Good day!
We at Greenpeace Philippines would like to thank your esteemed news organization for publishing the Philippine Reuse Consortium’s network press release.
However, we would like to request for an erratum for said article (dated January 27 for online and January 28 for print) entitled “Greenpeace, other environment groups call for recycling.”
We are requesting that Manila Standard swap out the word “recycling” with “reuse.”
Our group is concerned about the use of the word recycling as it was not the topic of the recent 2025 Philippine Reuse Study Tour and Conference.
Recycling and reuse are two different concepts altogether with interventions happening at different parts of the plastic life cycle. Recycling occurs in the downstream phase of the product life cycle (post-consumer use/disposal) while reuse systems are in the midstream phase.
Recycling, aside from overlooking the problems in the upstream and midstream phase (production and consumption), has its own set of problems which groups are concerned about. This includes microplastic release, transfer of toxic chemicals to recycled content, etc.
We are promoting plastic production reduction and reuse systems as upstream solutions that address the problem at source before environmental, social and health issues are created.
We hope that your organization would consider our request.
Thank you for consideration.
James Relativo
Greenpeace Philippines