INDUSTRY STEPS UP COMMITMENT TO A ZERO WASTE PHILIPPINES

FMCG groups strengthens collaboration with DENR for a successful EPR compliance in 2030 green roadmap.

DENR Officials led by Undersecretary Juan Miguel Cuna (center) holds up the PARMS EPR Program plan presented by PARMS President Crispian Lao at this year’s 22nd signing anniversary of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. Usec. Cuna is joined by colleagues from DENR, Climate Change Commission, the Office of Senator Villar and PARMS. 
PARMS members and partners present include Unilever, Nestle, Monde Nissin, Mondelez, Ajinomoto, Jollibee, Coca-Cola, Vouno Trade (Kopiko), San Miguel Foods Corporation, P&G, URC, Pepsi-Cola, Colgate-Palmolive, Nutri-Asia, TetraPak, Natures Spring, Liwayway (Oishi), Yakult, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Plastics Industry Association, Polystyrene Packaging Council of the Philippines, Packaging Institute of the Philippines, Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Chamber of Cosmetics Industry of the Philippines, and the Coalition of Solid Waste Management Providers.

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Alliance of Recycling and Materials (PARMS), an industry-wide non-stock and non-profit coalition of stakeholders across the supply and waste value chain, has come together for the 22nd Signing Anniversary of Republic Act No. 9003.

RA No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 mandates a necessary policy framework, institutional mechanisms, and mandate to the local government units (LGUs) to achieve 25% waste reduction through establishing an integrated solid waste management plan based on 3Rs—reduce, reuse, and recycle.

During a two-day conference held in Quezon City last February, the new Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) Law or RA No. 11898 was discussed, explaining how obliged enterprises are mandated to divert a certain percentage of their verifiable plastic footprint year-on-year. In response, the members of PARMS laid out plans to step up their Zero Waste to Nature (ZWTN2030) roadmap, which was first announced in 2020. This declaration of commitment, alongside other implementable policies by PARMS members aims to implement up-to-date sustainable practices and systems across the industry and the country to reduce, collect, and recycle waste.

“In 2023, we mark the start of the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) journey in achieving a waste-free Philippines,” says the Vice Chairman of the National Solid Waste Management Commission and the Founding President of PARMS, Commissioner Crispian Lao.

In 2020, PARMS also announced Zero Waste to Nature: Ambition 2030 in support of efforts to reduce, collect, and recycle waste with the 2025 sustainable packaging commitments.

Other industry partners from the private sector including Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) and Basic Environmental Systems & Technologies, Inc. (BEST) also discussed their contributions to this goal and showcased their programs to aid in post-consumer plastic collection.

“With the commitment and support of the government, private sector, civil society, and NGOs, we can kickstart plastic waste circularity, while investing in the waste sector and its many workers and groups.” Lao further highlights the opportunity for green jobs to thrive thru this course of action.

“We need to change the mindsets fundamentally about plastics and focus where plastic streams are seen as a resource with value. Only with this value proposition is realized, we will see positive change,” highlights DENR Secretary Toni Loyzaga in her Keynote Address during the conference, as read by Usec Juan Miguel Cuna. “We look forward to the successful implementation of the new EPR Act and as we continue to harmonize our efforts in reducing the country’s plastic waste to achieve plastic neutrality.”

Anchored on the 4Rs of REDUCE, REUSE, RECOVER AND RECYCLE, and with localized EPR, PARMS commits to implement a competitive, standardized, transparent, accountable, and inclusive sustainable model to achieve Zero Waste Philippines in the next decade.

Lao responds to this call on behalf of industry, communities, and advocates, sharing, “The opportunity for green jobs to thrive is here, and we stand united and committed to achieve a zero waste Philippines.”