The planet doesn’t have much time left before plastic inundates every corner, nook and cranny, and – perhaps most concerning – every living cell on Earth, says Rene Guarin, regional vice president, Asia Pacific of Plastic Bank.
The sheer amount of plastic entering our environment – estimated to be roughly eight million pieces per day – means that 80 per cent of it reaches our oceans via rivers and inadequate waste management practices.
This increasing amount is slowly but surely threatening the existence of ocean biodiversity.
Seabirds, sea turtles, whales, fish, and countless other marine species have been found with plastic in their stomachs, with plastic bags often mistaken for jellyfish by sea turtles, leading to choking and suffocation. Abandoned fishing nets also cause the death of over 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises a year.
If current trends continue without intervention, plastic pollution is projected to rise to 29 million metric tons per year by 2040.
Plastics, for one, do not degrade upon entering the sea. Instead, they fragment into smaller particles called microplastics within a few years of being exposed to ocean conditions such as sunlight, heat, and oxygen, as well as physical forces like currents, especially among coastal areas where plastic items are subjected to constant abrasion because of waves.
These microplastics have now been found in almost all species of fish, molluscs, coral, and even in phytoplankton, which are microscopic organisms that serve as the foundation of the ocean food chain.
This has set off a domino effect and is essentially impacting the entire marine ecosystem – from zooplankton, coral, fish, and larger creatures – which in turn, sees microplastics continuously entering humans upon consumption.
Even if there were breakthrough solutions to remove plastics and microplastics from our oceans and water bodies – an already monumental and near impossible task – the planet must find ways of preventing plastic from entering the environment in the first place, notes Guarin, especially in nations with a high plastic footprint.
One is the Philippines. Estimates suggest that the Philippines generates between 2.7 million and 5.5 million metric tons of plastic waste each year, with around 20 per cent of it leaking into the ocean.
The nation was indeed responsible for more than a third of all plastic waste in the ocean in 2019.
While there is hope that the nation’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act – which mandates mainly large enterprises to be responsible for managing the plastic packaging they produce, from manufacturing to disposal – will reduce the amount of plastic entering the environment, accountability must extend to small enterprises as they comprise the majority of organisations in the nation.
People must also be incentivised to take action, Guarin adds, noting that disposed plastic needs to be imbued with some sort of “value” that could be exchanged or turned into capital.
This may explain why Plastic Bank, a social enterprise focused on reducing plastic waste pollution while helping the lives of individuals in communities, has increased its focus on the Philippines in recent years.
Guarin tells the Eco-Business podcast about the profound impact of plastic pollution in our oceans, how Plastic Bank’s business model aims to address this pressing issue, and why the organisation is determined to put a dent in the Philippines’ plastic waste problem all while mobilising and benefitting communities.
Plastic Bank was founded in 2013 with the aim of addressing ocean plastic pollution and poverty. With an estimated 11 million tonnes of plastic waste entering the oceans each year – a number that might triple by 2040 without intervention – could you first speak on how this increase in plastic waste is affecting our planet’s oceans and related biodiversity?
For one, the increasing amount of plastic in our oceans is affecting biodiversity, with mangroves being one of the primary ecosystems affected.
Studies show that mangroves are highly vulnerable to plastic pollution due to their design: their roots function as natural filters, trapping plastic debris. If mangroves are destroyed, the consequences are not yet fully understood, but they are expected to be severe.
Mangroves serve as important nurseries for ocean life, providing a haven for numerous fish species during their juvenile stages before they venture out into the open sea. Their destruction could disrupt the future supply of fish and have far-reaching effects on the coastal ecosystem, including protection against saltwater intrusion and maintaining the balance of coastal communities.
Another concerning issue is the presence of microplastics in marine food sources. Studies, such as the one conducted by the National Research Council of the Philippines, have found that mussels and milkfish sold in commercial markets contain significant levels of microplastics.
Similar findings were reported by the Bureau of Food and Aquatic Resources, indicating that microplastics are present in locally sold marine foods. This contamination not only impacts the ocean ecosystem but also poses risks to human health as these contaminated marine foods are consumed, highlighting how plastic pollution in the oceans is affecting both marine life and human populations.
What do you find most shocking about this rise?
It’s concerning to see how the Philippines contributes to plastic waste – the country has frequently been cited as one of the top five sources of plastic pollution.
There’s a clear link between poverty and plastic pollution when we consider the Philippines alongside similar archipelagic, developing nations. In core areas, consumption tends to prioritise affordability, often resulting in smaller packaging, which then leads to more plastic.
The lack of infrastructure in marginalised areas along riverbanks and tributaries sees plastic waste carried into water bodies during rainfall, eventually reaching the ocean. The fact that the Philippines, as well as other countries, are implicated in this issue is alarming.
In your opinion, who or what needs to fundamentally change for plastic to stop leaking into the environment? Is it the plastic producers, waste management infrastructure, policy, consumer behaviour, or all of the above, all at once?
I would argue that it involves all of the above. The plastic waste issue has already escalated into a global crisis, and in the Philippines, we have long viewed it as a challenge that needs various stakeholders to work together.
Let’s start with the government. I believe that the government should first create an environment conducive to implementing policies, enabling companies, consumers, and civil society to collectively tackle this concern.
The Philippines already has two laws in place: the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which is supplemented by the EPR Act of 2022. These two laws compel companies to take responsibility for the plastic they introduce into the environment. This governmental aspect forms the initial pillar.
The second aspect is private sector companies. These entities also bear the responsibility not only for waste management but also for reducing the overall plastic output. This might involve redesigning packaging to enhance recyclability. It’s crucial to view plastic as a valuable resource, as its recyclability hinges on its perceived worth. If companies create packaging that is easily recyclable, collectors will be incentivised to gather it and reintegrate it into the supply chain for recycling.
The third aspect is markets. Market participation manifests in two key ways. Firstly, consumers must make more informed purchasing decisions. It’s heartening to witness a growing trend where consumers are gravitating towards purpose-driven companies, though.
Surveys indicate that a large percentage of consumers prioritise companies aligned with their values, with many seeking environmentally friendly products and being willing to pay a premium for them. This consumer behaviour pushes companies to innovate and produce environmentally conscious products, particularly those that address plastic pollution.
Consumers also play a key role in managing plastic waste. Simple actions like sorting and cleaning plastic before disposal can enhance its recyclability, as clean plastic holds a higher value compared to contaminated plastic. This increased value incentivises individual collectors to gather it, creating a better recycling ecosystem.
The synergy of these three elements – government, private sector, and consumers collaborating – holds promise for making a substantial impact in addressing the plastic waste crisis.
I see that Plastic Bank plans to grow its operations in the Philippines. Why is the nation particularly critical when it comes to plastic waste?
As previously mentioned, our country stands as a significant contributor to the global plastic waste crisis.
Previously ranking within the top three in 2019, we are now at the top spot. This issue has caught the attention of the government, leading to the introduction of the EPR law – as a progression from the Solid Waste Act of 2000 – encouraging companies to actively engage in addressing plastic pollution.
The impact of this issue was starkly evident when heavy flooding [in July] ensued following a powerful storm, resulting in plastic debris visibly scattered across affected areas. The ubiquity of plastic pollution during such events underscores how deeply entrenched this issue is, affecting everyone within our community.
How do you foresee the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act in the Philippines – which mandates large enterprises to recover 80 per cent of their plastic waste by 2028 – supporting Plastic Bank’s efforts in the country?
I believe there is a very strong match. Before the EPR law, we were actually termed as having a voluntary EPR programme because our focus was predominantly on recycling. This approach aligns well with the EPR law’s emphasis on circularity.
The legislation aims to ensure that plastics are not simply destined for landfills or incineration but are instead intended for recycling, processing into pellets or intermediate products, and then sold to manufacturers.
This cycle forms an important aspect of our operations at Plastic Bank, as circularity lies at the core of our activities. We facilitate the journey of plastic from individual collectors to junk shops, processors, and ultimately to manufacturers requiring recycled plastic.
Furthermore, the law mandates the participation of various stakeholders. At Plastic Bank, we consistently strive to bring together diverse groups to collaborate and devise innovative solutions.
We believe that the new EPR law will enhance our efforts in the country, helping us to work with companies by offering solutions to ensure compliance with the law.
I understand that Plastic Bank will expand its EPR compliance engagement to now include micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), even if this sector is not required to comply with the EPR law. Could you explain the rationale behind this pivot?
The EPR law primarily targets large companies with a turnover of PHP 100 million in the Philippines. However, when examining the business landscape in the country, and likely in others as well, over 90 per cent – or around 99 per cent of registered businesses in the Philippines – are SMEs, with only 1 per cent being large corporations.
This statistic underscores the fact that small enterprises share the same desire as larger companies to operate sustainably. Despite this shared aspiration, small businesses often encounter challenges in scaling their operations while striving to be part of meaningful initiatives that address environmental and social issues.
In contrast to the EPR approach – which focuses on the plastic footprint of companies – our Impact Subscription offers SMEs the opportunity to participate in a purpose-driven movement by funding a predetermined monthly collection of plastics. By engaging in this initiative, they directly contribute to social and environmental impact by supporting collectors involved in the process.
Additionally, our subscription grants SMEs access to materials that enable them to communicate their commitment to sustainable practices and their contribution to addressing social and environmental challenges.
We provide a range of resources, including stories, photos, videos, and downloadable materials that SMEs can easily integrate into their communication material to showcase their dedication to sustainable practices.
We also offer a website featuring a virtual tracking system that allows SMEs to monitor and display the amount of plastic waste they have helped remove from the environment. This approach aims to attract more participants to join forces in effectively addressing the plastic waste crisis.
How can we solve the problem of flexible plastics pollution (sachets, for example) when their recycling value is low? Is chemical recycling a viable option?
It would involve a combination of technological advancements, starting from the production of plastics. Redesigning packaging is also important – even if there are recovery methods, people may not engage if there is no perceived value.
Establishing the necessary infrastructure is equally important. In regions like the Philippines, where governmental solid waste management programmes may be lacking, alternative approaches are needed – and this is where the informal waste sector plays a significant role.
By incentivising the informal waste management sector, we are formalising collection efforts, transforming junk shops into registered collection branches, empowering waste pickers to become registered collection community members, and complementing government efforts by making recycling traceable and scalable.
Collaboration with the informal waste sector, particularly in countries like the Philippines, is key as it strengthens the initiatives aimed at addressing flexible packaging waste.
Plastic Bank’s business model enables individuals to earn an income by collecting plastic waste, which can be exchanged for money and basic goods such as food, cooking fuel, and services like school tuition, medical insurance, and Internet access. What are some of the most moving stories you have heard from the individuals who your business model has helped?
There are several impactful stories within our organisation, but one that particularly stands out involves a fisherperson from Baseco [a barangay located in the Port Area of Manila, Philippines]. Every day, while fishing, he noticed a large amount of plastic pollution in the waters.
Motivated to make a difference, he began collecting this plastic alongside his fishing activities. The income generated from selling this collected plastic has not only supplemented his earnings but has also enabled him to improve his standard of living. With this extra income, he has been able to purchase additional food and even repair his home.
What sets this story apart is [the fisherperson’s] proactive approach toward financial planning and emergencies – a rare luxury for many marginalised community members who lack financial security.
Our organisation also works closely with marginalised communities, where there is often a societal stigma attached to their work.
By recognising the value in what these individuals do, we aim to elevate their sense of dignity and importance. It’s not just about collecting plastic; it’s about being part of a larger movement that addresses a pressing global issue.
“
By incentivising the informal waste management sector, we are formalising collection efforts, transforming junk shops into registered collection branches, empowering waste pickers to become registered collection community members, and complementing government efforts by making recycling traceable and scalable.
Rene Guarin, vice president, Asia Pacific of Plastic Bank
You mentioned in a previously published story on Plastic Bank that traceability is crucial, with the company’s blockchain-based platform key to tracking collection, securing income, and verifying reporting. What else would you say separates Plastic Bank from competitors offering similar solutions?
Our solutions are built around ensuring the traceability of environmental impact and using it to uplift collection communities, which lies at the heart of our mission. This commitment is reflected in the Silver Sustainability Rating certification that we have received from EcoVadis, an organisation known for its stringent sustainability standards.
Being EcoVadis-certified means meeting specific criteria related to environmental practices, labour standards, ethics, and procurement. Transitioning from bronze to silver rating signifies operational improvements and the implementation of policies addressing sustainability as well as compliance risks. Additionally, we hold certification from Global Recycled Standard (GRS), which assesses the traceability and percentage of recycled content in our processes.
How does Plastic Bank ensure that waste collection members are properly taught how to track and record collected waste on their devices?
We believe that the entire system starts with proper onboarding. Right from the beginning, we outline with our potential members what plastic packing entails and what they need to advance or improve on to meet our requirements. This involves a series of orientations and practical training sessions covering proper sorting techniques and the identification of different plastic materials. Additionally, we provide education on financial and business literacy.
Our focus is on enhancing the capacity of those on the frontline. We have a structured process, including mid-year and end-of-year reviews. These assessments are all guided by a roadmap aimed at building the capacity of our collection community members.
Extrapolating from current plastic waste trends, what do you think the planet could look like in the next century, say the year 2100, if things do not change?
As mentioned, plastic is already impacting the ecosystem of the oceans, and mangroves. Fish are already ingesting it, which means humans are consuming it. There’s a projection that by 2040, there may be more plastic in the ocean than fish. It is already impacting how we live – I can’t imagine how it would look in the future if this is not addressed.
Have we crossed the path of no return? If not, what should individuals bear in mind?
At Plastic Bank, we strongly believe in the power of collaboration. Reflecting on past challenges, such as the ozone crisis, we see how the world united to address a seemingly insurmountable problem. Plastic pollution is no different – it’s a pressing issue that affects us all. Our goal is to bring people and organisations together to collectively tackle this issue.
We are convinced that by engaging individuals, organisations, and communities, we can devise innovative solutions to curb the increasing flow of plastic into our oceans. This will involve advocating for government policies, creating partnerships between the private sector and local communities, and encouraging consumers to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle.
Through this approach, we believe we can effectively fight this global plastic pollution crisis.
So, yes, we extend an invitation to everyone to join us and become part of this movement. We consider it crucial to address this issue, and at Plastic Bank, we actively seek opportunities to collaborate with various sectors and groups in combating the global crisis of pollution.
The transcript has been edited for brevity and clarity.
