7 of 10 Pinoys favor ban on single-use plastics
Published Jan 21, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
Majority of the Filipinos are in favor of banning single-use plastic bags and containers in the country, a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed.
Plastic bags (PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a press conference Tuesday, SWS Deputy Director Vladimyr Licudine said that a nationwide survey showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos “feel that the best thing to do with single-use plastics is to ban their use at all times.”
Licudine said the survey was conducted from September 27 to 30, 2019 to 1,800 respondents from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It was commissioned by GAIA Asia Pacific.
According to the result, 71 percent of the respondents agreed that “sando” bags are the top plastic materials that need to be regulated.
Meanwhile, majority of the respondents specifically indicated the need to control the following plastics: straws and stirrers; ‘labo’ (transparent) bags; styrofoam or polystyrene food containers; sachets; tetra pack; drinking cups; cutlery; juice packaging; and water containers.
The survey also revealed that majority –or 68 percent –of the Filipinos want their food condiments in recyclable or refillable containers, instead of sachets.
This was followed by 42 percent who want their personal care products, like shampoo and conditioners, in recyclable containers; while 29 percent want their household cleaning materials and 27 percent want their powdered drinks in the same type of material.
Meanwhile, only 41 percent, or four out of 10 Filipinos, want companies to find alternative materials for the packaging of their products. Others suggest that companies buy or collect their plastics; ban or stop its production; and reduce its usage.
GAIA Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator Froilan Gate is looking forward to the time Congress will pass a law banning single-use plastic containers and packaging in the country, especially after the President had issued a statement on the matter.
GAIA also recommended that the government moves to phase out sachets in favor of re-use and refill systems within three years.
Plastic bags (PIXABAY / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
In a press conference Tuesday, SWS Deputy Director Vladimyr Licudine said that a nationwide survey showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos “feel that the best thing to do with single-use plastics is to ban their use at all times.”
Licudine said the survey was conducted from September 27 to 30, 2019 to 1,800 respondents from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It was commissioned by GAIA Asia Pacific.
According to the result, 71 percent of the respondents agreed that “sando” bags are the top plastic materials that need to be regulated.
Meanwhile, majority of the respondents specifically indicated the need to control the following plastics: straws and stirrers; ‘labo’ (transparent) bags; styrofoam or polystyrene food containers; sachets; tetra pack; drinking cups; cutlery; juice packaging; and water containers.
The survey also revealed that majority –or 68 percent –of the Filipinos want their food condiments in recyclable or refillable containers, instead of sachets.
This was followed by 42 percent who want their personal care products, like shampoo and conditioners, in recyclable containers; while 29 percent want their household cleaning materials and 27 percent want their powdered drinks in the same type of material.
Meanwhile, only 41 percent, or four out of 10 Filipinos, want companies to find alternative materials for the packaging of their products. Others suggest that companies buy or collect their plastics; ban or stop its production; and reduce its usage.
GAIA Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator Froilan Gate is looking forward to the time Congress will pass a law banning single-use plastic containers and packaging in the country, especially after the President had issued a statement on the matter.
GAIA also recommended that the government moves to phase out sachets in favor of re-use and refill systems within three years.