“The global economy is facing unprecedented environmental challenges, and the Philippines is no exception. With mounting evidence of the negative impact of climate change and how it is exacerbated by factors such as unsustainable waste management practices, it has become more critical than ever for the business sector to lead the shift toward a more sustainable and circular economy system.

The far-reaching negative consequences of the solid and plastic waste pollution crisis in the Philippines are a severe environmental problem that requires immediate action.

Our waste management system is designed with assumptions of future material demand and consumption much the same as decades ago, where material waste often ends up in landfills. This linear and outdated model forces landfills to function beyond their tolerance levels, eventually polluting the waterways and degrading the soil. In the process, methane gas is emitted in these areas.

This causes severe ecological imbalance, threatening our ecosystems and affecting our daily lives.

Addressing today’s plastic and solid waste pollution crisis requires a concerted effort and a systemic thinking approach.

We need to understand that the waste problem is not just an environmental issue, but an economic and social issue as well. The alarming rate of material waste generated, whether or not the waste is plastic, and its inefficient management poses significant threats to the health and well-being of our people and our environment, and the loss of potential revenue streams for industries and the economy.