People vs. plastic: Filipinos rally behind global push for plastic reduction

In the coastal communities of the Philippines, the impacts of plastic pollution resonate deeply with those who depend on the ocean for their livelihoods. For Edlyn Rosales, a fisherfolk from Bataan, the daily struggle against plastic debris is a relentless battle for survival.

"Ang plastic ay napakalaking perwisyo. Ang mga isda ay nasa-suffocate sa mga plastic gayun din ang pagkasira ng aming mga propellers at pagsabit nito sa aming mga lambat. Ito ay lubos na nakakaapekto sa aming pang-araw-araw na hanapbuhay," Edlyn said. "Bilang mga mangingisda, susuportahan namin ang mga kasunduan at mga polisiya na naglalayong limitahan ang pag-produce ng mga single-use plastic."

(Plastic is a huge problem. Fishes are suffocating in plastic, and it also damages our propellers and gets tangled in our nets. This greatly affects our livelihood. As fisherfolk, we support agreements and policies aimed at limiting the production of single-use plastic.)

Edlyn's sentiment echoes the findings of a recent global survey conducted by Greenpeace International, which revealed that over 90% of Filipinos support a cut in plastic production to combat plastic pollution, protect biodiversity, and curb global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.[1] This overwhelming consensus reflects a growing awareness of the devastating impacts of plastic pollution on both the environment and human health.

This crisis is borne from the country’s dependence on single-use plastics—the Philippines generates 2.7 million tons of plastic waste annually, according to a 2021 World Bank report.[2]

Eric Beren, a youth activist from the same province, emphasizes the urgency of the issue beyond the immediate impact on marine life. "Maliban sa dumi na nakukuha sa dagat, ang mga isda ay nakakakain din ng toxic waste na galing sa mga pabrika, dumi, at plastik. Ang mga nakukuhang waste ng mga isda ay puwedeng maghatid ng sakit sa mga mamamayang konsyumer nito. Ito ay may epekto sa future naming mga kabataan, pamumuhay, at kabuhayan.”

(Apart from the debris collected from the sea, fishes also consume toxic waste from factories, pollutants, and plastic. The wastes consumed by fishes can transmit diseases to the consuming public. This has an effect on our future, our way of life, and our livelihood.)

As the founding president of the Philippine National Waste Workers' Alliance, Aloja Santos knows firsthand the challenges posed by plastics. The country’s waste management systems are being overwhelmed with over 48 million shopping bags, 45 million thin film bags (plastic labo),[3] and 164 million plastic sachets used and disposed daily in the Philippines,[4] among many other types of plastic that find their way to landfills and waste facilities. For waste workers like Aloja, this reality presents a massive problem.

"Ang plastic pollution ay isa sa mga malaking problema sa ating mundo ngayon, pati na rin sa aming lugar at kabuhayan. Nagkalat ang mga sachet at plastic bags na nakakadagdag pa sa aming trabaho lalo na’t hindi ito nabubulok or nareresiklo. Isa rin sa epekto sa amin ng plastic pollution ay kapag may nagsusunog nito ay naglalabas ito ng mabahong amoy na masama sa kalusugan ng mga tao,” Aloja said.

(Plastic pollution is one of the biggest problems in our world today, as well as in our area and our livelihood. Sachets and plastic bags are scattered everywhere, adding to our workload especially since they do not decompose or recycle easily. Another effect of plastic pollution on us is when plastics are burned, emitting foul odors that are harmful to people's health.)

She continued, “Susuporta ako kung may ipapasang pandaigdigang kasunduan. Ang kasunduang ipatutupad ay dapat bigyan ng pangil upang malimitahan ang paggamit ng plastik at hindi na makadagdag sa kasalukuyang polusyon. Dahil ito ay toxic para sa kalikasan. Para sa susunod na henerasyon, sariwang hangin ang malalanghap nila at malinis na karagatan ang kanilang mapapaliguan.”

(I will support any proposed international agreement. The agreement should be enforced rigorously to limit the use of plastic and prevent further pollution. Because it is toxic to nature. Future generations should still be able to breathe fresh air and swim in clean oceans.)

As world leaders reconvene for the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty later this month, the call to end the age of plastic is louder than ever. For Eric, a strong treaty will protect people of all walks of life from the impacts of plastic. "Ang pagkakaroon ng pandaigdigang hakbang at kasunduan sa pagbabago para sa kapaligiran ay makatao at ito ang magtutulak rin sa isang kasunduang pakikinabangan ng lahat."

(The establishment of global initiatives and agreements for environmental change will be a just move and will also benefit everyone.)

Edlyn said that the treaty should limit plastic production, which is the root cause of the plastic crisis. “Dahil sa mga malalaking producer lang nakasalalay ang dami ng produksyon, naniniwala ako na ito ang pangunahing dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng plastic pollution. Ang pagbabawas nito ay isang napakalaking ginhawa sa aming mga mangingisda.”

(Because the amount of production relies heavily on large producers, I believe this is the primary reason for the worsening plastic pollution. Reducing it would be a significant relief for us fisherfolk.)

She also added that switching from single-use plastics to reuse and refill can help address the plastic problem. She said, “Sumasang-ayon ako sa pagbalik sa pagre-use at pagre-refill, sapagkat ang option na ito ay magiging isang malaking hakbang sa pagbabawas ng paggamit ng single-use plastic.” A recent project by Greenpeace Philippines showed that reuse and refill systems in the country can benefit not only the environment but also the economy.[5]

(I support returning to reuse and refill, as this option would be a significant step in reducing the use of single-use plastic.)

Their voices, and those of countless others like them, are now being heard on the global stage. As the spotlight shines on world governments, including the Philippines, the goal is clear: to forge a Global Plastics Treaty that will safeguard the lives and livelihoods of Filipinos like Edlyn, Eric, and Aloja.

Eunille Santos is a digital campaigner at Greenpeace Philippines.

[1] Greenpeace International, People vs. Plastic: Global Support for a Strong Plastics Treaty, 2024, https://act.gp/peoplevsplasticph
[2] World Bank, Market Study for Philippines: Plastics Circularity Opportunities and Barriers, 2021, https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/61e2e030-9dc2-5013-a8ff-7565919e17ee
[3] GAIA, Plastics Exposed: How Waste Assessments and Brand Audits Are Helping Philippine Cities Fight Plastic Pollution, 2019, https://www.no-burn.org/wp-content/uploads/Plastics-Exposed-2nd-Edition-Online-Version.pdf
[4] GAIA, Sachet Economy: Big Problems in Small Packets, 2020,  https://www.no-burn.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Sachet-Economy-spread-.pdf
[5] Greenpeace Philippines, Kuha sa Tingi: Bringing back sustainability into Filipino tingi culture, 2024, https://act.gp/reuserefill