The Artico Cold Chain of AyalaLand Logistics Holdings Corp. (ALLHC) said it wants to secure major green certification in the next three years as it implements the use of renewable energy projects in its operations.
Robert S. Lao, president and CEO of ALLHC said the company is trying to certify all of its facilities by 2028 as it aspires to become a national cold chain operator that supports both communities and climate goals.
‘Artico’s sustainability initiatives such as the EDGE [Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies] Advanced certification and renewable energy transition are testament to our commitment to building facilities that are not only reliable but also environmentally responsible,’ Lao said.
Artico said its sustainability efforts is aligned with its parent firm Ayala Land Inc.’s medium-term goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.
The company currently has a network of seven sites located in Laguna, Cebu, Pampanga, Batangas, Pangasinan and Iloilo.
It has a total capacity of 31,500 pallet positions, and the company said its facilities provide scalable services for industries ranging from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals and industrial products.
According to International Finance Corp.’s (IFC) estimates, the market for cold chain is expected to reach $160 billion in annual investment by 2050 in emerging markets.
Artico Biñan 1 has been awarded an EDGE Advanced certification by certifier Philippine Green Building Initiative.
EDGE Advanced is the second level of the EDGE standard, which means the cold storage facility has met the 40 percent energy efficiency threshold.
The said certification of the IFC, the private sector unit of the World Bank, is a green building certification that quantifies and independently verifies a building’s resource efficiency and low-carbon operations.
According to the assessment report, the facility’s resource-efficient design is expected to deliver 55 percent savings in energy, 26 percent savings in water and a 96 percent reduction in embodied carbon of materials compared to a local baseline.
‘Achieving EDGE Advanced certification positions Artico at the forefront of sustainable cold storage,’ Amena Arif, country manager of IFC Philippines, said.
‘It demonstrates how Philippine logistics facilities can meet global standards for operational efficiency, net-zero readiness, and environmental stewardship.’
By achieving this milestone, Artico Biñan 1 has demonstrated its net-zero readiness. The facility already operates using net-zero emission clean energy, positioning it as an Edge Zero Carbon-ready project committed to securing the more advanced zero carbon.
Artico Mandaue and Artico Biñan 2 are already operating under the Green Energy Option Program (GEOP), which aims to use of 100 renewable energy in its operations.