PCX Solutions report shows Philippines’ new EPR Law making an impact on plastic pollution

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The majority of large plastic producers met or exceeded targets in first year

New EPR Law creates recycling livelihood for communities

 

The Filipino people, economy, and environment have been heavily hit by the escalating plastic pollution crisis. The nation, which is made up of thousands of islands with a limited and fragmented waste management infrastructure, is one of the world’s largest contributors of marine plastic litter. This is made worse by the ‘sachet economy’, where brands deliver goods in small units that are affordable for the majority of the population.

Two years ago, the Philippines rolled out one of the world’s most ambitious laws on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which holds manufacturers accountable for waste resulting from their products and packaging to enable a circular economy. That act, which lapsed into law in 2023, requires companies with at least one hundred million pesos in assets to take responsibility for an increasing percentage of their plastic footprint, rising from 20% in 2023 to 80% in 2028.

A case study published by PCX Solutions, “Extended Producer Responsibility in the Philippines: Early Learnings and Insights for Emerging Markets Battling Plastic Pollution”, shows that while it’s still early days, the country’s approach to EPR is showing promising results.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau estimates that 2,130 businesses fall into the current Obliged Enterprise scope. The DENR-EMB reports that as of August 2024, a total of 947 companies had registered an EPR program. Together, those companies enabled the recovery and diversion of 163,000 metric tons of post-consumer plastic packaging waste in 2023.

While not all Obliged Enterprises complied in the first year, continued education efforts aimed at raising awareness and compliance levels are ongoing. Companies that don’t comply also face escalating fines, and ultimately the loss of their business license for repeated offenses. The majority of the largest plastic packaging producers have complied, and many went beyond the minimum 20% recovery target for 2023, indicating strong support among the country’s largest Obliged Enterprises.

There are still significant milestones to unlock, like dealing with decades of legacy plastic pollution; enabling policies to create the supply and demand for recycled materials and to reduce and eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging; further mechanisms and guidance to achieve social inclusion and just transition; and national standards to establish transparency, credibility and accountability, according to PCX Solution’s analysis.

But enacting and implementing EPR has allowed the country to see immediate results, start constructive discussions, realize and understand the gaps, and gather support from stakeholders through an inclusive and systematic approach, PCX Solutions says in its report.

“This case study offers insights and analysis for other developing countries in a similar situation to boldly and urgently address the problem, and for negotiators of the UN plastics treaty to consider innovative approaches and voices from the Global South,” said Stefanie Beitien, Managing Director of PCX Solutions.

There are already well-established EPR regimes in a number of developed markets, including Europe, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, which typically involve government funded collection, sorting and processing of plastic waste.

The Philippines has taken a pragmatic approach and crafted an accessible law that makes these goals achievable. There are six upstream measures that can reduce their footprint, such as the use of recycled content, reusable packaging or refilling, and six downstream measures to recover their footprint, and plastic crediting is one of them.

“The Philippines’ approach shows that a market-based mechanism like credits, which facilitates the cleanup of plastic waste and encourages the private sector to invest in waste infrastructure, can play a pivotal role in supporting EPR laws - particularly in emerging markets that lack collection and recycling systems,” said Nanette Medved-Po, Founder of PCX Solutions.

SM Prime helps address water scarcity in PH through water recycling in SM malls

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Water scarcity is one of the biggest issues that the world is facing today. Defined as a problem that occurs when the demand for water exceeds the available water supply, water scarcity is seen as a problem that will only get worse, especially since water use continues to increase at an unprecedented rate globally.

According to 2019 figures from UN-Water, an interagency mechanism that coordinates the efforts of United Nations (UN) entities and international organizations working on water and sanitation issues, global water demand is expected to continue increasing by 1 percent annually until 2050.

As a company with sustainability at the core of its operations, SM Prime Holdings Inc. (SM Prime) knows that there is a need for solutions that help address the degradation and depletion of the world's natural resources. In line with this, the company has been continuously working towards strengthening its commitment to a circular economy, implementing solutions that help improve efficiency when using natural resources, including water.

“We all know that fresh water is a finite resource, so it is important that we try our best to conserve it. This is why SM has been adhering to a circular framework when it comes to our resource consumption, including the way we use water in our malls,” said Engr. Liza B. Silerio, Vice President for SM Supermalls Corporate Compliance Group and SM Cares Program Director for Environment.

To improve water efficiency in its mall operations, SM employs facilities that help reduce its consumption of fresh water. Among these are sewage treatment plants that treat wastewater plumbing systems. This allows the water to be reused, helping ensure that there is enough water for the malls and the communities nearby.

All wastewater from tenants and mall restrooms are treated in the sewage treatment plants to become non-potable water. The recycled water is then used for air conditioning operations, specifically by cooling towers, as well as for flushing toilets and watering of gardens.

In 2021, SM was able to save a total of 8.7 million cubic meters of water—enough to fill 3,480 Olympic-sized swimming pools—with the help of these facilities, which are present in 72 SM malls nationwide and have been in operation since the early 2000s.

"Aside from minimizing our impact on common water resources, recycling water through these sewage treatment plants allows our malls to save big on water costs," Engr. Silerio said. "Now, imagine if we all did it. I think we can leave a significant positive impact on our country's source of fresh water."

SM Prime is committed to supporting the United Nations in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), including “SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation” which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Other initiatives of SM aimed toward this include the Trash-to-Cash Market and Plastic Waste Collection initiative, both promoting responsible disposal of plastic waste so they don't end up in seas and oceans; the AweSMSeas campaign in partnership with the USAID and PRRCI, which raises awareness of the importance of managing plastic pollution affecting the world's waters; and the International Coastal Cleanup that gathers thousands of volunteers annually.

Visit www.smprime.com/sustainability-overview to learn more about the sustainability programs of SM Prime Holdings.

Coca-Cola Philippines, Plastic Bank® partnership accelerates collection and recycling ecosystem in Cavite

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In celebration of World Oceans Day, Coca-Cola Philippines and Plastic Bank® announced that in 2022, they will together help to collect 10 million post-consumer PET plastic bottles to address and solve the global packaging waste issue while improving the lives of partner collectors and junk shops enrolled in the Plastic Bank Ecosystem Impact Program. This is double their target in 2021, when 5 million used PET bottles were successfully recycled and diverted from landfills and oceans.

Through the Ecosystem Impact Week event, which will run from June 8 to 12, 2022 at Robinsons Place General Trias, Coca-Cola Philippines, Plastic Bank® and the local government of General Trias, Cavite, aim to educate more Filipinos on the value of collecting and recycling recyclable plastics. A collection booth has been set up for consumers visiting the mall, where they can bring clean and used recyclable plastic bottles and help give these a second life.

Coca-Cola Philippines, together with Plastic Bank, officially opened the Ecosystem Impact Week on World Oceans Day in Robinsons Place General Trias with a public exhibit on their waste collection initiatives, including a collection booth, where mall-goers can bring clean and used plastic bottles for recycling.

“At Coca-Cola, we recognize that we have a big role to play in helping solve the plastic waste problem,” said Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and Vice President for East Franchise Operations of Coca-Cola ASEAN and South Pacific.

“With partners like Plastic Bank, the government, non-government organizations, civil society, industry and private sectors, we know that a World Without Waste with measurable, positive impact is possible.” Del Rosario added.

Plastic Bank is a social enterprise that builds collection and recycling ecosystems in coastal communities by working directly with individuals in the informal waste sector and micro and small enterprises like junk shops. Through the Plastic Bank Ecosystem, collector partners are given access to training, tools and equipment for efficient waste collection, and a source of livelihood. The program also connects collector partners to the market (Material Recovery Facilities or junk shop branches) that buys their collections to ensure the sustainability of the program.

Empowering communities one individual at a time

In January of 2022, Jenny Arcilla, owner of Jecka Junkshop, turned her business into a Plastic Bank Partner Branch. Through the partnership, her shop was refurbished and given the proper equipment, ensuring safe working conditions for her all-female staff. After receiving training, they also learned how to use the Plastic Bank App, which assists shop owners in tracking collections and sharing their waste collection impact online.

“Sa tulong ng Coca-Cola at Plastic Bank, na-upgrade ko ang negosyong simulan namin ng aking asawa. Nakaka-proud din na hindi lang pamilya ko ang aking natutulungan, pati na rin ang mga kababaihan sa aming komunidad,” said Arcilla.

Nanay Vicky, a waste collector in General Trias, Cavite, is among the beneficiaries of the partnership between Coca-Cola Philippines and Plastic Bank. While currently working as a street sweeper, she also collects plastic bottles that are cleaned and sold to junk shops.

Around the same time in January, Vicky Advincula (Nanay Vicky) also began working as a collector in General Trias. While currently employed as a street sweeper, Nanay Vicky also collects and cleans recyclable plastics that are sold to junk shops.

“Malaking tulong sa aming mga waste collector at sa aming barangay ang programang ito, dahil dito marami sa amin ang natutong bigyan ng importansya ang pag-recycle ng PET bottles. Nabibigyan din kami ng extra income dahil sa bawat makolektang plastic nakakakuha kami ng perang pandagdag sa araw-araw naming gastusin,” said Nanay Vicky.

“Plastic Bank works with about 500 recycling communities around the world and over 20,000 community members, most of whom are like Jenny and Nanay Vicky. By supporting collection communities in coastal areas, we effectively prevent plastic from reaching the oceans. Our partnership with Coca-Cola Philippines has helped us reach critical scale in just two years—from the volume of plastic we collect to the number of lives we directly impact,” said Gidget Velez, Chief Country Development Officer of Plastic Bank PH, says of Coca-Cola as a partner and as an enabler of sustainability programs.

Mall goers are encouraged to bring their own plastic bottles to Robinsons Place General Trias through the Ecosystem Impact Week exhibit that will run until June 12. At present, the partnership between Coca-Cola Philippines and Plastic Bank has diverted 5 million plastic bottles from oceans and landfills.

Creating a value chain for recycling

In 2018, The Coca-Cola Company announced its global goal to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can it sells by 2030 to achieve its vision of a World Without Waste. The beverage company strategically helps to build a circular economy through its three fundamental global goals:

· Design - make its packaging 100% recyclable globally by 2025, and use at least 50% recycled material in its packaging by 2030;

· Collect - collect and recycle every bottle and can that they sell by 2030;

· Partner - work with like-minded institutions to support a healthy, debris-free environment.

Coca-Cola Philippines has since invested in community programs and critical infrastructure to make the recycling value chain a reality. PETValue, the first bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in the Philippines located at General Trias, is expected to process 30,000 metric tons of plastic PET bottles and produce around 16,000 metric tons of recycled PET resins every year. The facility works under a closed-loop recycling system, processing post-consumer plastic bottles and turning these into recycled bottles, allowing them to reenter the supply chain.

“At Coca-Cola, we realize that we cannot achieve our World Without Waste goals alone. As we look forward to the full operations this year of PETValue, we will need the collaboration and support of individuals and communities as we together help to create a circular economy for PET plastic in the Philippines, starting here in General Trias City,” said Del Rosario.

The company also said that the PETValue facility once operational will generate more than 200 local jobs that will support the livelihood of individuals within the waste value chain. Coca-Cola Philippines continues to work towards supporting strategic collection partners at the institutional and community levels across the country in a bid to adequately supply the plant with recyclable material for recycling.

Participate in the Ecosystem Impact Week by bringing clean plastic recyclables to Robinsons Place General Trias from June 8 to 12, 2022.

For more information about Coca-Cola's World Without Waste goals, visit www.coca-cola.com.ph/en/sustainability/worldwithoutwaste.

Disposing e-waste? Globe helps you let go of these safely

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Do you have old mobile phones, excess cables, chargers, broken television sets, DVD players, and other non-working electronic devices that you would like to dispose of without adding up to the piles of garbage in the landfills? Globe helps you let go of these safely!

As Globe continues to provide reliable voice and data connection, it also makes sure to do its part in creating a safe environment for people to live in. It aims to lessen the harm brought by improper disposal of materials, particularly of electronic waste (e-waste).

More than 100 bins under the Globe E-waste Zero program are now placed in different collection points nationwide such as Globe Stores and malls, which the public can easily access. These bins can accommodate mobile phones, IT accessories such as mouse, earphones, and speakers; Internet and WiFi modems and routers; cable wires, batteries, circuit boards, CDs /DVDs and other small electronic devices. Bigger items such as computer sets, IT servers and electronic network equipment (antennas, transmitters, etc.), and home appliances (washing machine, oven, refrigerator, etc.) may be requested for pick up.

“Globe recognizes the importance of taking this extra step in ensuring e-wastes are disposed of properly and can't be harmful to the environment. We would like to enjoin our customers to help dispose of e-waste properly,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability Officer and SVP for Corporate Communications.

E-waste is made up of different materials that are toxic and hazardous, making the process of recycling risky for those who are not trained properly and who do not have the necessary facilities to do it. According to the UN Environment Programme, it is estimated that more than 50 million metric tons of e-waste is produced globally per year and its continued importation and increased local generation is a cause for concern. Roughly 80% of these e-waste ends up in landfills, pollute the environment and make informal communities susceptible to the hazards of e-waste.

According to a recent study made by UNIDO and EcoWaste Coalition, only 28 out of the 135 registered Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities in the Philippines process e-waste. While the informal sector benefits from these discarded items, their methods of dismantling and recycling e-wastes are unconventional and against approved government standards.

In response to this, Globe’s e-waste program not only promotes proper disposal but also educates people about the potential harm of e-waste to the environment and the overall benefits of e-waste recycling. Proper e-waste recycling conserves natural resources. Instead of extracting raw materials, valuable materials from old electronics can be turned into new glass, plastic chairs, filament for 3D printing, and reuse the extracted alloys. E-waste recycling avoids unnecessary dumps in landfills. It provides proper handling and management of toxic chemical substances and helps avoid possible leakage especially towards water streams. It also prevents possible health hazards to informal communities living near dumpsites and whose main source of income is the manual processing of these disposed devices.

In 2020 alone, the program managed to collect and responsibly dispose of over 250,000 kg of e-waste, bringing the total collection to more than 1.4 million kg since 2014. These e-wastes are delivered to Globe’s partner Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities, namely Total Environment Solutions - Asset Material Management Philippines (TES-AMM) in Pasig City, and Maritrans Recycler, Inc. in Cebu. E-wastes are segregated to recover plastic materials, electronic components, and precious metals but the final recycling process is done in TES-AMM’s facility in Singapore.

“We are thankful to have partners and contributors, composed of more than 66 corporations, private organizations, NGOs, local government partners and schools nationwide that share Globe’s commitment of building a better and safer world for future generations. We encourage more individuals and organizations to join us in this advocacy. Let us all work together in keeping our planet safe from the harm posed by improper e-waste disposal,” Crisanto added.

Visit any of the participating Globe stores nationwide or request for free door-to-door pickup of bulky e-waste items. For the list of drop off areas and and bulk hauling requests, check out E-waste Zero on Globe’s sustainability website https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability/environment.html

Globe remains committed to the 10 UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals such as UN SDG No. 12 - Sustainable Consumption and Production, which is about achieving economic growth and sustainable development by urgently reducing ecological footprint. It is also about decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency and promoting sustainable lifestyles by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources.

To know more about Globe’s sustainability initiatives, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/about-us/sustainability.html