Circular Solutions for Plastic Pollution: A Micro-business-driven Solution for Zero-waste Communities

A large share of the Philippines’ fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) are accessed through sari-sari stores.4 There are an estimated 800,000 of these micro-businesses conveniently located in communities across the country. The sale of goods in tingi, or small portions, and the flexibility of store owners to extend credit on goods with short settlement periods make these microbusinesses convenient, accessible and durable. This convenience encourages people to buy goods more often at the expense of the environment, as does their socioeconomic status and purchasing power. Given the nature of sari-sari stores, their social and economic role in grass-roots communities, and the staggering amount of plastic consumption, they offer a significant opportunity to adopt circular practices. That is why the Philippine Reef and Rainforest Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PRRCFI) came up with the concept of “Wala Usik”, meaning “nothing is wasted”.