The Philippines is moving closer to a circular plastic economy by 2040 with the launch of a program that promotes sustainable consumption and production.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led the recent takeoff of the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), a multi-stakeholder platform designed to foster collaboration across sectors and accelerate the country’s transition to a circular economy.
The platform aims to catalyze the transition that views plastic waste not as an insurmountable burden but as an opportunity.
“This crisis extends far beyond environmental. It threatens our biodiversity, undermines livelihoods and jeopardizes public health, imposing significant economic costs,” said DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga during the launch.
“The NPAP represents a pivotal step forward. It is a dynamic and inclusive mechanism designed to unify and amplify our collective efforts,” she said.
The NPAP provides a unifying platform to transition from a “take-make-waste” linear economic model to a circular economy, where resources are used efficiently, waste is minimized, and materials are reused.
By prioritizing sustainable consumption and production, circular economy not only reduces emissions and pollution but also fosters innovation, green job creation, resilience, and equity.
Led by the DENR, NPAP Philippines brought together leaders from the government, private sector, civil society, academia, and development partners to co-develop holistic and inclusive solutions to plastic pollution.
The launch of NPAP Philippines was spearheaded by Yulo Loyzaga, Canada’s Ambassador to the Philippines, David Hartman, UK Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, World Economic Forum Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) Director Clemence Schmid and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran.
Plastic waste remains a critical challenge for the Philippines, generating approximately 2.7 million metric tons annually, with a significant portion ending up in the ocean. This places the country among the top contributors to marine plastic pollution globally.
The NPAP’s multi-stakeholder approach builds on existing efforts and leverages the strengths of government, private sector, civil society, academe, science organizations and development partners.
NPAP Philippines is part of the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP), an initiative of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and supported by the United Kingdom, Canada and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
“By uniting government, businesses, and civil society, we translate global and national commitments into tangible actions, fostering a circular plastic economy by 2040,” says Clemence Schmid, the WEF GPAP Director.
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) serves as the host organization for the NPAP’s Secretariat, a neutral body that collaborates with the NPAP Steering Board to provide technical and operational support, oversee the development of the National Plastic Action Roadmap, foster inclusive partnerships, and monitor progress towards NPAP’s objectives. UNDP Philippines News