Food and beverage tycoon Nestlé Philippines joined forces with World Wide Fund for Nature – Philippines (WWF-PH) to address plastic waste in Donsol, Sorsogon. The said area is considered as an ecotourism hotspot for the whale shark watching attraction
In line with addressing the growing plastic problem, Nestle Philippines agreed to support WWF’s Plastic Smart Cities Project. The project initiates partnerships with cities in the Philippines to push orders to decrease and eventually stop plastic waste seepage in nature.
WWF is currently working with five pilot sites where it spearheads entrepreneurial solutions to increase waste reduction, segregation, collection, and recycling.
Specifically, Nestlé Philippines will support the expansion of KALIPI operations and the pilot implementation of NAKAMOTO in six barangays in Donsol.
KALIPI or Kalipunan ng Liping Pilipina was launched in September of 2013. It aims to empower Filipino women through community activities and the development of livelihood practices. Last October KALIPI Donsol introduced a souvenir line made from recycled plastics together with WWF-PH.
Sorsogon shares a border with the Ticao-Burias Pass Protected Seascape (TBPPS). The TBPPS, a critical habitat, is home to the endangered whale shark. WWF-Philippines has been working with Donsol LGU on the protection of whale sharks since 1998.
Human activity surrounding the TBPPS presents a threat to the integrity of the protected area. Plastic pollution is becoming a threat, ending up in the habitat of marine life. KALIPI Donsol is addressing plastic pollution with its product line. The women’s rights organization has rolled out various handmade products to combat plastic pollution while creating new livelihood opportunities. Each product is made of upcycled plastic which are retrieved from the beach and from the local government waste collection service.
Meanwhile, NAKAMOTO is a pilot solution to collect wastes through motorcycles in barangays that are not serviced by the municipal waste collection system. WWF, together with partner barangays and the Donsol LGU, will launch this solution whereby waste segregation will be propagated in pilot barangays, with collection by means of motorcycles. Collected segregated wastes will be brought to the municipal composting area for biodegradables, partner junkshops for recyclables, and KALIPI for residual wastes.
This partnership with WWF PH opens the opportunity to work with KALIPI and help NAKAMOTO to further improve waste collection, segregation, and recycling. We strongly believe collaboration is essential in preventing plastic waste from ending up in landfills, the oceans, or as litter.
Nestlé Philippines Chairman and CEO Kais Marzouki
“We are thankful for this support from Nestlé Philippines in helping us expand our solution which aims to lessen plastic wastes by 20% in Donsol while providing livelihood support to women. With this, we will be able to help create more upcycled products from plastics and reach a wider market. We, as a women’s group in Donsol, are excited to increase our support for our LGU in implementing our 10-year solid waste management plan,” said KALIPI President Wilma D. Arevalo.
With additional report: Nestle Philippines
Image sources: Rappler, Business Mirror, The CEO Magazine
