MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A recent survey revealed that most Filipinos support a reduction in plastic production to combat pollution. The survey, conducted across 19 countries, showed that 94% of Filipinos are convinced that imposing a cap on plastic production can effectively address plastic pollution, protect biodiversity, and curb global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Filipinos also emerged as the strongest advocates for banning single-use plastic packaging, with 88% supporting this measure. They also tied with Indonesian respondents (97%) in emphasizing the importance of switching from single-use plastic packaging to reusable and refillable alternatives.
Concerns about the health impacts of plastics were also significant among Filipinos, with 94% worried about the effects on their loved ones and 93% concerned about their personal health.
“Filipinos are against plastic pollution and want genuine and lasting solutions to the plastic crisis because they know it’s harmful to health and the environment,” said Marian Ledesma, Greenpeace Philippines Zero Waste Campaigner. “We hope these findings prompt the Philippine government to stand with the Filipino people in supporting a treaty with ambitious cuts on plastic production. The government should also institute laws to limit plastic production by banning single-use disposable plastics and enacting policies that will help reuse and refill solutions thrive in the country.”
The survey results are consistent with the outcome of a project implemented by Greenpeace Philippines, which demonstrated the effectiveness of reuse and refill systems in mitigating plastic pollution while benefiting both the environment and the economy.
The survey, commissioned by Greenpeace International and conducted by Censuswide, sampled over 19,000 individuals across different countries. The results were released ahead of the fourth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC4) meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty, scheduled for the end of the month in Ottawa, Canada.
Various stakeholders, including waste workers and fisherfolk, expressed support of measures regulating single-use plastics and promoting reuse and refill, emphasizing the positive impact on their livelihoods and the environment.
“Ang plastic pollution ay isa sa mga malalaking problema sa ating mundo ngayon, pati na rin dito sa aming lugar. Nakakapagdulot siya ng baha sa aming kalsada at kadalasan naaapektuhan ang schedule ng aming collection at monitoring,” said Aloja Santos, Founding President of the newly formed Philippine National Waste Workers’ Alliance (PNWWA), and President of the Dumaguete Women Waste Workers Association. “Sumasang-ayon ako na ibalik ang refill at reuse para mabawasan ang mga basura at maibalik ang ating kinalakhan na tradisyon […] Ang kasunduang ipapatupad ay dapat bigyan ng ipin upang malimitahan ang paggamit ng plastic at hindi na makadagdag sa kasalukuyang polusyon.”
(Plastic pollutions is one of the biggest problems in the world and in our area. It causes flooding and affects our collection and monitoring. I agree to bring back refill and reuse to reduce waste. Future agreements should be enforced strongly to limit the use of plastic and not contribute to pollution.)
“Sinasang-ayunan ko ang pagbabalik ng pag-reuse at pagre-refill ng mga gamit […] Ito ay lubos na magiging kapaki-pakinabang lalong-lalo na sa aming mga mangingisda, dahil mababawasan ang mga palutang-lutang sa karagatan na nagdudulot ng pagkaubos ng isda, ng huli ng mga isda, at pagkasira ng propellers ng aming mga bangka,” said Edlyn Rosales, Chairperson of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Mangingisda Pangisda (PANGISDA)-Bataan. “Bilang mga mangingisda, susuportahan namin ang mga kasunduan at mga polisiya na naglalayong sa paglilimita sa pagproduce ng mga single-use na plastic.”
(I agree to bring back the practice of reusing and refilling because there are beneficial to us fishermen. It significantly reduces pollution in the ocean that causes the decline of marine life and the damage in the propellers of our boats. As fishermen, we support the agreements and policies that limit the production of single-use plastic.)
Greenpeace urged governments to seize this opportunity to establish global targets for reducing plastic production and transitioning away from virgin plastic production. Marian concluded, “The theme of this year’s Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastic. We are calling on the Philippine government to stand with the planet and listen to what the Filipinos need – a future free from the threats and impacts of plastic.”
People vs. Plastic: Global Support for a Strong Plastics Treaty full report can be found here.
