GOPA Tech | GIZ (Germany’s international development agency) | Philippines recycling campaign
Supporting international plastic recycling interventions through strategic communications planning, developing a targeted campaign and asset to help reduce plastic pollution and protect marine environments.
Campaign planning and implementation | Design | Stakeholder engagement
Project overview
Despite legislation requiring households on Guimaras Island to reduce, reuse and recycle, the area lacked a proper segregated waste collection system for plastics. This posed a serious challenge to local waste management and the protection of the island’s valuable marine environment.
We provided expert communications support to deliver a targeted campaign that promoted new pilot waste infrastructure, reduced plastic waste, encouraged household recycling and helped protect local ecosystems.
Project aim
To achieve a 20% reduction in plastic waste through the implementation of waste management and recycling solutions creating a model that could be replicated across the Philippines and internationally.
Working with GOPA Tech and Guimaras Environment and Resources Office (GENRO), we led strategic planning and communications to support the rollout of new plastic waste collection infrastructure on Guimaras Island.
Our work included:
Shaping pilot interventions to support kerbside plastics collections and new recycling drop-off points, using tricycles to carry out collections across the pilot areas
Liaising with in-country colleagues to deliver community and stakeholder engagement sessions to brief residents on how to participate in the pilot
Developing a clear campaign identity, messaging and resident-focused materials to maximise awareness and engagement
Sharing learnings with GIZ and ASEAN partners
Our role
Building on 3RproMar and GENRO’s ‘Sa Plastik Anay Ta’ campaign, we created a new communications campaign to promote the interventions, highlight local plastics processing and encourage households to recycle effectively. We ensured consistent messaging and maintained close collaboration with GENRO, GOPA Tech and GIZ throughout.
Leaflets and social media to promote behavioural change
Signage for the campaign
Outcomes
The pilot household plastics collection launched in May 2024 and across two local municipalities. Monitoring is currently underway, with positive early indicators. Subject to its success, the scheme will be extended island-wide with the aim of achieving the targeted 20% reduction in plastic waste.
This project is already generating valuable insights for similar initiatives elsewhere in the Philippines and ASEAN region.
