DTI, PCX partner to encourage firms to curb plastic pollution

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has forged a partnership with non-profit organization Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) to encourage businesses to be responsible for the plastic they generate and for consumers to adopt sustainable consumption.

A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed by Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez and PCX founder Nanette Medved-Po yesterday to work together to address the problem of plastic pollution.

“This agreement with the Plastic Credit Exchange or PCX will encourage our business sector to take responsibility for the plastic wastes that their products generate, reduce their own carbon footprint, and lessen the damaging impact of plastic wastes on the environment. On the part of the consumer sector, on the other hand, this will mold a consistent practice of ethical and sustainable consumption and the responsible use and disposal of plastics,” Lopez said.

PCX helps firms responsibly offset their plastic footprint and reduce their plastic waste.  It also has partnerships with local government units for a waste-to-cash program which involves providing incentives to sari-sari stores that serve as collection points of plastic waste.

Under the agreement, the DTI would be encouraging businesses to support the activities of the PCX.

“We are to encourage the private sector to support initiatives of PCX, especially retail establishments in the country where they can accommodate PCX drop-off points,” Trade Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said.

At present, she said PCX has collection centers for used plastic in malls like SM.

She said the DTI would also help link PCX with industry partners that may provide assistance in funding Philippine development plastic waste solutions and for potential partnerships.

PCX, meanwhile, will be issuing a certificate of plastic credits and/or certificate of plastic neutrality to partners upon satisfactory compliance with all requirements of the Plastic Pollution Reduction Standard.

It will also be responsible for the coordination of hauling and transport of post-consumer plastics to Department of Environment and Natural Resources-certified processors.

PCX will likewise make sure partner plastic processors receive, handle, store, and dispose of the post-consumer plastics collected in line with conditions under their respective environmental compliance certificates and with all applicable laws and regulations.

“We really want to encourage businesses to be responsible for their plastic footprint and this MOA with DTI takes us a long way in demonstrating to industry that the government is signaling we want them to be responsible,” Po said.

Lopez said through the MOA, the DTI would want to see more companies becoming “plastic neutral” and carrying the PCX mark or plastic neutral product badge, more establishments participating as drop-off points for used plastics, and more sari-sari stores taking part in the waste to cash incentive scheme.