(Front, L-R: ECCP Vice President Dr. Diana Edralin; IFEX Philippines Project Director Rowena Mendoza; DENR-EMB OIC Asst. Director Engr. Esperanza A. Sajul; EU Head of Cooperation Marco Gemmer; Deputy Head of Mission of the Finnish Embassy in the Philippines Veera Kaarela, and Economic Counsellor of the German Embassy in the Philippines Dr. David Klebs pose with delegates during the SSX Conference opening ceremony.)

Aiming to develop a sustainable Philippine food industry, the European Union (EU) and the Department of Trade and Industry’s Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) gathered leading entrepreneurs, policymakers, and advocates at the Sustainability Solutions Exchange (SSX) Exhibition and Conference, a trade platform for green practices and resources.

SSX debuted as a physical event during the recent International Food Exhibition (IFEX) at the World Trade Center Metro Manila, Pasay City. It featured three major components–an Exhibition, a Conference, and Pitching sessions.

Leaders share vision for green practices, partnerships

During the Conference’s opening ceremony, Philippine and European officials underscored the urgency of adopting greener business practices. CITEM Executive Director Leah Pulido Ocampo emphasized the “pressing need” to innovate how food is produced, packaged and consumed in the Philippines. For her part, DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque highlighted the Philippines’ active pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal  (SDG) 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production under the Bagong Pilipinas Agenda.

Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines Dr. Marco Gemmer reiterated the EU’s strategic focus on ethical and sustainable practices as a foundation for EU investments, and presented the EU-Philippine Green Economy Platform, a collaborative space for Philippine and European policy makers and businesses accessible at greeneconomy.ph. Deputy Head of Mission of the Finnish Embassy Veera Kaarela spotlighted strategic investments aimed at nurturing a sustainable green economy in the Philippines through its Green Transition Investment Programme. Then, Economic Counsellor of the German Embassy in the Philippines Dr. David Klebs underlined the German contribution towards creating strong policies and building important partnerships with key government agencies in the Philippines.

Vice President of European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) Dr. Diana Edralin argued that sustainability is “no longer a choice but an imperative,” citing the risks of environmental degradation and market instability. She also highlighted the European Chamber’s role as a “bridge” connecting investors and government partners to achieve a climate-resilient and resource-efficient economy.

United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran presented the 2023 Agenda for Sustainable Development, spotlighting the shared blueprint for achieving SDG goals and targets, and stressing the importance of recycling, particularly of residual waste, to accelerate the Philippines’ attainment of SDG’s and achievement of a circular economy.

Conference drives dialogue, action toward a greener Philippines

The SSX Conference consisted of sessions led by local and international experts, tackling issues within the Philippine food industry such as high levels of food loss along fragmented supply chains, the continued use of single-use plastics, e-smart food systems, ethical consumption, and the growing need for sustainability-certified products. Panelists explored strategies and solutions, focusing on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME’s) to adopt green technologies, promoting stronger policy support for the private sector, and aligning practices with international sustainability standards to remain competitive in the global market.

CITEM delivers innovative Exhibition, fosters connections

(Center: A jeep designed by Filipino manufacturer Francisco Motors is displayed at the SSX Exhibit.)

The SSX Exhibition within IFEX Philippines housed diverse exhibitors in two zones–the “Sustainable Solutions and Incubators” for suppliers and solutions providers, and “The Marketplace” for organic and eco-friendly products. A Green Pavilion, showcasing sustainable products from local businesses and encouraging the adoption of circular solutions, bridged these zones. It also hosted the EU-supported SSX Pavilion Booth named “A Taste of Greenovation,” a collection of green businesses and eco-startups whose products and solutions are tailored to Filipino homes and lifestyles. The booth featured social enterprises that platform local farmers, food waste solutions, circular business and nature solutions.

The SSX Pitching sessions connected solutions providers with food manufacturers and producers to facilitate collaboration.

Organized by CITEM, SSX 2025 was co-presented by the EU with the support of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Expertise France, and the Global Green Growth Institute under the EU-Philippine Green Economy Partnership. The German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action also co-presented the event, demonstrating a shared commitment to a sustainable future.

Stay tuned for updates on activities under the EU-Philippine Green Economy Partnership at greeneconomy.ph. For more information on SSX and other Filipino sustainability endeavours, please visit sustainability.ph.