Alarm bells peal for plastic industry as ban takes hold

Importation of polyethylene imports—a material for making plastic bags and other materials—dropped by 5 percent in last year from 2010, because of the ban on plastic bags in the country, the Philippine Plastics Industry Association said Tuesday.

 

"That translated to approximately P300 million in importation tax that were lost and didn't go to the government," Peter Quintana, association president, told reporters at the sidelines of the Chemical Industries Association of the Philippines event in Makati City.

 

Polyethylene is imported from other the United States, Middle East and other Asian countries.

 

The ban also prompted plastic manufacturing companies to reduce their production workdays to four to five week.

 

"What we want now is for these local government units to wait first for the result of a study on non-environmentally acceptable products to find out if really plastics are harmful to the environment," said Quintana.

 

Brown bags and newspapers—commonly used to hold fried items like fish and chips—actually has chemicals that may contaminate food, the association president noted.

 

"Also, we are urging the government to implement RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 to prevent littering and support the segregation of solid waste in the country," he said.

 

Plastic manufacturers are concerned about the decline in sales in the coming months as environmentalists continue campaign against the hazards plastics on the environment and health of people.

 

The plastic industry is against the use of brown paper bags and recycled newspapers to wrap food.

 

Local government units in Metro Manila are now regulating the use of plastic bags in wet markets and other commercial establishments as a way of preventing floods during rainy days.

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Metro Manila Development Authority are also advocating for a metro-wide ban on plastic bags and Styrofoam in packaging food products.

 

Plastic manufacturers are arguing that plastic bags are safer for holding food and are "significantly cheaper" and "kinder to the environment." 

 

Data, according to them, showed that a gallon of clean water is needed to make one paper bag, but that same amount of water can be used to create 116 plastic bags. 

 

They said paper manufacturing needs five times more energy. 

 

The chemical industries association is currently preparing a masterplan to submit to the Trade Department in August.

 

Collaboration with stakeholders is necessary in crafting a long-term strategy for the chemical industry to further contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth in the Philippines, said group president Robert Batungbacal.

 

The group is comprised of the Association of Petrochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines, Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers, Oleochemical Manufacturers of the Philippines, Philippine Plastic Industry Association, and Republic Chemicals for the adhesive industry. —VS, GMA News