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BAGS and
belts made of plastics— materials that usually end up
clogging our canals and causing flood. Keychain, table
organizer, card and pen holder, picture frame and other
cool home or office accessories made of recycled paper
or plastic waste, such as tetra packs.
These
are just some of the uniquely Filipino products that
will be showcased and promoted internationally by the
Philippines when it hosts the fifth Eco-Products
International Fair (EPIF) in Manila in March next year.
Some of
these products, like the ones manufactured by Kilus
Foundation Multipurpose Environmental Cooperative based
in Ugong, Pasig City, and Recyclean Foundation Inc. were
exhibited during the launching press conference for the
fifth EPIF held at the Sofitel Hotel in
Pasay City
on Tuesday morning.
Kilus
Foundation was a pet project of barangay Ugong chairman
Andy Santiago. It was established after a group of
women in 1997 organized themselves and formed the
“Samahan ng mga Kababaihan sa Ugong” for the purpose of
“cleaning and greening” the barangay through the
barangay officials’ initiative.
The
group became an effective partner of the barangay in
terms of solid-waste management by helping clean the
barangay, and through its environment-friendly
livelihood projects making use of recycled materials to
make fashionable bags, slippers, sandals and shoes. The
group was able to provide jobs to its 500-strong
members.
Its
products are now being sold in 12 countries, namely,
California and Chicago in the United States of America,
Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Korea,
Japan, Germany, Holland and France.
Meanwhile, Recyclean Foundation Inc. makes use of
recycled materials to make cement-bonded, fire-
resistant, termite-resistant boards which have unique,
sound-proofing property. It also makes hollow blocks
which are used for construction of houses. Recyclean
Foundation Inc also makes hibla or handmade
paper and creates gift wraps, stationery, jewelry boxes,
paper bags, paper jars and gift bags out of recycled
waste.
Companies like Tetra Pak, meanwhile, recycles its own
waste collected from schools through its “Care and Share
Program.” Used cartons are also collected by the company
and in partnership with the Tahanang Walang Hagdanan
Foundation, which makes furniture and novelty items out
of composite boards and paper or used cartons.
EPIF is
among the largest international environmental
exhibitions in Asia, attracting tens of thousands of
visitors. It aims to increase environmental awareness
among consumers by promoting eco-friendly products and
services.
An
initiative of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO)
and supported by the government of
Japan,
the EPIFs have also been showcasing the most advanced
environmental technologies and providing opportunities
to explore business collaborations among various
stakeholders.
APO is a
regional intergovernmental organization in
Tokyo,
Japan.
Its mission is to contribute to the socioeconomic
development of its 20 member-countries in Asia and the
Pacific through enhancing productivity and quality
standards in the private and public sectors for global
competitiveness.
The next
EPIF will be held on March 9, with the Philippines
hosting the annual event.
Former
Philippine First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos, a known
environmentalist and advocate who established the “Clean
and Green Foundation,” which spearheaded efforts to
revive the polluted Pasig River, will lead the fifth
EPIF 2008 Advisory Committee.
Shigeo
Takenaka, secretary-general of APO, said the
Philippines’ hosting the fifth EPIF is timely, citing
that among developing countries in Asia, productivity in
the Philippines is “slightly better” or a “little
better” than some of its neighbor-countries, but was
quick to add that there is still a lot of room for
improvement. |
