ESGAM Secretary General Advocates for Circular Economy and EPR in Keynote Address at Manila Event

Adj. Prof. Rina Neoh, the Secretary General of the ESG Association of Malaysia (ESGAM), delivered an impactful keynote address at the “Unwrapping Change: Transforming the Philippines from Its Plastic Legacy Through EPR” organized by P&A Grant Thornton and the Rotary Club of Makati. Held at the Grant Thornton office in Manila, this event attracted around 50 physical attendees and peaked at 248 online participants. In her keynote, Rina highlighted the urgent need to address global plastic waste and climate change. She emphasized the importance of transitioning to a circular economy and implementing robust Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) frameworks to mitigate these crises, noting the staggering statistic that in 2022, global plastic production reached 400.3 million metric tons, with less than 10% being recycled.

Rina’s address set the stage for further discussions on moving towards a plastic-free future through EPR, advocating for principles that cut emissions, reduce the demand for raw materials, and decrease environmental impacts. The event also featured a presentation from DENR Undersecretary Atty. Jonas R. Leones on government initiatives related to EPR and plastic waste management, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Chris Ferareza, Partner for Advisory Services and Sustainability Leader. This discussion explored collaborative strategies to tackle plastic pollution, underscoring the importance of unified efforts and innovative policies in driving a paradigm shift toward sustainability. The collective insights from this event aim to transform the Philippines’ plastic legacy through effective and collaborative actions.