Philippines National Plastic Action Partnership
In 2023, the Government of the Philippines, led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), officially joined the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP).
Through this partnership, the Philippines takes a significant step toward tackling plastic pollution. The collaboration supports the creation of a National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP), a multi-stakeholder platform bringing together key changemakers from various sectors. This collective effort will accelerate the country's transition to a circular economy for plastics and create an evidence-based roadmap to guide policymaking.
Joining GPAP not only strengthens the Philippines’ domestic efforts in plastic waste management but also enhances its leadership in combating plastic pollution across the ASEAN region.
2023
December | GPAP Signing Ceremony at COP 28
On December 3, 2023, during the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), Environment Secretary Maria Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga signed an agreement with Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum's Centre for Nature and Climate, to establish the Philippines NPAP. This marks the country's strong commitment to reducing plastic pollution and advancing circularity.
2024
The NPAP Secretariat was established and is hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office in the Philippines.
The NPAP aims to become the central coordinating platform for plastic action in the country.
2025
January | Official Launch of the Philippines NPAP
On January 25, 2025, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led the official launch of the NPAP, bringing together more than 140 leaders from government, private sector, civil society, academia, and development partners to co-develop holistic and inclusive solutions to plastic pollution. The launch was spearheaded by DENR Secretary Maria Antonia Yulo Loyzaga, UK Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. Laure Beaufils, Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines H.E. David Hartman, Global Plastic Action Partnership Director Clemence Schmid, Antonio del Rosario, President of Coca Cola Philippines, and UNDP Philippines Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran.
In conjunction with the launch, NPAP Philippines held its first Steering Board meeting.
The NPAP aims to unite diverse sectors of society to drive innovation, implement actionable strategies, and support the Philippines’ transition to a circular economy. By working collectively, the NPAP seeks to create lasting change and reduce plastic pollution, paving the way for inclusive and sustainable development in the Philippines.
May | Launch of the Flexible Plastic Recycling Working Group
Flexible plastics remain one of the most complex and critical challenges in the Philippines’ efforts to curb plastic pollution. In response, the Flexible Plastic Recycling Working Group was launched under the Philippines NPAP, co-led by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Nestlé Philippines, in collaboration with UNDP Philippines.
This multi-stakeholder group brings together leaders from government, industry, finance, academia, and civil society to co-develop scalable solutions through technical, economic, and behavioural approaches. It explores innovative technologies and systems—such as food-grade recycling and enhanced collection infrastructure—to drive circularity across the flexible plastics value chain.
