Greenpeace, QC Gov't to Put Up Refill Hubs, Curb Sachet Use in New Project

Greenpeace Philippines, Impact Hub Manila, and the Quezon City government signed a memorandum of understanding last June 14 for the launch of “Kuha sa Tingi,” a sustainability project that aims to establish community-based refill hubs in stores to combat plastic pollution.

In a press release, Greenpeace Philippines campaign manager Marian Ledesma said that the core of the “Kuha sa Tingi” initiative is to offer consumers straightforward and accessible solutions for minimizing waste by promoting reuse and refill systems.

“By installing refill stations in sari-sari stores and redesigning the business model around the needs of the community, we can make plastic-free goods available to Filipinos from all socioeconomic sectors,” Ledesma said.

With insights gathered from local communities and small store owners, the project will reintroduce the “tingi culture” to address the alarming reality of the daily consumption of over 164 sachets in the country.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said shifting to zero waste is “inclusive, affodrdable, and accessible” to Filipinos from all urban areas and socioeconomic sectors.

“Being sustainable and eco-friendly doesn’t have to be expensive,” she said.

The organizers hope that the “Kuha sa Tingi” project will encourage companies to adopt zero waste systems and decrease plastic production in their operations, as well as inspire other cities to integrate the initiative into their own policies and livelihood programs.

“The collaboration between the Quezon City Government, Impact Hub Manila, and Greenpeace Philippines shows us how communities and local businesses are taking the lead in tackling plastic pollution by advancing business models based on reuse and refill systems,” Ledesma said.

With a mission to protect the environment and promote peace through action, Greenpeace Philippines is a non-profit organization that has successfully initiated projects to combat pollution, including “Project: Clean Water,” an initiative protecting the fresh waters of the Philippines. The organization also played a pivotal role in campaigning for “The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999,” which aims to establish a program for managing air pollution.

To know more about the newly launched “Kuha sa Tingi” initiative, visit Greenpeace Philippine’s official website.