DTI Encourages Consumers to use Plastic Alternatives

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Consumer Policy and Advocacy Bureau (CPAB), spearheads the celebration of the World Consumer Rights (WCRD) in the country. The year 2021 marks DTI’s 5^th year in joining the global celebration of WCRD every 15^th of March.

The annual commemoration of WCRD aims to raise global awareness on consumer rights and protection. Building on last year’s celebration on being the sustainable consumer, this year’s theme “Tackling Plastic Pollution” highlights the need for collective action and the important role of consumers in curbing plastic pollution.

The CPAB under the Consumer Protection Group (CPG), in coordination with Consumers International (CI), targets to educate consumers on how they can support and actively participate in tackling plastic pollution and urge them to use plastic alternatives.

This year’s WCRD focuses on “7R: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, and Replace” that encourages consumers to adopt habits that will have a positive impact on the environment including re-evaluating their consumption habits, demanding more sustainable alternatives, extending the lifetime of plastic products and maximizing their value and utilization by reusing them, and disposing plastic waste appropriately by following local recycling guidelines.

For the WCRD celebration, the CPAB sets up venues for discussion and interaction on the WCRD theme “Tackling Plastic Pollution”. In the Consumer e-Forum on 15 March 2021, the CI was invited to talk about “Breaking the Plastic Wave”, where different measures on how to reduce the flow of plastics will be discussed.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will also be in the forum to discuss the government’s sustainable actions on plastic pollution. The City Government of Pasig will likewise be present to talk about its program called “A Smart City with a Green Heart” and share their best practices to achieve green development that can withstand climate change.

In the Consumer Care Webinar Series, topics on waste management, recycling initiatives, and sustainability programs were set for discussion for the month of March 2021. Speakers from the public and private sectors were invited to virtually interact with consumers and guide them to be part in sustainability programs and activities. Consumers may virtually participate via Zoom or the DTI Consumer Care Facebook Page.

DTI CPG Undersecretary Ruth B. Castelo specifies, “The DTI urges everyone to be more conscious of the products that they intend to purchase and consider its effects on the environment. The Department encourages consumers to do their part in addressing this environmental issue by adopting habits that will have a positive environmental impact. One can help by bringing your own water container to minimize the use of plastic water bottles. You can also help by using the other side of the paper for your draft documents.”

To know more about WCRD, consumers may send an email to CPAB@dti.gov.ph  or visit the DTI’s Consumer Care social media accounts. For more consumer-relation information, visit the DTI website (www.dti.gov.ph).