Plastic
pollution in the Philippines has already reached an alarming rate and continues
to be one of the top environmental challenges for the country and the rest of
the globe.
According to a
report released by WWF-Philippines in 2020, Filipinos consume a yearly average
of 20kg of plastics, from which 15.43kg/cap/year becomes waste. Insufficient
recycling capacities for high value recyclables (i.e. PET, PP, HDPE) and the
high volume of low value plastics (including sachets) are some factors that
affect the country’s low plastic recycling rate, at 9%. The report further
estimates that the Philippines leaks about 35% of plastic wastes into the
environment.
With the economy
slowly opening, WWF-Philippines encourages businesses to integrate plastic
pollution-free practices to fight plastic pollution. Here are some useful tips
for business owners on how they can participate in creating a plastic
pollution-free new year.
Take Accountability
Businesses should acknowledge that they are accountable to the
plastic pollution problem. We want businesses to assume full responsibility for
products they bring to the market. It is with accepting this that taking
actions comes in from reduction goal setting, adopting circular solutions, and
contributing in stopping plastic waste leakage.
Provide plastic-free
options to consumers
We encourage businesses to offer plastic-free options to consumers
through “bring your own” scheme and having the option to refuse unnecessary
plastic items. Some major fast food restaurants are already doing this and we
encourage other businesses to do so. We wish that businesses be at the
forefront to consumers about reducing plastic consumption.
Segregate and divert
recyclable wastes
For necessary plastics, we wish businesses to segregate and divert
through partnering with recyclers and social enterprises. It can sometimes get
complicated with the plastic types but it is important to start using the
numbers in the plastic products to help facilitate its recycling. You can
partner with a local junk shop to help identify items that they can buy. There
are also a number of social enterprises like Trash Panda, Plastics by Manila
Automat, Plastic Flamingo, and Green Antz, among others that offer collection
partnerships. You can also work with your city/ municipality to work on models
to improve the current waste management system.
Share best practices and
collaborate with other businesses
Collaboration is important in working towards sustainability. It is
with conversing with other businesses that are doing their fair share in
reducing plastic pollution that we learn which to adopt and what to improve on
in our operations. We wish businesses to work together within the industry and
with other industries so we all learn how to improve our current system.
Support the EPR Scheme in
the Philippines
WWF-Philippines is pushing for Extended Producer Responsibility
(EPR), an environmental policy approach introduced in the 1990s for
accelerating the transition to sustainable waste management and a circular
economy. We wish businesses to take responsibility and push for an Extended
Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme in the country.
EPR relies on two factors - improvement of product design and
recyclability and improvement of waste management systems - and businesses here
in the Philippines have stepped up to the challenge, taking sustainability
seriously, by working on both upstream and downstream measures to address the
plastic crisis.
More and more businesses worldwide have gotten on board with EPR,
and several businesses in the Philippines have also adopted the policy by
working on both upstream and downstream measures to address the plastic crisis.
With enough support, EPR can be a solid foundation for other businesses and
even the government to adopt. It is currently gaining traction among legislators
in Congress with House Bill 9147 or The Single-Use Plastic Products Regulation
Act and Senate Bill 2425 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2021
which both seek to enact mandatory EPR.
WWF encourages everyone to take part to achieve a plastic-free planet by 2030.
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