Jollibee Group partners with Nutricycle to convert food waste into fertiliser for farmers

The Jollibee Group has partnered with Nutricycle to transform food waste from its operations into organic fertiliser, aiming to highlight the company's environmental commitments while supporting small-scale Filipino farmers.

The initiative, launched earlier this year and set to run through the end of 2025, is expected to divert more than 1,570 metric tonnes of food waste from landfill. Using Nutricycle's specialised waste management system—featuring black soldier fly larvae to break down organic material—the programme will produce an estimated 480 to 960 bags of fertiliser annually.

Half of the fertiliser output will be distributed to local farmers through the Jollibee Group Foundation's Farmer Entrepreneurship Programme (FEP), while the remaining half will be turned over to the department of environment and natural resources (DENR) Calabarzon to aid the national greening programme.

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"This partnership is part of our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint while finding meaningful ways to support our communities," said Pepot Minana, global chief sustainability officer of Jollibee Group. "By integrating circular economy solutions into our supply chain, we aim to create a lasting impact—not just for our business, but for the environment and the people we serve."

The FEP has long served as a platform to help smallholder farmers gain access to training, markets, and the business skills needed to supply large institutions such as the Jollibee Group.

Food waste not fit for consumption will be collected from Jollibee's facilities and channelled through Nutricycle's black soldier fly-based treatment system. The resulting fertiliser will then be used to enrich soil for crops—including those that may eventually end up back in the Jollibee Group's supply chain—further reinforcing the circular economy model.

"We are excited to collaborate with Jollibee Group in pioneering sustainable waste solutions," said Dino Simbulan (pictured, second from right), president of Nutricycle. "With their scale and commitment to sustainability, this partnership sets a strong example for how companies can take proactive steps toward environmental responsibility."

The food giant's waste-to-fertiliser partnership builds on a growing list of environmental initiatives under its Joy for Tomorrow sustainability agenda. One such effort includes Mang Inasal's Marilao commissary achieving zero waste-to-landfill status, as well as notable progress in shifting more waste toward sustainable disposal—up from 24% in 2020 to 62.5% by the end of 2024.

The company also reported a 44% cumulative reduction in food loss and waste across its Philippine manufacturing operations from 2020 to 2024—even as production volumes increased.

Beyond waste management, Jollibee's sustainability strategy includes responsible sourcing, improved energy efficiency, and community empowerment. The Jollibee Group operates over 9,500 stores across 32 countries under 19 brands, including well-known names such as Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Tim Ho Wan, and Smashburger.

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