MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Young surfers at The Circle Hostel believe the Philippines’ annual 1.88 million tons of ocean plastic waste is reason enough to act.
“We were encountering plastic debris in the ocean, in our surf, and we wanted to do something about it, something that was not only low-tech but also community-driven,” said Fiona Faulkner, The Circle Hostel environmental officer.
With that in mind, they started ‘The Plastic Solution,’ an environmental movement that raises awareness of plastic waste’s harm, promotes a zero-plastic lifestyle among community members, and repurposes non-biodegradable materials through eco-bricking.
The project’s foundation is eco-bricking: stuffing PET bottles with non-biodegradable waste like shampoo sachets, plastic straws, snack wrappers, and other single-use plastics. The resulting ecobricks then serve as simple alternative fillers for walls, fences, benches, and other low-cost community structures.
These plastic bottles are filled with other sachets and plastic materials to be used as ecobricks as seen on the featured photo in this post. – Photo from The Plastic Solution page
The project shares The Coca-Cola Company’s ‘World Without Waste’ vision, which aims to collect and recycle one bottle for every one it sells globally by 2030.
The Plastic Solution starts by teaching volunteer partners the basics of eco-bricking, then provides outlets and collection points for finished ecobricks. The group has already built several low-cost structures from them, including outdoor showers, walls and perimeter fences for their hostels, and an ecobrick base for a reforestation nursery, done in partnership with the Aeta community of Yangil, Zambales.
The Circle Hostel is among the winners of the 15th Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations (TAYO) Awards, receiving the special Coke Barkada Award.
Jonah De Lumen-Pernia, Coca-Cola Philippines Public Affairs and Communications director said, “The Coke Barkada is an award that we’ve been giving for the past 12 years to the group that best demonstrates the Coke Barkada spirit of collective volunteerism, working together for the community and living the value of positive action for change. The awardee for today is also fitting very well with our commitment as a company to a world without waste.”
Beyond this initiative, the Philippine business unit of The Coca-Cola Company also runs other advocacy programs, including the 5by20 Sari-sari Store Training and Access to Resources (STAR) Program, Minute Maid Nurisha supplemental program, and the Coca-Cola Agos Program.
Coca-Cola, along with the TAYO Awards Foundation, Inc. and its other partners, continues to recognize outstanding youth organizations making a positive impact through innovative programs — this year with the 15th TAYO Awards.
Coca-Cola Philippines Public Affairs and Communications Director, Jonah De Lumen-Pernia (left) presents the Coke Barkada Award to The Circle Hostel environmental officer Fiona Faulkner, as both their organizations take a stand to create a world without waste. – Photo Release
The other 15th TAYO Awardees were the Tanay Mountaineers, Inc., Division Federated Supreme Student Government and Supreme Pupil Government of Cagayan De Oro City, Samahan ng mga Iskolar ng Compostela Valley, Fine Arts Major Organization (FAMO), Silid Aralan Inc., Bangsamoro Young Leaders, Sulbec 4H Club, UP Genetic Researchers and Agricultural Innovators Society (UP GRAINS), and Make A Difference Travel.
The TAYO Awardees beam with pride as TAYO Awards judges, including (4th from left, back row) Coca-Cola Philippines Public Affairs and Communications Director Jonah De Lumen-Pernia, National Youth Commission Chairman Ice Seguerra, Senator Bam Aquino, and YesPinoy Foundation Chairman Dingdong Dantes, join them on stage.
GETTING WORLDWIDE ATTENTION. ‘The Plastic Solution’ project is not only reaping awards, it is also getting worldwide attention. In this photo posted by @howardrjohnson, the BBC anchor said, “Millions of Filipinos live below the poverty line and can only afford to buy small sachets of single-use shampoo and toothpaste. It means a lot of plastic ends up in landfill or washing into the sea. @plasticsolutionph and @thecirclehostel in #urbiztondo #launion have a #solution. They stuff bottles with #plastic cut into small bits to create #plasticbricks. These are then used to fill cavities in walls which are then cemented together. Watch out for a feature on this on @bbcnews soon.”
The Plastic Solution is a project worthy of our attention, admiration, and yes, awards. May more travelers like us support projects like this one. Kudos to The Circle Hostel — may your tribe increase. See you at our next surfing session.