MANILA – Opposition senator Leila de Lima
has challenged supermarket chains and convenience stores nationwide to take the
lead in the global campaign against single-use plastics.
In a statement on Monday, De Lima underscored the need for business establishments
to prioritize the selling of healthier food to the consumers.
“Business establishments must be at the forefront of this campaign to save our
environment and our people by helping eliminate the use of single-use plastics
and offering healthier food options in their stores,” De Lima said.
Based on a report by environmental organization Global Alliance for Incinerator
Alternatives, Filipinos use more than 163 million plastic sachet packets, 48
million shopping bags and 45 million thin film bags daily.
The organization, composed of more than 800 grassroots groups, networks,
non-governmental organizations, has recommended the regulation of single-use
plastic products and companies to redesign products, packaging and delivery
systems.
“Supermarkets and manufacturers should take an active role in reducing
unnecessary use of single-use plastics by phasing out all hard-to-recycle
plastic from food and other products,” de Lima said.
“Supermarkets must also start using plastic-free packs and trays for its fruits
and vegetable lines as a way of helping the campaign against single-use
plastics,” she added.
She also pointed out that convenience stores, as the Filipinos’ favorite
destination for ready-to-consume food and drinks, must also find ways to reduce
use of single-use plastics in their products.
“Local manufacturers should also stop producing single-use plastics for
packaging of food products and instead shift to other means that are friendly
to the environment,” the former justice secretary said.
“Taking care of the environment also requires that they think of the health and
nutrition of consumers, who should also be among their top priorities,” she
added./PN
