WWF Continues to Fight Against Plastic Pollution, Advocates for an Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme in the Philippines

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WWF-Philippines launched a study about the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) system that will implement the basic principles of a collective responsibility in waste management, from collection and sorting to recycling and recovery.

Plastic pollution has reached gigantic dimensions worldwide and has caused serious consequences to marine life and the well-being of society. In a recent study, it has been estimated that about 11 million tonnes enter the ocean every year. If no action is made, this can triple by 2040 which is equivalent to 50 kg of plastics for every coastline meter worldwide.

The Philippines, based on 2015 modelling the study has been considered as one of the 10 top countries contributing to plastic pollution, has been continuously challenged with increasing waste generation and the lack of a sound waste management system. This calls for a comprehensive approach among policymakers, corporations, cities, and consumers to ensure that no plastics reaches nature.

Snapshots from a recycling facility in Quezon City, taken during a field visit last February 2020

Photograph ©Czarina Constantino / WWF-Philippines

Building on its No Plastics in Nature initiative, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines releases a report entitled “Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Scheme Assessment for Plastic Packaging Waste in the Philippines”. This report, undertaken with cyclos GmbH and AMH Philippines Inc, highlights EPR as a critical and effective policy tool in holding manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life impacts of their plastic products and packaging. EPR as a policy instrument also encourages the adoption of holistic eco-design among the business sector. The proposed EPR scheme has been based on the findings of the first Material Flow Analysis of plastic packaging waste in the Philippines.

The report shows that Filipinos consume the 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 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.

These waste reduction and management conditions shaped the proposed customized EPR scheme in the Philippines. It proposes a mandatory EPR scheme for all product packaging with a three-year transition phase for obliged businesses to redesign their product packaging and eliminate unnecessary plastics. For this customized EPR scheme to work, the report emphasizes that the responsibility of implementing the scheme for building high-quality recycling capacity should be assumed by a non-profit Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO), acting as the system operator, with strict monitoring and control systems carried out by the government.

 “We in WWF believe that a mandatory EPR system is a way for businesses to be more engaged in eliminating unnecessary plastics through eco-design and strengthening waste management by being responsible for the end of life impacts of their plastic packaging. It is a driving mechanism for businesses to transform their models and push for circular solutions to reduce plastic generation including refilling and ultimately to eliminating leakage of plastic in nature. Adopting the EPR scheme in the Philippines is a great driver for us to stop plastic pollution,” says Czarina Constantino, WWF-Philippines’ National Lead for the No Plastics In Nature Initiative and Project Manager for Plastic Smart Cities.

A key first step is a clear, effective, and unambiguous legal framework towards EPR. This can only happen if policymakers take a bold and decisive step to put this globally recognized waste reduction and management scheme in place. A legal framework for EPR should outline clear objectives, responsibilities, enforcement mechanisms, and a timeline for implementation and targets. The effectiveness of the EPR system relies on the active role of the government to regulate and supervise the system and its operator through a legal framework. This is also aligned to the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris that enjoins member states like the Philippines to develop and implement EPR policies and schemes.

Facilitating partnerships among relevant stakeholders, most notably the government and the private sector, WWF-Philippines advocates for the adoption of the EPR scheme in the country to stop plastic pollution.

“Addressing plastic pollution requires both upstream (production/pre-consumption) and downstream measures (consumption and post-consumption). Working on the entirety of the plastic life cycle, stakeholder collaboration is important in both reducing the production and the consumption of unnecessary plastic, and also in managing plastic products and packaging, ensuring that materials are used as long as possible in our society,” says Joel Palma, WWF-Philippines’ Executive Director.

Nestlé Philippines, one of the leading producers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in the country, encouraged fellow stakeholders to do their part for nature by supporting the localized EPR scheme.

“At Nestlé, we believe that tackling plastic waste cannot be successfully achieved by a single or linear solution. It requires the attention and action of different stakeholders. We must look into different options both upstream and downstream, and take a holistic approach as we continue accelerating our initiatives to tackle plastic waste and EPR is a major instrument. We support the creation of a localized EPR scheme that we believe can help increase collection and recycling rates. We cannot achieve this alone, we must work together, to achieve a waste-free future," says Arlene Tan-Bantoto, SVP and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications of Nestlé Philippines.

The study is part of the No Plastic in Nature Initiative - WWF’s global initiative to stop the flow of plastics entering nature by 2030 through the elimination of unnecessary plastics, doubling reuse, recycling and recovery, and ensuring remaining plastic is sourced responsibly. Through this initiative, WWF-Philippines has been working with cities on plastic leakage, policymakers to advocate for a global treaty on plastic pollution, businesses to transition to circular business models, and the general public to campaign and act.

Take part to #ChangeTheEnding for our planet and help work towards a vision of no plastics in nature.

Shopee Kicks Off 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, Aims to Make E-Commerce for Everyone

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Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches its annual 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. It comes off the back of its successful 9.9 and 10.10 shopping events, reflecting the continued growth of e-commerce in the region. This 11.11 - 12.12, Shopee further commits to uplifting communities, generating new opportunities for sellers and brands, and designing stronger shared experiences for shoppers, all as part of its broader vision to make e-commerce for everyone.

Shopee sets out to create impact, opportunities, and shared experiences, as part of its efforts to ensure that all consumers and businesses benefit from e-commerce growth

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “E-commerce has made a profound impact on our lives, and especially so this year. This 11.11 - 12.12, Shopee will strengthen its efforts to ensure that everyone can discover the benefits and opportunities of e-commerce. We are fortunate to be at the forefront of this transformation in our region, and we want to continue creating livelihoods for local sellers and entrepreneurs, ways for people to shop and connect, and new paths to  success for businesses.”

Here’s how Shopee plans to step up its support for communities, businesses, and consumers this 11.11 - 12.12 and beyond.

1. Creating impact for communities 

Leveraging the digital ecosystem to support those in need

Shopee deepens its commitment to uplifting local communities with the launch of the 11.11 Big Charity Drive. This will occur in each of Shopee’s Southeast Asian markets, supported by trusted social organizations, top celebrities, and the biggest brands in Southeast Asia. The charity drive aims to raise awareness and donations for underprivileged children in the region. Shopee believes that all individuals, particularly the youth, should have the opportunity to succeed in the future digital economy.

In the Philippines, Shopee launches Shopee Bayanihan: Pamaskong Pambata with 11 of the most trusted foundations in the country, including Mano Amiga Philippines; World Vision Philippines; Young Focus for Education and Development Foundation, Inc.; Fundlife International, Inc.; GMA Kapuso Foundation, Inc.; Save the Children Philippines; Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Philippines, Inc.; Project Pearls, Inc.; Project Smile Philippines; Kythe Foundation, Inc.; and PGH Medical Foundation, Inc. Users can donate by purchasing donation vouchers and goods from partner brands’ CSR collections and co-branded live streams. Participating brands will donate a percentage of their sales to their foundation of choice.

2. Creating opportunities for all businesses

Unlocking e-commerce for sellers, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and brands

The growth of e-commerce in Southeast Asia and Taiwan has created new opportunities for sellers, SMEs, and brands. This trend is reflected in Shopee, as the number of sellers on the platform increased by 60% year-on-year .

This has created greater diversity in the region’s e-commerce landscape, with aspiring and experienced sellers alike seeking to grow their businesses online. This means that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as sellers face unique challenges at different stages of their digital journey. Shopee has widened its spectrum of support measures to help all sellers succeed, regardless of experience and size:

● Helping new and existing sellers cope with a global pandemic: Over 300,000 sellers, SMEs, and entrepreneurs in the region signed up for Shopee’s Seller Support Package within the first month of launch in April. New sellers also enjoyed 6x sales growth during Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day in September.

● Upgrading Shopee University to empower diverse groups of local sellers: Shopee has enhanced its Shopee University program, including digitalizing the curriculum and widening its online Seller Education Hub so that all sellers can level up their e-commerce skills. Recently, Shopee also partnered with Visa, USAID, Globe myBusiness, and the Quezon City local government unit to equip sellers with the financial, marketing, and e-commerce knowledge needed to succeed in the digital economy.

● Seller Masterclasses drive sellers to adopt new tools, adapt to new trends: In the Philippines, Shopee introduced its Seller Masterclass to help sellers leverage the benefits of livestreaming better. Popular streamers such as ClosetbyNikka2600, MyOutfitGallery, and cilebritee_shop shared exclusive tips for reaching more customers on Shopee Live. 

Shopee also helped local and international brands connect and engage with the region’s digital-first shoppers. In 2020, Shopee co-created 600 Super Brand Days with top companies such as Disney, Samsung, and L’Oreal, who looked forward to growing their online presence and sales. The recent 10.10 Brands Festival also generated strong traction for brand partners, as traffic on Shopee Mall surged 2.5x the daily average. 

3. Creating shared experiences

Forging communities, reinventing social shopping on Shopee

Shopee will continue to connect, inform, and inspire consumers across the region. Users can explore similar interests and discover better deals through Shopee’s shopping communities, while enjoying a more social shopping experience with Shopee’s enhanced in-app features.

Shopee connects like-minded consumers and caters to their online needs through communities such as Shopee’s Mom’s Club. Its over 1.5 million members enjoy one-stop access to top global brands for baby products, including Pampers, Enfa, and Nestle, as well as exclusive parenting content from mothers and experts. 

For the new generation of digital luxury consumers, Shopee recently launched Shopee Premium, an exclusive destination offering direct access to authentic premium products, while allowing consumers to understand the brands more.

Shopee also enhanced its collection of popular in-app features to make online shopping even more social, fun, and rewarding:

● Enhanced social features: Shopee has upgraded its iconic in-app features to better connect sellers, brands, and users during the 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. New auction and polling features on Shopee Live will make the live shopping experience even more engaging. Shopee Feed has also been upgraded with live video “Stories” for real-time engagement between users.

Yu closed, “Shopee 11.11 Big Sale is our way of transforming a global phenomenon into one that truly belongs to our region. It continues the strong momentum of our successful 9.9 and 10.10 events, and builds on our long-term vision to transform the lives of people and businesses we serve. Join us as we make e-commerce for everyone at 11.11 this year.”

For more information about Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/11-11.

Download Shopee for free on App Store or Google Play Store.

Make bonding extra special just like Regine and Nate Alcasid in this new Jolly Spaghetti Ad

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Experience the most joyful moments with your child with the Pinakamasarap and Pinakasulit Jolly Spaghetti!

As parents, nothing makes you happier than wonderful and magical bonding moments with your child. That quality time you spend with them and seeing them have the time of their lives with you, go a long way in bringing you closer together—especially when their favorite treat is around, too.

Mom and son duo Regine and Nate Alcasid-Velasquez show what it’s like to have a great time together by simply spending time with each other at home—no need to go somewhere or do something fancy—in their latest Jollibee commercial. The new ad shines a spotlight on how sweet memories are simply made over delicious food; in Regine and Nate’s case, their bonding moments are made more special by the food they absolutely love, which is their favorite pinakamasarap and pinakasulit Jolly Spaghetti.

 

That’s because the meatiest, cheesiest, and pinakasweet-sarap Jolly Spaghetti can easily make your day, making it the most sulit treat you can share when you’re bonding with your child.

“As a parent, you tend to give your children everything, but all they want is your time,” shares Regine. “They’ll get tired of toys. It’s still very important to make time for them—one thing he loves to do that we haven’t done lately is paint together. He loves to paint with me.”

Regine enjoys doing these commercials with Nate, as he really loves Jolly Spaghetti. She shares one unforgettable moment of how he would have to be told to not eat it during their commercial tapings. “This is no joke, he loves Jolly Spaghetti,” she says. “Even before the shoot, he was like, ‘I can't wait to eat Jolly Spaghetti!' If he had a choice, he would have already ate it before filming pa. He even requested to have Jolly Spaghetti also for lunch! That's how much he loves it.”

“Regine and Nate’s mother-son relationship is really the best example of how important quality time with the family is,” said Jollibee Marketing AVP for Bestseller Products Cathleen Capati. “And this quality time is made even more special and memorable when bonding over their favorite food especially at a time when most are staying at home.”

Make bonding moments better and extra special with the pinakamasarap and pinakasulit Jolly Spaghetti today! It’s available for an affordable PHP 50.00 in all Jollibee stores nationwide. Jolly Spaghetti is also available for sharing with the Jolly Spaghetti Family Pan for only P200!

Have these safely delivered to you via the Jollibee Delivery App, JollibeeDelivery.com, #87000, GrabFood, foodpanda, and LalaFood! Also available in Drive-Thru and Take Out.

For more info and updates on Jollibee products, like Jollibee Philippines on Facebook, subscribe to Jollibee Studios on YouTube, and follow @jollibee on Twitter and Instagram.

 

UnionBank Talks Digitizing Corporate Clients in the New Normal at 5th E-TalkTales

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Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) held the fifth installment of its E-TalkTales series last October 20.

The Head of Transaction Banking Mon Duarte discussed the Bank’s various transaction banking solutions, particularly The Portal, its all-digital banking platform for corporate clients.

Duarte began the discussion by differentiating UnionBank’s Transaction Banking solutions, which he defined as simply offering customized solutions to help digitize our corporate clients. Traditional transaction banking helps manage flow of funds by facilitating collections and payments, over-the-counter check deposits, to the provision of armored car services for high cash transaction situations, among others.

The main focus of Duarte's discussion was UnionBank's The Portal, its digital banking platform specially designed for corporate clients. Offering a host of solutions that include bills payments, payroll, fund transfers, check writing services, merchant payment gateway systems, and credit facilities, The Portal provides corporations with all their essential banking needs in a single platform.

Knowing that each corporate entity has needs and priorities that are uniquely theirs, UnionBank designed The Portal in a way that allows it to provide utmost flexibility to clients, making it the preferred platform for those who don't want the one-size-fits-all approach of most competitors when it comes to the corporate banking solutions they offer.

Part of the flexibility offered by The Portal comes by way of various customization options available to clients. Depending on the current needs of their organization, clients can choose only the solutions that they want to avail of at the moment, and then adjust later on. To make it easier, the Bank created a number of packaged solutions based on what it thinks would make sense for clients, which they can avail of anytime via The Portal website.

Another key feature of The Portal in terms of flexibility is the possible configurations for transaction approvals. With this feature, corporates will be able to establish a specific maker-checker process for each transaction made by their team members. This will give them free control over who can make which transaction, as well as the maximum amount for each transaction depending on who makes it, among others.

With The Portal, UnionBank aims to make transaction banking as seamless for users as possible, and the Bank wants to make this very clear right from the moment a client starts using the platform—the onboarding process.

Onboarding is typically one of the most stressful phases of using a new platform for many corporates, since it involves learning a new set of interfaces and processes. This phase can take a few days or weeks or even a few months to finish. With The Portal, however, UnionBank also digitized the onboarding processes so that clients can get into the platform in less than a day, usually within a few minutes, with no further training needed.

These are only a few innovative features of The Portal. As the Bank continues its digital transformation journey, more services will become available in the coming months.

The Portal is not based on any third-party digital framework. Instead, it was built from the ground up. In creating The Portal, UnionBank was guided by the principle of having a simple integrated platform in order to ensure the best user experience for customers. For the Bank, providing superior transaction banking experiences to users is a top priority, and The Portal is the perfect representation of what it believes transaction banking should be.

realme PH elevates style ! The realme 7i launch headlined by certified 'kakaibabe' Donnalyn Bartolome

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realme Philippines completes its latest 7 Series with the realme 7i.

The top 2 smartphone brand in the country, realme Philippines joins every passionate young Filipino as they start their quest for success with powerful and reliable technology. Starting October 22, the latest realme device -- realme 7i -- will be available in the Philippines. 

The realme 7i launch was headlined by certified kakaibabe Donnalyn Bartolome, the official face of realme 7i.

A stylish and dependable lower midrange smartphone that gets the job done for the country’s next top students, artists, vloggers and photographers. Donnalynn led the reveal of realme 7i’s stylish design, 64MP quad-camera setup that captures every style, large display with a 90Hz refresh rate and large-capacity 5,000mAh battery with 18W Fast Charge technology.

All these features and power come packaged in a trendy design inspired by the whimsical scenes of the Arctic and the Northern Lights. The realme 7i comes in two colorways: Polar Blue and Aurora Green. The back of the phone has a mirror finish at the top and a matte finish at the bottom perfect for the users’ inner fashionista.

“Although quarantine measures restrict travel and gatherings and require us to stay indoors, this doesn’t mean that life stops. People still have to work, get an education, enhance their skills and pursue their passions. We want to make adjusting to the new normal easier through the realme 7i, our midrange offering that can help young Filipinos start pursuing their passions and succeed in their daily adventures. Whether it be doing work or school requirements during the day or gaming and binge-watching at night, the realme 7i delivers an elevated and uninterrupted smartphone experience, a fitting cap to the launch of our 7 series,” shares realme Philippines VP for Marketing Austine Huang.

The launch coincided with the announcement of realme 7i’s ambassador, Philippine Social Media Sweetheart Donnalyn Bartolome. Bartolome gained online popularity by unapologetically being herself across her work, from music to online content. The social media star walked the audience through the best features of the realme 7i and showcased how the new device can be the youth’s stylish partner in pursuing their passions, skills and interests.

 

For those always on the run

Young go-getters constantly juggling roles and responsibilities -- deadlines to meet, emails to answer, friends to catch up with, modules to finish, phone calls to make -- will find the perfect partner for their high-maintenance schedule with the realme 7i.

The newest  smartphone from realme Philippines, as revealed by Donnalyn, boasts a 5,000mAh battery and 18W Fast Charge technology that needs less than two hours to fully charge and lasts up to 34 days on standby mode. The realme 7i’s large-capacity battery is perfect for aspiring content creators, students and digital buffs who are looking for a stylish and heavy-duty smartphone that can support their daily lifestyle activities.

When used in Super Power Saving Mode, the phone can last up to 41.1 hours on standby even with only 5 percent power, a very helpful tool especially if you don’t have a powerbank on hand.

 

Ready for your close-up?

Developing creative skills, especially if you’re a beginner, gets easy with the new UIS Max Video Stabilization feature of the realme 7i. Besides a wider field of vision, it ensures an anti-shake effect for that smooth shot even while running or jumping that’s just perfect for that next vlog. The realme 7i’s powerful camera also has built-in night filters such as Cyberpunk, Flamingo and Modern Gold for ready-to-go artistic shots.

Young Filipino users eager to take their mobile photography a notch higher can rely on realme 7i’s quad-camera module with four different lenses -- 64MP primary camera, EIS 119-degree ultra-wide lens, macro lens and B&W portrait lens -- ready to capture even the minutest detail of that new artwork, and a perfect buddy in unleashing the inner fashionista. For even better selfies, the realme 7i’s 16MP front camera is developed for different skin types, face shapes and features, allowing users to take more accurate and natural-looking shots.

The realme 7i is powered by a 16MP front camera sensor that supports AI beauty, bokeh effect, and  HDR. With these superb camera features, vloggers, influencers and enthusiasts can take bomb selfies and enhance their Instagram feeds while investing in their hobbies without having to drain their wallets in the process. 

 

Immersive experience that never goes out of style

A few hours of relaxing and de-stressing never hurt anybody, right?

Donnalyn flaunted realme 7i’s 6.5 inches large display, perfect for binge-watching favorite series on TV or Netflix with family or hours of video games with friends. With the realme 7i’s 90Hz refresh rate, videos play smoother and snappier and video game details look sharper -- and all without lag. Users can now enjoy multitasking without worrying.

 

Price and availability

The realme 7i available in the Philippine comes in the 8GB RAM+128GB storage configuration and retails for Php11,990. This latest 7 series device will initially be available exclusively on the official stores of realme Philippines on LazMall and Shopee. In celebration of the new device’s launch, customers can enjoy a Php1,000 discount during the flash sale of the two e-commerce giants on October 22.

As one of the smartphone brands with the most channels, realme Philippines will also be making the realme 7i available in all offline stores and kiosks nationwide starting October 24. Purchasers of the latest realme 7 series device on October 24 and 25 will get a free realme Band worth Php1,390.

realme Philippines has forged strong partnerships with key industry players over the years to make its products much more attainable and available. realme customers may purchase the realme 7i at 0% interest on a six-month plan from Home Credit. Holders of major cards may also avail of the device at 0% interest on a six-month plan.

For those interested in 64MP photography offered by the realme 7 series, watch out for more discounts for the entire lineup at successive flash sale events on LazMall and Shopee starting October 23.

Fans are encouraged to follow the official Facebook and Instagram accounts of realme Philippines for the latest updates on the top 2 smartphone brand in the country and all its products.