SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES AT HOME

There’s no denying that Filipinos’ lifestyles, habits and consumption patterns have radically changed after six months into the community quarantine due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). As we are compelled to stay at home, we have relied more on deliveries for food, online shopping and other essentials — posing additional environmental challenges because of our increased municipal solid waste (MSW) and hazardous waste.

According to a 2015 report by the Ocean Conservancy and McKinsey Center for Business and Environment, the Philippines ranks third among the world’s highest contributors to the global marine plastic pollution problem.

Household waste contributes to the biggest chunk of solid wastes in the country. The National Solid Waste Management Status Report 2008 — 2014 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) showed that residential waste constitutes the bulk of MSW (56.7 percent), followed by commercial sources and public or private markets (27.1 percent).

The biggest challenge among Filipinos is how to break old habits and adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. Through its business activities, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) has always been committed in engaging in initiatives solving social issues that include global sustainability. With an environment educational campaign dubbed as

#SustainAbilidad, APC aims to aid consumers to incorporate sustainable practices into their daily activities. This campaign includes social media promotions featuring Super Suzy and her kid, the main characters representing ordinary people that champion global sustainability to teach and inspire young and old members of their family and community to bring out their “SustainAbilidad.”

While Filipinos may have taken a number of steps backwards because of the pandemic, it’s not too late for every household to start sustainable practices. Segregating at source is a good start for every household as proper waste management is crucial not just for the environment but also for mitigating infectious disease transmission.

For updates, visit facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH/ to learn more about #SustainAbilidad.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF AJINOMOTO EVEN before the pandemic, the Philippines has been navigating through overwhelming volumes of waste.