The Okada Manila casino resort in the Philippine capital says it is adopting a “comprehensive plant-based food policy”, having committed to “making 30 percent of menu offerings” across all of the complex’s dining outlets, plant-based “by 2028”.
“This pledge covers the resort’s extensive culinary operations, which serve nearly 20,000 guests daily … and support nearly 10,000 employees,” stated the resort in an August 26 press release.
“The transition will begin with the employee cafeteria, which serves thousands of team members daily, before expanding to all dining outlets,” it observed.
The effort is being done with the support from the Lever Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, as per the announcement.
“When we started talking about setting a 30-percent plant-based goal by 2028, it came from a simple place: care,” said Andreas Balla, vice president for food and beverage at Okada Manila, in prepared remarks.
He added: “We care about our guests, our team, and the kind of future we’re helping shape. This isn’t just a menu change, it’s a step toward something better, and something we believe in.”
The update cited Marielle Lagulay, sustainability programme manager at the Lever Foundation, as saying: “This commitment is more than a policy; it’s people choosing to do better when given the chance. In a place as iconic as Okada Manila, that’s a hopeful sign of where we’re headed.”
The latest initiative is said to complement the casino resort’s existing sustainability programmes under its “Okada Green Heart” initiative. Those include eliminating single-use plastics, redistributing surplus food, sourcing ingredients locally and ethically, and supporting community gardens and biodiversity restoration.
Last week, the Winford Resort & Casino Manila also pledged to make 30 percent of all its menu offerings plant-based “by early next year”.
This initiative, commended by the Lever Foundation, is said to support Winford Resort’s “broader sustainability framework,” which aims to reduce “food waste, carbon emissions, and water use,” while “promoting responsible sourcing, and providing healthier dining options”.
A recent survey by Tokyo-based GMO Research found that 85 percent of Filipinos want restaurants, hotels, and retailers to serve more plant-based foods. The findings, published in July, also showed that 80 percent of the respondents were more likely to support businesses that set clear goals to increase such offerings.
