WWF-PH, UP MSI’s ‘PlastiCon’ wins DENR EPR award

February, 06 2026

University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute’s (UP MSI) Plastics Conference “PlastiCon”, co-organized with WWF-Philippines, was among the programs that received an award for its contributions to advancing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in the country.

Executive Director Katherine Custodio represented WWF-Philippines, along with Holcim’s Nathalie Inductivo, to accept the EPR Partnership Leaders Award awarded to UP MSI at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) EPR Recognition Program on January 30 at the New World Makati Hotel.

The program featured awardees from obliged enterprises, organizations advancing waste diversion solutions, and partner institutions that work through collaboration and empowering other sectors towards a circular economy.

PlastiCon, held in July 2025 at the Marine Science Institute, University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, became a platform for exchanging knowledge and raising awareness on plastic pollution.

The DENR said PlastiCon provided scientific grounding that informs marine pollution policy, monitoring and environmental protection. The research from the event strengthened the credibility and integrity of EPR-related interventions, especially addressing plastic waste leakage into oceans.

Custodio says the work of UP-MSI, WWF-Philippines, and all recognized partners sets a powerful precedent towards the right direction, but the work continues as sustainable futures and scaling impact will require broader participation from producers, policymakers, and communities alike.

“PlastiCon 2025 was all about turning knowledge into action and bringing to the fore voices of those often sidelined in decision-making processes -- our informal waste workers,” says Custodio.

She adds that the movement continues as partners and communities deepen commitments, strengthen accountability, and champion solutions that prevent waste from harming our ecosystems.

“Partnerships are the only way forward in addressing the plastics crisis, and we are grateful to all who share in the effort. As PlastiCon summarized: Malayo na, pero malayo pa (We’ve come far, but we still have a long way to go). Together, possible,” adds Custodio.

Various institutions and organizations awarded during the 2026 Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Recognition Program.

Receiving the EPR Partners Leadership Award. From Left to Right: Atty. Jonas Leones DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs; Rafael P.M Lotilla, DENR Secretary; Katherine Custodio, Executive Director of WWF-Philippines; Nathalie Inductivo of Holcim; Jess Reyes, Director of The Philippine Alliance for Recycling and Materials Sustainability (PARMS); and Asec. Jacqueline A. Caancan, CESO III, Assistant Secretary for Environment and concurrent DENR Environment Management Bureau Director.