Jollibee hits sustainability milestone with PH’s first LEED-certified store

Editor’s note: This press release is sponsored by Jollibee and was handled by BrandRap, the sales and marketing arm of Rappler. No member of the news and editorial team participated in the publishing of this piece.

Jollibee Philippines is stepping up its sustainability efforts by embedding energy- and water-efficient technologies across its store network, highlighted by a milestone in Enrile, Tuguegarao City. Jollibee opened the country’s first quick service restaurant in the town of Enrile to earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) O+M certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, a globally recognized standard for environmentally responsible buildings.

LEED O+M, which stands for Operations and Maintenance, evaluates how existing buildings are run on a day-to-day basis, covering energy and water efficiency, waste management, and indoor environmental quality. This means the recognition goes beyond design, highlighting how the restaurant consistently operates with sustainability in practice.

The development positions Jollibee among the early adopters of operations-driven sustainability in the local fast food industry, setting a benchmark for smarter, more efficient restaurant management that delivers both cost savings and long-term environmental impact.

As businesses face rising electricity costs and growing climate concerns, the company said it is moving beyond compliance by integrating sustainability into how its stores are designed, built, and operated.

“Sustainability is not treated as a separate program. It is built into how we design, build, and operate every store so we can continue bringing joy to Filipino families while caring for the future,” said Jollibee Philippines president Ferns Yu. “Each store reflects that responsibility and supports the communities we serve.”

A first in Philippine QSR

Opened in November 2024, the Enrile branch was designed and built with sustainability features that were subsequently validated and certified under the LEED program, which measures a building’s performance in energy use, water efficiency, and overall environmental impact. This certification marks a first for the quick service restaurant sector in the Philippines.

The store incorporates rooftop solar panels that can reduce electricity consumption by up to 30 percent, along with solar water heating systems for kitchen operations. It also uses solar window films to minimize indoor heat and reduce air conditioning demand, as well as high-efficiency motors and LED lighting.

Water conservation features are integrated into daily operations, including motion-sensor faucets, a rainwater harvesting system, and an on-site wastewater treatment facility that allows water to be reused for cleaning and maintenance.

These initiatives are part of the Jollibee Group’s Joy for Tomorrow program, which promotes sustainability across food, people, and planet. The company said it plans to expand the use of energy- and water-efficient systems in more stores nationwide.

By embedding sustainability into its core operations, Jollibee is positioning itself to address environmental challenges while supporting long-term business growth.

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