Promoting eco-friendly essentials and plastic-free environment in ‘Stories for a Better Normal’ series

Government leaders, social entrepreneurs, and advocates against single-use plastic will gather virtually to discuss the promotion of eco-friendly alternatives and a plastic-free environment on the 29th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways” with the topic, “Uniting Against Single-Use Plastic.”

The episode, hosted by House Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air today, Dec 10 2020, 10 am via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/conglorenlegarda.

Jamico Jamlang, Founder of The Bamboo Company; Czarina Constantino, National Lead of the No Plastics in Nature Initiative by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) – Philippines; Wilma Arevalo, President of Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina (KALIPI); and Mayor Josephine Alcantara-Cruz of Donsol, Sorsogon will be joining the online conversation.

The episode will focus on private sector initiatives that  dissuade the use of single-use plastic in the country. In addition to this, it will feature the local initiatives that are addressing plastic waste management in communities and in nature. Likewise, the online conversation will discuss the eco-friendly alternatives to essential items, such as products made from bamboo and recycled materials.

The COVID-19 crisis has contributed to the growing plastic pollution problem as people buy and utilize single-use items, such as disposable face masks and plastic cutlery and food packaging materials, to prevent contamination and the further spread of the virus.

The upcoming episode will feature an online store that promotes the use of bamboo products as alternatives to plastic, a national initiative that seeks to stop plastic waste leakage in nature, a local government unit that has signed up for the initiative, and a women’s organization that participates in activities that aim to reduce and manage waste while maximizing livelihood opportunities.

In last week’s episode, the online series tackled a local ban on single-use plastic, a non-profit organization’s initiative to raise awareness on plastic pollution, and an online store’s drive to promote the use of plastic alternatives.

This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.