Concepts such as “circular economy”, “plastic neutrality”, and “sustainable consumption and production” became part of Philippine statutory law with the enactment of Republic Act No. 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 (the “EPRA”). Extended Producer Responsibility (“EPR”) refers to the environmental policy approach and practice that requires producers to be environmentally responsible throughout the life cycle of a product, especially its post-consumer or end-of-life stage. The EPRA requires product producers (which includes brand owners and product manufacturers) to recover up to 80% of their plastic packaging waste by 2028. Product producers obliged to implement EPR are those enterprises that generate plastic packaging whose total value of assets exceeds PhP100 million waste. Micro, small, and medium enterprises are not covered by the EPRA but are encouraged to practice EPR voluntarily.
Obliged enterprises must establish or phase-in EPR programs for the effective management of plastic packaging waste, through reduction of non-environment friendly products and product waste recovery programs. The EPR programs must be established within six months from the effectivity of the EPRA, and registered with the National Solid Waste Management Council (“NSWMC”).
Read the first issue of The SyCipLaw ESG Bulletin here or download a copy here.