hearts in Action, lets customers adopt a mangrove to help the environment. Watch out for more initiatives like this when you download the Emma by AXA PH app.

Emma by AXA PH can be downloaded on Google Play or App Store. It can also be accessed via the web. For more information, visit  https://www.axa.com.ph/emma.

Holcim Philippines partners with Build Change for disaster-resilient construction

Holcim Philippines partners with Build Change for disaster-resilient construction

As part of its commitment to help advance progress in the country, leading building solutions provider Holcim Philippines, Inc. is proud to partner with Build Change Philippines, an organization focused on building disaster-resilient homes in developing nations, to strengthen local structures against natural calamities.

Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zoe Sibala and Build Change Philippines Country Director Arnel Capili sealed the partnership on May 11 to work on disaster-resilient housing projects and advocate this approach among stakeholders. The parties agreed to work together to initially support areas impacted by super Typhoon Odette in 2021.

From right are Build Change Philippines Program Officer Marvin Daryl Riego, Country Director Arnel Capili, Holcim Philippines Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Zoe Sibala, and Vice President for Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Cara Ramirez during the signing activity of the partnership for disaster-resilient construction on May 11.

The partners will collaborate on possible projects to build or retrofit houses, schools, and evacuation centers for disaster resilience and capacity-building through training and advocacy of policies or financing strategies to key stakeholders. Finally, both organizations are committed to developing a scalable affordable housing program in collaboration with other key stakeholders like microfinance institutions to increase access to affordable, disaster-resilient homes, particularly for the more vulnerable segments of society.

Capili highlighted the importance of making structures more resilient in the Philippines given its vulnerability to natural disasters such as earthquakes and storms since the country is within the Pacific Ring of Fire and the typhoon belt. He added that climate change further heightens these threats as it intensifies extreme weather around the world.

“The advocacy of Build Change is to build resilient houses and provide Filipinos a safe space when these disasters come. This partnership will help make that come true. This will be as solid as Holcim cement, durable as Build Change house, and as lasting as the friendship and camaraderie that we will forge with Holcim Philippines,” he said.

Sibala, meanwhile, noted the relevance of the partnership to the Company’s commitment to building inclusive progress in the country.

“Owning a home remains an elusive dream for many Filipinos. Build Change has been paving the way for increased access to affordable, decent, and resilient homes in the country so we are happy to complement this effort. This partnership also demonstrates that we can deliver business value while addressing social issues and the key to this is a credible partner with a strong track record. Through our innovative and sustainable building solutions, and with the right products for the right applications we look to help Build Change in its mission of building more resilient homes and realize our vision of building greener, smarter, and for all,” she said.

Holcim Philippines Vice President and Head of Communications and Corporate Social Responsibility Cara Ramirez, meanwhile, noted that the partnership strengthens the company’s support for communities to be more disaster resilient having done such projects for survivors of Typhoon Pablo in Compostella Valley and neighbors of its Davao Plant living in flood-prone areas.

“This supports our commitment to building progress in the Philippines by contributing to making homes more resilient against extreme weather and natural disasters caused by climate change Doing so allows us to contribute to sustainable development as the lives and property of our countrymen are better protected,” she added.

Build Change has worked in the Philippines since Typhoon Yolanda in 2013. During this period, it has supported both post-disaster reconstructions and works to prevent housing loss against future disasters. Among its accomplishments is the construction of over 2,000 safer buildings for 40,000 people, training of over 4,700 individuals in safe construction practices, creation of 560 jobs, and expansion of its network of partners in local government, the business sector for greater impact.

About Holcim Philippines

Holcim Philippines, Inc. (Philippine Stock Exchange: HLCM) is one of the leading building solution companies in the country. The Company has a deep portfolio of innovative solutions fostered by a full range of products from structuring to finishing applications that can help local builders execute with high performance and efficiency a wide range of projects from massive infrastructure to simple home repairs.

With cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental, and Davao, as well as aggregates and dry mix business and technical support facilities for building solutions, Holcim Philippines is a reliable partner for builders in the country.

Holcim Philippines is also committed to the highest standards of sustainable operations and manufacturing excellence with its plants certified under ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System), and OHSAS 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System).

Holcim Philippines is a member of the Holcim Group, the world leader in the building materials industry present in 70 countries with over 70,000 employees.

About Holcim

Holcim builds progress for people and the planet. As a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions, Holcim is enabling greener cities, smarter infrastructure, and improving living standards around the world. With sustainability at the core of its strategy, Holcim is becoming a net-zero company, with its people and communities at the heart of its success. The company is driving circular construction as a world leader in recycling to build more with less. Holcim is the company behind some of the world’s most trusted brands in the building sector including ACC, Aggregate Industries, Ambuja Cement, Disensa, Firestone Building Products, Geocycle, Holcim, Lafarge, and Malarkey Roofing Products. Holcim is 70,000 people around the world who are passionate about building progress for people and the planet through four business segments: Cement, Ready-Mix Concrete, Aggregates, and Solutions & Products.

Learn more about Holcim at www.holcim.com, and by following us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Scan to tip: GCash QR for tipping at Bench Fix Salon

Scan to tip: GCash QR for tipping at Bench Fix Salon

Filipinos working in the personal care service industry were among the severely affected by the numerous lockdowns due to the pandemic.

To support and help personal care services workers bounce back as we move toward the new normal, GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet has partnered with Bench Fix Salon to roll out tipping via GCash QR Code in all Bench Fix Salon branches nationwide.

Say thanks to your Bench Fix stylist by sending tips via GCash QR code

With this, customers can now show thanks by giving tips to stylists and other workers safely, quickly, and conveniently by simply scanning the GCash QR code at the back of the employees’ company IDs.

“We want to support our personal care services workers, many of whom were affected by the pandemic. As restrictions ease and the economy recovers, we’d like to provide them with innovative solutions such as this to make their lives easier and better every day,” said GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon.

Bryan Lim, VP for Business Development of Bench Fix Salon adds, “Personal care professionals were among those badly affected by the health crisis. We’re happy to have a partner in GCash which has made tipping so much easier for both our employees and customers. With the GCash QR code, our valued customers can now have a contactless way to reward good service.”

Don’t have GCash yet? You can download the GCash App for free on the Google Play Store for Android, the App Store for iPhone and iPad users, or Huawei Gallery. Funding a GCash account is easy and can be done through multiple cash-in kiosks in partner stores like Globe Stores, Ministop, 7-Eleven, Alfamart, and Villarica Pawnshop and supermarkets including Puregold, Robinsons Supermarkets, and SM Markets.

For more information, visit https://www.gcash.com/business.

About GCash

GCash (G-Xchange, Inc.) is the #1 Financial App in the Philippines. Through the GCash App, customers can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills at over 1.3k partner billers; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 4.5M partner merchants and social sellers; cash-in and cash-out at over 170k partner agents; and get access to savings, credit, insurance and invest money all at the convenience of their smartphones. GCash is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt (Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.).

GCash was recognized by The Asian Banker (TAB) and by the IDC in 2021 for its outstanding digital financial inclusion programs impacting more than 55 million Filipinos in the country today.

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