Several alternatives to single-use plastics are being looked for by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in collaboration with other government organizations as it adopts a whole-of-government approach in its search.
According to DOST, studies show that plastics continue to be a pervasive material in the country, being a “sachet economy” that utilizes the “tingi” retail system employed in the market.
Plastic is mainly used in grocery stores, as packaging material, in construction, and a lot more due to it being cheap, strong, and extremely versatile.
In connection with the end of single-plastic use, the Industrial Technology and Development Institute (ITDI) of the DOST will conduct a technology forum on “Analyzing the Life Cycle of Non-Environmentally Acceptable Products on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
With the enactment of Republic Act No. (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, the DOST-ITDI had initiated projects to address the problems of solid waste management in the country following the waste management hierarchy where avoidance and reduction are the most preferred options.
This is one of the forums to be conducted during the celebration of the National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) which will run from Nov. 23 to 27 2022 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City.
Likewise, there will be technology exhibits that will showcase different innovations in various fields like agriculture, waste management, emerging technologies, blue and green economy, health, and disaster preparedness, among others.