Sustainable initiatives that triumphed in 2020

Caring for the environment this year was all but pushed lower in our priority list as 2020 gave everyone a ton of things to think about and care for: our health, our families, our jobs, how to survive, our canceled plans and how to get a refund, the list goes on.  

So thank heavens for these eco-warriors who have kept at it, at helping Mother Nature during a year that a lot of people seemed to have forgotten about the environment. They've religiously kept at sustainability efforts — defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature, as a "means of meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs."

Here are some of the sustainable initiatives that went viral this year.

1. Hand-woven pizza boxes in Laguna and Siargao

A restaurant in Laguna went viral this year for offering not only a delectable choice of food, but also for doing their part in conserving the nature. A lot of people appreciated the sustainable efforts of BrickOven Café, located in Laguna's Pili town.

Apart from BrickOven's eco-friendly “TampiPizza” boxes — upcycled from sundried Pandan and inspired by the “tampipi,” a traditional Filipino basket made from rattan or bamboo — netizens praised the café for its support to the local weavers, giving them a source of livelihood during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Part of our goal too is to help our community and to highlight the creativity and talents of our own locals by offering varieties of handicrafts made locally,” Dennise Jocel Porca, one of its owners, said in a message to GMA News Online.

Meanwhile, a restaurant on Siargao Island also made waves on the internet because of its promotion of sustainability and support to its local economy.

Aqwa Siargao had difficulty in getting its supply of carton pizza boxes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, its owners thought of using hand-woven pizza boxes from natural pandan leaves. Aside from helping the environment, the initiative also served as an additional income to the local Tangbo weavers in the island amidst the pandemic. They also use abaca ropes to bind the boxes safely.

“Our aim is to have less waste and promote sustainability. We are also helping local Tangbo weavers to earn extra income especially at this time of [the] pandemic. As the first one to use this for take away (in Siargao), we would be happy to see this initiative happening in the whole island,” Aqwa Siargao said in a Facebook post.

2. Bamboo milk tea jars in Maasin, Iloilo

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the plans of two teachers previously based in Thailand. On July 7, 2020, Jade Joquino and Melanie Dilao both decided to open a milk tea shop in their home province, Iloilo.

Unlike most milk tea shops, their's offers a new way of enjoying your favorite milk tea flavors without hurting the environment. Darlings’ Milktea serves milk tea in reusable bamboo cups with bamboo straws.

Courtesy: Darling's Milktea

“It’s a new innovation and product of creativity in serving foreign taste using locally made bamboo cups giving you a pleasurable taste and amazing milk tea in a bamboo experience,” owner Jade Joquiño shared to GMA News Online.

While customers can still have their drinks in usual plastic cups, more customers are preferring the sustainable alternative.

Aside from giving the customers a new way of consuming our favorite milk tea flavors, it also aims to support the bamboo products in the locality. They source their bamboo cups from local producers to help them as well in their livelihood.

“It aims to promote bamboo products as what Maasin is known for and to inspire entrepreneurs to adapt a sustainable and environment-friendly business,” Joquino added.

Darlings’ Milktea has now two branches: the main branch is in Maasin, Iloilo and the other is in Mohon Terminal, Talipapa Market in Iloilo City.

3. Clothes made from flour sacks in Palawan

AraPilak, a local company based in Palawan, is advocating sustainable fashion by offering an eco-friendly collection. 

The brand’s Ba’law collection (a Cuyonon word which means awareness) is comprised of clothes made from flour sacks aka “katsa.”

“Considering fast fashion is the second polluter in the world, we came up with the idea of reviving the good old Katsa or flour sack and creating a clothing line made from it,” according to its founder, Jude Rivera, in an email.

Included in their collection are dresses, polos, skirts, and shorts.

The company also source their flour sacks from local bakeries in Palawan, a good way to help the local community as well!

“We would like to consider Ba’law as our small attempt to bring back how simple the lives of Filipino were back then. Simplicity of living but there is a vibe of contentment and happiness,” Rivera added.

“AraPilak” is derived from Cuyonon (a native Palawan dialect) words “ara” and “pilak” which translates to “no waste”. Check out their Facebook for more products.

4. Zero-waste self-care kits

A local zero-waste shop based in Parañaque promotes sustainable and plastic-free essentials through their locally crafted products.

Habitabl was conceptualized when its founder, Mina Cinco, saw the volume of waste generated every day during the COVID-19 pandemic. She started sourcing for shampoo bars and conditioners not only for her household but also to encourage people to shift to sustainable products. Eventually, she added more eco-friendly alternatives including organic artisan soaps, washable sanitary pads, bamboo toothbrushes, and bamboo air purifiers.

Shampoo bars are said to be paraben and SLS free, come in different variants for various hair needs: Raspberry, Sunflower, Tea Tree, Gugo, Avocado and Honey, and many more. Meanwhile, artisan soap products are handmade soaps made from plant-based ingredients - from Benguet coffee scrub to turmeric and lavender.

“To support our local crafters and manufacturers, we see to it that we only partner with manufacturers who use locally sourced ingredients. This is also to support our local workers and help them get by in these trying times,” Cinco shared.

Instead of bubble wraps, which are made of plastic, the shop uses paper boxes with shredded papers inside as their packaging perfect for an eco-friendly gift idea.
Check out their Facebook for more details.

5. Compostable mailer

Many individuals have opted to go online while purchasing essential products due to the pandemic lockdowns. Unfortunately, the increased use of single-use plastic packaging is one of its drawbacks.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Fifth Express (@fifthexpress)

A Manila-based logistics and delivery service provider offers not only fast and hassle-free service but to be your eco-friendly shipping partner as well. Instead of using plastic packaging that will take decades to decompose into much harmful microplastics, Fifth Express uses a durable, 100% compostable mailer that is made from a combination of corn-based biopolymers that can easily break down within 6 months.

“Using compostable packaging, we take one step further in helping the environment and providing customers a guilt-free conscience while getting the work done,” the company said on its website.

It offers free pick up and next day delivery anywhere in Metro Manila.

— LA, GMA News