“Does the new EPR law apply only to plastic manufacturers?” “Are companies in the Clark FreePort Zone exempt?” “Are there any tax incentives” “Are we allowed to credit any excess recovery from 2023 to our 2024 plastic footprint?”
It’s been 11 months since regulations on how to implement Philippines’ new Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law were unveiled. While many companies are making progress on plans to take responsibility for the plastic they put out into the world, many more are grappling with questions on who and what exactly is covered under the law, and how they can fulfill their obligations.
Republic Act (RA) 11898 or the Extended Producers Responsibility Act lapsed into law at the tail-end of the Duterte Administration. The landmark Philippine EPR Act compels large corporations to recover or divert at least 20 percent of their plastic packaging footprint by the end of 2023; then 40 percent by next year, and then increasing by 10 percent every year until at least 80 percent is recovered or diverted by 2028.
To help raise awareness, educate stakeholders and boost compliance with the EPR law, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) teamed up with the Philippine Stock Exchange and PCX, a leading plastic responsibility platform, to host an ‘ask me anything’ webinar for listed companies. Executives from numerous publicly listed companies attended the event, which is part of an ongoing series of information and education programs conducted by DENR.
“The message today really revolves around the concept of what’s called a circular economy. And I say circular in the sense of sustainability,” said Atty. Roel Refran, Chief Operating Officer at The Philippine Stock Exchange. “We all know about the global warming problem, the climate risk, the physical pollution risk, and it’s for us to mitigate and to pass solutions and not just problems to the next generation.”
