The plastic waste problem in the country has always been one of the longest-running concerns in our society. The numbers have consistently supported this. According to global environmental watchdogs, the Philippines is one of the world’s worst offenders of marine plastic pollution.

What are the biggest causes of this growing problem with plastic pollution? More importantly, are you doing enough to help alleviate it? In this article, let’s dive deeper into the plastic waste problem in the Philippines. Also, learn how you can take part in reversing the effects of plastic pollution. 

Plastic Waste Problem in the Philippines: Who Are at Fault?

Every year, 0.28 to 0.75 tonnes of plastic enter the oceans from the coastal areas of Manila Bay alone. It doesn’t help that our shopping culture is heavily reliant on single-use plastic packaging. In 2020, reports showed that Filipinos use about 60 billion sachets a year. 

The effects of plastic pollution in the Philippines are driven by many factors. With the rising cost of living and weak waste management regulations, many Filipinos have no choice. They lean towards the use of single-use plastic over biodegradable packaging due to its accessibility and affordability. 

But this is more than a community-level problem, and definitely not just a fault of our cultural upbringing. This is because huge corporations running the economy with their fast-moving goods support, if not enable, the plastic waste problem in the Philippines. Greenpeace Philippines has actively called out companies such as Universal Robina Corporation, Nestle, and Colgate-Palmolive for being behind almost 50% of plastic waste collected in the country.

Though human negligence is a major part of the problem, the root of it is the mass production of single-use plastics. 

Are Consumers Part of the Plastic Waste Problem, Too? 

The hard and fast answer is yes. The problem is not exclusive to the country’s lack of competent waste management systems and plastic use policies. It’s also evident that the lack of better education and general empathy toward the plastic waste problem in the country plays a part.  

As consumers, having the participative mindset to be a part of the solution is important. Ask yourself every time you buy a product, “After I use it, where will it end? What can I do to help?” 

Shifting into an eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t only start at home. It begins in the choices we make before we even make a purchase. Choosing to support an eco-friendly business from the get-go gives businesses better confidence to pursue better sustainability.

Addressing Plastic Pollution With Eco-friendly Businesses 

In a time of fast movement and consumption of goods, it makes sense that there is now a greater push for more eco-friendly businesses in the Philippines. Regardless of how big the operations are, owners are encouraged to answer the call of making environmentally-inclined entrepreneurial choices. 

Running an eco-friendly business in the Philippines is always a step closer to sustainability. By taking simple steps such as using alternative packaging to plastic and biodegradable packaging, entrepreneurs can help a lot in pushing back against the effect of plastic pollution in the country. 

Not only are eco-friendly businesses making a commitment to use healthier alternatives. They also allow their clients to give the same support. In addition to this, businesses, big or small, are in the position to influence their buyers’ choices for the better, making them ideal ambassadors of zero-waste advocacy.

Let Oikos Help You Take Part in Solving the Plastic Waste Problem

The fact remains that the country has a lot to work on in terms of sustainability. On the other hand, change can also happen right now, if you so choose. How? You can start small. Show support to an eco-friendly business in the Philippines and make conscious changes to your lifestyle. 

These are thrusts that Oikos Sustainable Solutions stands for. We are the country’s first local manufacturer of plant-based, 0% plastic, biodegradable packaging. Through this, we offer usable green alternatives to plastic to do away with eCommerce packaging waste and the overall plastic waste problem. By using materials like cassava and corn, we give businesses the chance to pursue better packaging sources and business choices. 
Check out our products to know more about how we can help your business pursue a more sustainable model.