Metro Manila, Philippines – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been recognized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the EPR Partners Leadership Award for its contributions to advancing the country’s implementation of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law.

The award was conferred during the 2026 EPR Recognition Program, held in conjunction with the country’s National Zero Waste Month and 25^th anniversary of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. 

“UNDP is honored to receive this recognition. It reflects our strong partnership with the Philippine Government—especially the DENR—and the collective efforts of national and local leaders, industry, civil society, and communities. Together, we are turning policy into real solutions that reduce waste, strengthen recovery systems, and create inclusive and sustainable economic opportunities. Extended Producer Responsibility is helping drive the Philippines’ shift toward a circular economy that benefits both people and the planet,” said Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines.

Since the passage of the EPR Act in 2022, UNDP has worked closely with the DENR and partners to operationalize the law at both national and subnational levels, providing technical, institutional, and systems support to ensure effective implementation. This includes supporting the formulation of the EPR Act Implementing Rules and Regulations and National Framework, developing the online EPR Registry for enterprise reporting and monitoring, conducting cost-of-service analyses to guide fee setting, implementing the LOOPFORWARD campaign, and assisting local government units (LGUs) and stakeholders to align EPR with waste management and circular economy efforts. 

Complementing this, UNDP serves as the Secretariat of the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines, a nationally-driven, multi-stakeholder platform led by the DENR and supported by the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership, with funding from the UK Government, the Government of Canada, and the Coca-Cola Foundation. NPAP strengthens EPR implementation through stakeholder and value-chain coordination, evidence-based planning, and cross-sector partnerships—aligning government agencies, industry, LGUs, civil society, academe, and communities around the National Plastic Action Roadmap, a shared roadmap for circularity. 

Through national baseline assessments, scenario modeling, and dedicated working groups on recycling, upstream reuse and refill, social inclusion, and behavior change, the platform advances practical solutions that improve compliance, strengthen post-consumer markets, drive upstream interventions, mobilize investments, and better integrate informal waste workers into the value chain. NPAP also supports DENR in assessing implementation progress, identifying bottlenecks, and developing targeted policy and operational improvements.

Together, these efforts help ensure that EPR moves beyond compliance to become a catalyst for circular economy transformation, driving innovation, strengthening local value chains, creating green and inclusive and green jobs, and delivering lasting environmental and economic benefits for communities across the Philippines. [E]