The first anniversary of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines’s #AyokoNgPlastik movement was highlighted by the recent launching of its “No Plastics in Nature” Initiative that seeks to stop the flow of plastic waste by 2030.
The problem with plastics has been escalating for decades, where the Philippines has been identified as the world’s third-largest contributor of plastics in the ocean.
Plastic pollution has always been a huge issue in the country with the continuous generation of plastic wastes and poor waste management.
In 2016, global plastic production has reached 396 million metric tons (MMT), which translates to 53 kilograms of plastic per person on the planet.
A third of this number has already polluted the land or waterways, and with a projected increase of 40 percent by 2030, an additional 104 MMT will leak into nature in a business-as-usual scenario.
This poses harmful effects not only to the environment, but to human health, as well. It is estimated that on average, people could be swallowing approximately 5 grams of plastic every week.
Recognizing the threat brought about by plastic pollution, WWF-Philippines rolled out the #AyokoNgPlastik movement last year in the hopes of addressing the issue by creating awareness among Filipinos to reduce dependence on single-use plastics, such as straws, bags, bottles and cups, among others.
This year, WWF-Philippines reinforces its campaign against unnecessary plastics by adopting the No Plastics in Nature Initiative, a global WWF approach that intends to stop the flow of plastics into nature by 2030, through the elimination of unnecessary plastics, doubling reuse, recycling and recovery, and ensuring that the remaining plastic is sourced responsibly.
“With the No Plastics in Nature Initiative, we are hoping to make the Philippines free of unnecessary plastic wastes, but we cannot do this alone, we need the help of everyone. Every individual, company and institution should be mindful of the amount of plastics they produce and use daily, and take action accordingly, to make this goal a reality,” said Joel Palma, WWF-Philippines president and CEO.
The initiative is a holistic approach consisting of four main strategies. These are lobbying for a global legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, creating Plastic Smart Cities movement for cities and tourism destinations, initiating a Plastic Action (PACT) for businesses, and #AyokoNgPlastik for the general public.
The WWF network is continually pushing for a new international legally binding agreement to comprehensively address marine plastic pollution throughout the full life cycle from both production to disposal and recovery back into a circular loop.
This is the network’s response to the agreement made at the recent 14th Conference of the Parties to the Basel Convention in Geneva, which stresses that the developing world could no longer be a plastic dumping ground and that any trade would require the prior consent from the receiving country.
Plastic Smart Cities, on the other hand, is a global movement of cities and tourism destinations that are fighting plastic pollution through improved collection, recycling, reduction of key waste plastics and landfill management.
Currently, the Philippines is working in six cities—including Davao City, Digos City, Tagum City, Manila City, Parañaque City, Island Garden City of Samal—and four municipalities, including Lupon, San Isidro, Santa Cruz and Donsol.
Meanwhile, WWF-Philippines was able to partner with at least 20 businesses for the sustainable journey movement where programs to reduce or eliminate single-use plastics in their supply chain system, workplace and business operations were implemented.
This program resulted in the prevention of over 1.5 million pieces of plastic waste from leaking into nature. Currently, WWF-Philippines is adopting PACT, a regional initiative on engaging businesses to take on a circular economy.
Finally, WWF-Philippines’s successful #AyokoNgPlastik movement will continue to educate the general public about plastic pollution, its impacts, and how people can help in addressing it through the Facebook community and the recently launched “AyokoNgPlastik” micro site.
Members of the movement have also demonstrated their commitment to this cause by signing the petition to support the call for a new legally binding international agreement on plastic pollution.
Image credits: WWF-Philippines/Kim Rodriguez