Mainstreaming Reuse: Policy Recommendations for Reuse and Refill Systems in the Philippines

The plastic crisis is more than a waste issue, as it intersects with other environmental and social issues, exacerbating harms and inequalities felt by affected communities. Despite the notable impacts across the plastic lifecycle and the urgency of the plastic crisis, the majority of solutions are less effective downstream measures, while upstream solutions remain uncommon. Upstream solutions, such as reduction measures, bans, and reuse and refill systems, are significantly more effective in addressing the plastic crisis because they address plastic pollution in the upstream and midstream phases before multiple environmental, social, and health problems are created by the plastic lifecycle.

Reuse and refill systems can reduce impacts of the plastic crisis as well as provide environmental and socioeconomic benefits to communities and stakeholders across the value chain. These can also help create zero-waste, reuse-based business models within a broader slow circular economy, which Greenpeace describes as an economy that closes the loop and slows the flow through a decrease in resource extraction, overall production patterns, and consumption.

As it is the policy of the state to protect Filipinos and advance their right to a balanced and healthy environment, it is imperative that the government mandates the adoption of upstream solutions. This includes reuse and refill systems, which require a strong, fair, and environmentally sound policy framework. To help develop the latter, Greenpeace Philippines has prepared a paper detailing measures and recommendations for establishing a robust policy framework that will institutionalize and mainstream reuse and refill systems in the country.

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