In a significant legislative effort to address the country’s escalating plastic waste issue, the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) formally established the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) on March 9, 2025. Leaders from business, government, academia, civil society, and development organizations come together on this locally driven forum to create a roadmap toward sustainable waste management and a circular economy. 

A Collaborative Effort for a Circular Economy 

With the help of the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership and important international partners like the Government of Canada, the Government of the United Kingdom, and the Coca-Cola Foundation, NPAP Philippines seeks to turn plastic trash from a crippling problem into a useful resource. The alliance aims to increase resource efficiency, reduce waste, and promote reuse in all economic sectors by moving away from a linear paradigm known as “take, make, waste” and toward a circular system. In addition to lowering pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions, this strategy may also foster innovation, create green jobs, and increase equity and community resilience.

Addressing a National Crisis 

With an annual production of almost 2.7 million metric tons of plastic garbage, a sizable amount of which ends up in the ocean, the Philippines is one of the leading countries when it comes to marine plastic pollution worldwide. Approximately 12 to 24 percent of the 61,000 metric tons of waste produced daily in the country are made up of plastics, according to DENR data. A large portion of this garbage is dumped in landfills, dumpsites, or the environment, which increases the danger of climate change and natural disasters such frequent flooding.

Key Initiatives and Policy Measures 

The rigorous implementation of Republic Act 11898, commonly referred to as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022, is a fundamental component of NPAP’s approach. With aggressive goals to recover and divert at least 20% of their plastic footprints by 2023 and 40% by 2024, this law requires producers to take accountability for their plastic trash. According to the Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR, 917 businesses had signed up for the EPR program as of May 2024. DENR stressed that in the near future, non-compliant enterprises would get notifications of violation from NPAP, which will also increase compliance and conduct a thorough assessment of EPR implementation.

Developing a Comprehensive Roadmap  

The NPAP effort consists of implementing the EPR Act and creating a National Plastics Action Roadmap, which is expected to be finished by August 2025. In addition to outlining investment requirements and providing a baseline evaluation of the existing state of plastic waste, this roadmap will provide a financing system that combines public and private funding through creative tools and incentives. To further encourage compliance among businesses, cooperation with other government organizations is also in progress, such as the Department of Finance and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Using a multi-stakeholder framework to promote systemic change and clear the path for a more resilient and sustainable future, the NPAP’s debut represents a major turning point in the Philippines’ efforts to improve its approach to plastic trash. It is anticipated that the NPAP measure would be finalized in June 2025. 

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