Philippines brings diverse sectors together under a national roadmap for an 85% plastic pollution reduction by 2040

September 30, 2026

Photograph: diverse group on stage at the launch of the roadmap. — An abridged version of the Philippine National Plastic Action Roadmap 2026-2040 has been launched, bringing partners from across sectors together to advance collective action toward an 85% reduction in plastic pollution by 2040.

UNDP Philippines

Manila, Philippines – The National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines has launched the Philippine National Plastic Action Roadmap 2026–2040, a shared national direction for coordinating action to prevent plastic pollution and strengthen the country’s transition to a circular, inclusive, resilient and accountable plastics system.

Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Roadmap sets a national ambition to reduce plastic pollution by 85% by 2040 through coordinated action across the plastics life cycle. It connects prevention and better product design with responsible production and consumption, viable reuse and refill systems, effective collection, recovery and recycling and environmentally sound management of residual waste.

“The challenge is significant and we should respond appropriately. The Roadmap serves as a blueprint to bring existing targets and initiatives into a common framework and provide a firm basis for directing investment where it is needed most. Through this Roadmap, the Philippines aims to reduce plastic pollution by 85% by 2040,” said DENR Secretary Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna emphasizing the directive under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. on the urgency to address the issue of plastic pollution and its persistent impacts to the country.

The Roadmap recognizes plastic pollution as a systems and development challenge affecting public health, biodiversity, resilience and livelihoods. Product design, affordability, services and markets influence whether materials remain in productive use or become pollution. The country’s island geography and differing local capacities require solutions suited to local conditions, including those of remote and underserved communities.

It harmonizes and aligns existing national policies and initiatives, including the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the Extended Producer Responsibility Act, the National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction and Management of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML), the Philippine Action Plan for Sustainable Consumption and Production (PAP4SCP) and the existing roadmap for plastic waste management and reduction of non-recyclable single-use plastics. It also connects these with wider national priorities on development, biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods.

10 outcomes for system change

Core outcomes

Plastic pollution is prevented at source
Segregation, collection, recovery, recycling and safe residuals management systems are strengthened
Plastic leakage is prevented, reduced and remediated in communities and ecosystems
Responsible and transparent plastic waste trade supports domestic circularity
Circular markets, finance, investment and enterprises make plastic circularity viable
Producers and businesses adopt circular and responsible value chains

Enabling outcomes

The plastics system transition is just, gender-responsive, socially inclusive and safe
Circular consumption and sustained behaviour change are enabled
Evidence, data, science, technology and innovation enable informed action and accelerate circular transformation
Policy coherence, national–local governance and institutional capacity will enable coordinated implementation

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), serving as technical secretariat of NPAP Philippines, supported a multi-stakeholder process to develop the Roadmap. Activities began in 2025 and involved government agencies, industry, development organizations, academia, civil society and community representatives – bringing together technical analysis, stakeholder knowledge and implementation experience to establish a shared national direction grounded in Philippine realities.

The Roadmap identifies 10 mutually reinforcing system change outcomes. These are designed to work together, rather than as separate pillars or in a strict sequence.

Stakeholders shared pledges during the launch, committing to work together toward a more circular, inclusive, and sustainable plastics system in the country.

UNDP Philippines

Christophe Bahuet, UNDP Resident Representative in the Philippines, said the Roadmap provides a shared direction for moving from fragmented interventions to coordinated action across the plastics life cycle. As Secretariat of NPAP Philippines, UNDP has helped bring diverse sectors and perspectives together around a common understanding of the plastics system and the solutions needed to address plastic pollution.

“As Secretariat of the National Plastic Action Partnership, UNDP is committed to helping translate the Roadmap from a shared vision into practical action. This means bringing together data, technical expertise and diverse perspectives from across the country to better understand the plastics system and identify solutions and financing opportunities suited to the Philippine context. We will continue to strengthen the knowledge base, foster collaboration and connect priorities with technical assistance, innovation and investment, so that the transition to circularity is ambitious, inclusive, locally responsive and focused on results.”

The nationally led process of developing the Roadmap also brought in perspectives and expertise from international partners through the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP):

Roisin Greene, Head of Strategy, Growth and Partnerships, Global Plastic Action Partnership, World Economic Forum: “Through the Global Plastic Action Partnership, the World Economic Forum brings evidence, stakeholders and global experience together to support the Philippines in turning its national priorities into coordinated action towards a more circular plastics economy. This nationally led process has now culminated in a Roadmap that gives all partners a shared direction for implementation, in support of the shared ambition of a Philippines free from plastic pollution.”

Mike Welch, Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy Manila: “Across the world, as much as 13 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year, impacting nature and communities' livelihoods. Huge congratulations to the Philippines for the Launch of their Philippine Plastic Action Roadmap today. The UK is a proud partner. It marks an important milestone, not just for the Philippines, but for the wider effort to build a more circular, resilient and sustainable economy.”

Simon Snoxell, Counsellor (Development) and Head of Cooperation of the Embassy of Canada: “Through Canada’s support to the Global Plastic Action Partnership under our International Biodiversity Program, Canada remains committed to advancing solutions that address the interconnected challenges of plastic pollution and biodiversity loss. We are honored to support the launch of the National Plastic Action Roadmap 2026-2040 and congratulate the Philippines on this important milestone. Through continued collaboration, innovation, and shared responsibility, we can work together to translate this roadmap into action, reducing plastic pollution and safeguarding the biodiversity that underpins healthy oceans, resilient communities, and a sustainable future.”

Carlos Pagoaga, President, The Coca-Cola Foundation: “The National Plastic Action Roadmap provides a shared direction for advancing plastic waste management systems. The Coca-Cola Foundation is proud to support NPAP and its work to connect national priorities with local action, helping ensure that solutions on the ground contribute to broader, long-term progress.”

The Roadmap provides the foundation for the next phase: developing the implementation framework and investment and financing plan, strengthening data and evidence, improving coordination across national and local levels, and supporting stakeholders in translating priorities into action.

About NPAP Philippines

NPAP Philippines is a locally driven, multi-stakeholder platform uniting leaders from government, business, development organizations, academia, civil society and vulnerable groups to tackle plastic pollution and accelerate the country’s transition to a circular economy. Led by the DENR, it is supported by the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership and partners like the UK Government, the Government of Canada, and The Coca-Cola Foundation. UNDP serves as NPAP’s technical secretariat in the Philippines.