Coke and WWF Green the Philippines with “Living Billboard”

Big-name brands are loathe to be accused of greenwashing these days, but Coca-Cola is proud of its commitment to sustainability.

That's why Coca-Cola Philippines and the World Wildlife Fund have teamed up to create a billboard there totally made up of plants that will suck air pollutants from the surrounding environment.

The 60x60 billboard is covered with thousands of Fukien tea plants with a Coke-bottle-shaped space in the middle surrounded by the words, "This billboard absorbs air pollutants."

The 3,600 plants are in pots made from recycled Coca-Cola bottles. Organic fertilizers are in use, of course, and an innovative drip-irrigation system.

 “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 Anthony Gao, a botanist who worked with Coca-Cola and WWF, according to the Philippine Star.

The Philippines are in an active battle against air pollution. The Star recently reported that the government is actively encouraging people to use electric tricycles in urban areas. 

Coca-Cola and the WWF have been partners against grime (and pro-green) for some time now.

“This (billboard) innovative contribution to the greening of the environment is a salient reminder for Filipinos to take an active hand in protecting and saving Mother Earth,” said Guillermo Aponte, President of Coca-Cola Philippines, according to the Star. “It’s an embodiment of our pledge to protect and preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth and the health of our ecological systems,” he said.