Refilling stations will sprout in more Metro Manila sari-sari stores starting September 

More Metro Manila sari-sari stories will have refilling stations to help combat plastic pollution, after Greenpeace Philippines partnered with the Metro Manila Mayors' Spouses Foundation (MMMSF) to expand Kuha Sa Tingi (KST) across the capital.

San Juan, Parañaque, Caloocan, Valenzuela, Muntinlupa, and Navotas have already signaled their commitment to the project, pledging to bring KST to 8 sari-sari stories in the LGUs.

Beginning September, refilling dispensers will be installed in these sari-sari stores to provide refill options of basic everyday essentials — liquid detergent, dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner and multipurpose cleaner — to more residents.

In a statement, Keri Zamora, President of MMMSF, said: "By promoting reuse and refill, we are not only reducing plastic waste but also empowering our communities to embrace a culture of reuse and responsibility. This initiative reflects MMMSF's commitment to environmental stewardship and the well-being of our people. We are proud to be a partner for this project and we hope to set an example in making this vision of a plastic-free future a reality for Metro Manila."

Initiated by Greenpeace Philippines, KST is "designed to replace sachets with real, sustainable alternatives" and "empower consumers to make environmentally friendly choices without compromising on convenience or cost, while also boosting local livelihoods."

Piloted in San Juan back in 2023 with 10 sari-sari stores, KST successfully avoided an estimated 8,453 single-use sachets.

It was soon adopted in Quezon City, where it quickly expanded to 1000 sari-sari stories and helped avoid more than 530,000 sachets, Greenpeace said.      

Earlier this year, Pasig joined with a pilot run of 20 stores.

Plastic pollution has become a global concern. Microplastics have been found everywhere, including in human blood.

A study published in 2023 confirmed the presence of microplastics in Metro Manila air, while a 2024 study by the Cornell University, said the Philippines ingest the most microplastics among the 109 countries that participated.

It's not surprising. A 2019 GAIA report after all has said some 164M sachets are being used in the Philippines daily.  

That's not mentioning the amount of havoc plastic pollution is causing the environment and marine life, as well as its contributions to climate change. Plastics are made from burning fossil fuels, which is the number one cause of global warming. Meanwhile, the presence of plastic in oceans lessens its capacity to sequester carbon, adding even more to the warming of Planet Earth.   

But it's not too late. A 2019 World Economic Forum report said "shifting 40-70% of plastic packaging to reuse systems can potentially eliminate all ocean plastic waste and cut down landfill plastic waste by 50-85%.” 

Here's hoping KST catches even more steam.

— GMA Integrated News