Metro Manila, Philippines – Stakeholders from the national and local government, businesses, civil society, academia, development sector, and communities are helping shape the Philippines’ next steps inaddressing plastic pollution and advancing a circular economy, drawing on evidence linking plastics to biodiversity, gender equality and social inclusion.

The National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines, a locally driven multi-sector platform led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), brought together stakeholders from across the plastics value chain to discuss key findings of two assessments: PlastiBASE, a study that explores how plastic pollution affects ecosystems and communities across the Philippines, and a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) assessment, which examines how gender, communities, waste workers, and other stakeholders experience the impacts of plastic pollution. Furthermore, insights from NPAP Indonesia’s similar research on plastics and biodiversity, was also presented, underscoring the impact of marine debris on wildlife and reflects coastal communities’ growing environmental awareness and concerns over the impacts of plastic pollution.

“These are critical dimensions of the plastic challenge that are too often overlooked,” Undersecretary Jonas Leones of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) noted in his welcome remarks. “Through these assessments, we are deepening our understanding of how environmental action can also advance social inclusion, community resilience, and equitable development.”

These assessments were presented during plenary sessions, followed by facilitated dialogues and breakout sessions where participants further reflected on these studies, shared perspectives from their sectors, and identified key opportunities for action. Insights ranged from scientific perspectives on marine ecosystems and biodiversity to experiences from waste management practitioners, policymakers, businesses, and community groups working on the ground.

“Plastic at the end of the day is as much about biodiversity, climate, economy, and health. But first and foremost, it is also about governance. Tackling plastic pollution will be determined by the appropriate, timely, and targeted governance and policy decisions that are being made,” emphasized Edwine Carrie, UNDP Philippines Deputy Resident Representative. “NPAP’s role in this process is multi-fold, including enabling the generation of evidence so that policy and governance decisions are based on solid evidence.” 

The discussions underscored how plastic pollution intersects with environmental protection, economic systems, and social realities—particularly for communities and workers who play key roles in managing plastic waste. Participants highlighted that these impacts are not evenly distributed, with vulnerable groups—especially women and informal waste workers—bearing a disproportionate burden despite their central role in waste management systems and often facing persistent systemic barriers.

“Biodiversity underpins our economies and ecologies. According to the first report of the World Economic Forum’s New Nature Economy Report (NNER) series, more than half of the world’s GDP equivalent to USD 44 trillion is moderately or highly dependent on nature and the gains from nature. Yet, this bounty, this biodiversity is at a steady decline, including because of plastic pollution. Plastic pollution also affects women and disadvantaged groups disproportionately, as they are at the frontlines of informal waste collection and management,” shared Jeet Kar, Lead for Policy and Business Engagement of the World Economic Forum.

“For Canada, we are proud to have supported the plastics and biodiversity assessment, which is complementary to a number of other projects that we are supporting around the Philippines looking at environment, disaster risk reduction and resilience, and addressing mitigation and adaptation in terms of carbon emissions,” said Simon Snoxell, Head of Cooperation and Counsellor (Development) of the Government of Canada.

The UK Government, which supported the GESI assessment also highlighted the importance of recognizing the roles played by women and communities in the plastics value chain, particularly in informal waste management systems.

Lloyd Cameron, Economic and Climate Counsellor from the British Embassy Manila said: “We all know that women are central to the plastics value chains, from waste collection and sorting, to community-level recycling initiatives and shaping local environmental decisions. But this is often in an informal capacity. So when we talk about formalising the waste economy, we must make sure that the specific barriers faced by women are understood and addressed to ensure the transition is just and inclusive.”

By convening diverse stakeholders from the plastic value chain, NPAP Philippines aims to ensure that national strategies to address plastic pollution are informed by a broad range of expertise and perspectives grounded on lived experience. 

Insights gathered through the consultation will contribute to the finalization of the National Plastic Action Roadmap, envisioned to be a strategic framework under NPAP Philippines aimed at accelerating coordinated action to address plastic pollution and advance circularity.

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. [E]

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In the Philippines, UNDP fosters human development for peace and prosperity. Working with central and local governments as well as civil society, and building on global best practices, UNDP strengthens capacities of women, men and institutions to empower them to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the objectives of the Philippine Development Plan. Through advocacy and development projects, with a special focus on vulnerable groups, UNDP works to ensure a better life for the Filipino people.