22 September 2018, Manila, Philippines \u2013 Every time a typhoon or monsoon rains come in, Manila Bay spews trash back inland, reminding us of the gravity of the plastic pollution problem in the Philippines.<\/p>\n
The Manila City Government and Greenpeace, as part of the Break Free from Plastic movement, was joined by almost a thousand citizens in taking action during the Manila Bay clean-up and plastic waste brand audit today.<\/p>\n
A brand audit is an added step to the usual clean-ups, wherein aside from the types of wastes, single-use plastics are also assessed according to brands and the companies that manufacture them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe overwhelming number of volunteers in today\u2019s clean-up and brand audit is a testament to our people\u2019s commitment to do better and their resolve to take action against plastic pollution,\u201d said Abigail Aguilar, campaigner for Greenpeace Philippines. \u201cCompanies must reciprocate and step up in this fight. They are the missing piece in this global action against plastic pollution, and they can do better by reducing their production of single-use plastics.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wastes were picked up on the coast while Greenpeace inflatable boats also collected waste from the waters of Manila Bay. The clean-up and brand audit aimed to name the brands that end up in Manila Bay and ultimately our oceans. This activity coincided with the belated celebration of the International Coastal Clean-up Day, after the original scheduled clean-up was cancelled following Typhoon Ompong\u2019s (international name Mangkhut) onslaught in the country.<\/p>\n
The environment group also conducted a rapid assessment of plastic wastes found in Pasig River after Typhoon Ompong left earlier this week. Local brands Monde Nissin and JBC Food Corporation topped the audit and were joined by global brands like 7-Eleven, Nestle and Unilever in the top 10. [1]<\/p>\n
Globally, a study said one truckload of plastic enters the ocean every minute, which yields at least 8 million tons of plastic leaking to the world\u2019s seas every year.[2]<\/p>\n
The result of today\u2019s brand audit will be revealed globally on October 2.<\/p>\n
Notes to the editors:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n [1] These are the companies that topped the brand audit of the plastic wastes found in Pasig River after Typhoon Ompong:<\/p>\n [2] The New Plastics Economy. Published January 2016. https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-philippines-stateless\/2019\/05\/b1e5a437-b1e5a437-wef_the_new_plastics_economy.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Media Contacts:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Abigail Aguilar, Campaigner, Greenpeace Southeast Asia \u2013 Philippines\n
\nabigail.aguilar@greenpeace.org<\/a>