Plastic waste is a growing concern in the Philippines, which is the third biggest contributor of unmanaged plastic in the ocean. The report found that on average, Filipinos release 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste into the ocean every year, with 560,000 metric tons of plastic waste coming from Metro Manila alone.
In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, many brands—big or small—continue to assist in the fight against plastic waste.
Meals in stainless steel
Stainless steel bento box brand Vaya offers everyday products that ensure people enjoy fresh meals on the go sans the need for disposable, flimsy, and non-biodegradable containers that can compromise the quality of food.
A lunchbox full of innovation, the Vaya Tyffyn allows users to pack a multi-course meal that stays fresh for up to six hours. Stylish and leak-resistant, it comes in three different sizes: 600ml (two containers), 1,000ml (three containers), and 1,300ml (four containers).
The brand also carries a reusable cup. Vaya Drynk is a sustainable and high-quality bottle that easily fits in a bag. It claims to be able to keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours, and cold for 18 hours. It is available in two sizes: 350ml and 600ml, and comes with two different lid options to enjoy a wide variety of beverages.
Finally, Vaya Preserve is a sleek vacuum-insulated food storage/carrying container that serves as a handy meal carrier for one-pot meals and can store ingredients to ensure freshness for a long time. It comes in two sizes, 300ml and 500ml.
Drinks in reusable cups
American coffeehouse chain Starbucks also encourages reusability and inspires its customers to make sustainable choices with the launch of reusable hot and cold cups in the Philippines starting April 22.
The reusable cup is nearly identical to Starbucks’ iconic white cup and is made from polypropylene, a plastic which is widely accepted into global recycling infrastructure. The new reusable cups are designed to make the cup sturdier than paper and is a more sustainable approach to single-use packaging.
As Starbucks continues to work toward creating a more sustainable planet, it also empowers others to join the cause and help organizations with the same vision. Today until April 26, customers who bring in their reusable cups, personal tumblers or mugs of at least 16oz. in size or higher will be given the option to donate their P5 cup discount to their choice of an environmental organization from the given NGO partners. Those who will donate will receive a complimentary upsize.
Customers may choose between the World Wildlife Fund Philippines or the Haribon Foundation, two organizations dedicated to preserving life and nature. By the end of the promo, Starbucks commits to shoulder the amount needed to match the donations between the two organizations.
Globally, an estimated 600 billion paper and plastic cups are distributed annually. According to the company, Starbucks cups only account for around 1 percent of that total, yet it is committed to bring more sustainable solutions to reduce waste.
Since 2014, Starbucks has offered the reusable cup in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and so far the company has sold more than 25 million globally.
Last year, Starbucks also announced its goal of removing all plastic straws in its store globally by 2020.
In the Philippines, the coffee brand has also begun taking steps towards this goal with the Skip the Straw initiative. At local stores, customers are offered to skip the straws, disposable utensils and napkins for their orders and are provided more sustainable options including specially designed sipping lids and compostable straws.
“We’ve seen an increase in public awareness and concern for the plastic waste issue in recent years. We’re proud to provide a reusable option in all Starbucks stores in the Philippines without making sacrifices to our customers’ daily coffee needs,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing, category and QA, Starbucks Philippines.
