Successful implementation of the strategies and roadmap towards the achievement of Zero Waste To Nature (ZWTN) 2030 could generate P15.1 billion infrastructure investments, creation of 4,000 new green jobs and P5.2 billion income for the informal sector.

This was estimated by the Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS) together with the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector members in their “Rigid and Flexible Packaging Applications” its Strategy and Roadmap 2021-2030 .

The groups are preparing for the implementation of the recently passed Republic Act 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022 in the country, which underlines the important role of EPR systems as a practical approach to waste management, focusing on waste reduction, recovery and diversion, and the development of environment-friendly products.

Compared to proposed plastic taxes, the groups said that EPR fees are meant to be spent precisely for diversion and circularity. Whereas taxes go to the central budgets and are spent in line with general government considerations like paying public servants, building infrastructure, and the like.

The Roadmap presented a model showing that with the successful implementation of identified strategies, the ZWTN 2030 is feasible for all plastic packaging structures. The model showed benefits to investment, labor and employment.

But to meet the targets for diversion capacity by 2030 in the packaging applications, the roadmap showed an estimated P15.1 billion infrastructure investment for new recycling and waste diversion facilities.

The operation of these facilities will directly create 4,000 new “green jobs” while EPR fees to support waste recovery will generate approximately P5.2 billion of annual additional income for the informal waste sector and Barangay Material Recovery Facilities.

A diversion rate of 20 percent can be achieved in 2022 or upon operationalization of the EPR scheme and other enabling policies. The diversion rate can be progressively increased by 10 percent each year to reach 100 percent by 2030 as the other strategies are phased in, driving waste recovery and diversion across the country.

Diversion rate refers to the portion of waste not sent to the landfill. Tracking diversion rate over time is a great way to measure of the effectiveness of reuse, recycling, and organic composting programs.

PARMS and the FMCG member sectors have committed to initiate and support efforts to manage plastic and packaging waste and reduce the country’s waste footprint.

In January 2020, PARMS members and their affiliates signed a commitment to Zero Waste to Nature, Ambisyon 2030 (ZWTN 2030), wherein each member company must be able to demonstrate that none of the industrial and post-consumer packaging wastes generated from its operations, sale of products, and usage of products end up in nature by 2030.

The group has called for a system change strategies designed to ensure circularity in the industry through reduction in the use of packaging materials, removal of pigments and fillers, increase recyclability and labeling.

Another strategy is to support waste recovery processes that include extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme customized for the Philippines. This calls for a credit-based EPR scheme that financially supports the waste sector through the trading of waste diversion credits and push for EPR legislation with realistic and attainable increasing water diversion rate targets.

Also included is the support for recovery models on the ground from the local government units and commercial establishments.

The third strategy is to facilitate investment into infrastructure. This means implementation of policies that support markets for their products and phase in infrastructure in short, mid, and long term.

If these strategies are implemented, PARMS and FMCG expect impact on FMCG industry waste footprint quantity and recyclability, and waste diversion capacity to achieve ZWTN 2030.