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In a significant move to address its growing plastic waste crisis, the Philippines has launched the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) - a multi-sectoral initiative aimed at promoting a circular economy. Led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), NPAP brings together government agencies, private enterprises, and civil society to develop sustainable solutions. Backed by the United Kingdom, Canada, and the World Economic Forum, the partnership focuses on reducing marine plastic pollution and aligning with national policies. Hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), NPAP will create a strategic roadmap, drive innovation, and ensure inclusivity, paving the way for sustainable development. 

About NPAP Philippines 

The National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) Philippines was established as a collaborative platform to address plastic pollution and move the country towards a circular economy. The NPAP aims to unite stakeholders across various sectors to foster innovation, implement practical solutions, and accelerate the Philippines’ transition to a circular economy. Through collaborative action, the initiative strives aims to significantly reduce plastic pollution and pave the way for inclusive and sustainable development nationwide.  

NPAP to Develop National Roadmap with Inclusive Strategy 

As part of its commitment to address plastic pollution, the NPAP will focus on conducting a comprehensive plastics baseline analysis and formulating a National Plastic Action Roadmap. This roadmap will serve as a foundation for evidence-based strategies aligned with the Philippines' national development priorities. Importantly, it will incorporate a gender and social inclusion framework to ensure that marginalized communities, including informal waste pickers, play an active role in the country’s transition to a circular economy. 

Plastic Waste Crisis in the Philippines 

Plastic pollution continues to pose a major environmental challenge for the Philippines, which produces an estimated 2.7 million metric tons of plastic waste each year. A considerable portion of this ends up in the ocean, placing the country among the world’s leading contributors to marine plastic pollution. 

NPAP Drives Circular Economy Shift Through Multi-Sector Collaboration 

The NPAP is spearheading efforts to move the Philippines away from the traditional “take-make-waste” economic model toward a circular economy that promotes resource efficiency, waste reduction, and material reuse. By promoting sustainable consumption and production, the initiative aims to cut emissions, foster innovation, generate green jobs, and promote social equity.  

NPAP operates under the World Economic Forum’s Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) and is backed by the governments of the United Kingdom and Canada and the Coca-Cola Foundation. The platform brings together stakeholders from government, private industry, civil society, academia, and development partners and aligns its goals with key national strategies such as the Philippine Development Plan, the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, and the country’s climate commitments. 

On January 22, 2025, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) released a significant update to the Philippine Inventory of Chemicals and Chemical Substances (PICCS), adding 161 new chemicals to the official list. This update, detailed in DENR Administrative Order (DAO) 2025-09, reflects ongoing efforts to regulate and monitor chemical substances used, imported, or manufactured in the country. 

Annual Revisions and Additions to the PICCS 

Under Section 5 of the Order, the PICCS is updated annually to include newly registered chemicals that meet the Pre-Manufacture and Pre-Importation Notification (PMPIN) requirements. The latest revision includes 96 new chemicals added in Calendar Year (CY) 2022 and 65 more in CY 2023, increasing the total number of listed substances from 22,277 to 22,438. Substances not listed in the PICCS require prior approval before they can be imported, processed, or distributed in the Philippines. Entities that submitted a Notice of Commencement before December 31 of the previous year will have their chemicals included in the following year’s update. 

Effective Date and Compliance Requirements 

The updated PICCS list is available on the website of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Online Permitting and Monitoring System (OPMS), allowing access to the latest regulatory information. As stated in Section 6, the new updates take effect 15 days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation and upon acknowledgment by the Office of the National Administrative Register (ONAR). 

With increasing attention to environmental and safety regulations, keeping track of updates such as these remains essential to ensure compliance and responsible chemical management. More information can be found on the EMB Chemical Management Division website here.