The independent global organization Greenpeace has said that it is amenable to a nationwide ban on single-use plastics in light of the pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte that his administration is open for a nationwide ban.
According to Abigail Aguilar, regional campaign coordinator at Greenpeace Southeast Asia, the group “welcomes the announcement that President Duterte is considering a nationwide ban on single-use plastics . This is a long delayed pronouncement which we trust will be put into action and will not remain a mere statement.
“The solution to the scourge of single-use plastics is to avoid its manufacture. As a first step, the President needs to certify as priority a strong national single-use plastic ban bill, which should aim for a drastic reduction of the manufacture of single-use plastic products and packaging, and their eventual elimination from the market.
“Importantly, this ban must include the phase out of sachet packaging, direct companies to redesign products and packaging, and give incentives to reuse, refill and other alternative delivery systems.
“Finally, the ban should not include false solutions such as materials substitution to paper or bioplastics, lightweighting of packaging, and chemical recycling, among others. “
Greenpeace exposes environmental criminals, and challenge government and corporations when they fail to live up to their mandate to safeguard our environment and our future.
In pursuing its mission, the group have no permanent allies or enemies. “We promote open, informed debate about society’s environmental choices. We use research, lobbying, and quiet diplomacy to pursue our goals, as well as high-profile, non-violent creative confrontation to raise the level and quality of public debate,” stated in the group’s website at https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/about-us
Moreover, Greenpeace believes that the struggle to preserve the future of our planet is not about us. It’s about you. The group speaks with the voice of 2.8 million supporters worldwide, and encourages many millions more than that to take action every day.
*Banner photo is lifted from https://www.greenpeace.org/philippines/