Media practitioners get hands-on experience in environmental storytelling to help drive solutions-oriented reporting on the Philippines’ waste management crisis
Journalists and media practitioners recently took part in the first-ever Marine Litter Learning Workshop for Media, organized by Save Philippine Seas (SPS) and Mondelēz International in the Philippines to strengthen understanding of waste management and marine litter issues in the country.
The exclusive three-hour workshop, held at Catering Trio in Pasig City, gave members of the media a firsthand look at interactive educational activities used to engage community leaders, educators, and young environmental advocates throughout the Philippines.
Participants explored two key learning modules. The first, “Understanding Recycling,” explained plastic resin codes and helped participants distinguish which plastic materials are recyclable within the Philippine setting. The second, “Sink or Swim?”, followed the potential path of improperly discarded waste as it moves from streets and drainage networks through esteros and eventually reaches Philippine waters.
The workshop also highlighted the importance of responsible environmental journalism. FYT Media led a dedicated session that introduced journalists to reporting tools and storytelling frameworks designed to support more accurate and effective coverage of environmental issues.
Why Media Matters in the Waste Conversation
The initiative reflects the understanding that journalists and media organizations have an important role in shaping how the public views environmental issues. It also underscores the need for more informed and nuanced conversations about waste management challenges in the Philippines.
“The stories we tell about waste shape how Filipinos understand and respond to the problem. When media gets the science right — when they go beyond the surface and explain why waste ends up in our seas — they don’t just inform. They empower millions of consumers to act. This workshop is our way of partnering with the press to make that happen. Because the more accurately we tell the story, the faster we can change the culture of waste management.” ~Anna Oposa, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Save Philippine Seas
Since its founding in 2011, Save Philippine Seas (SPS) has expanded from a social media-driven campaign into a leading voice in marine conservation in the Philippines. Co-founded by Oposa, the organization works to make scientific information more accessible to the public while bringing communities together to support ocean conservation and encourage meaningful behavior change. One of its key educational initiatives is the Marine Litter Learning Kit, a series of hands-on modules designed to help communities better understand marine litter and waste-related issues. The learning materials are now being rolled out in communities nationwide.
Building on Momentum
Through the media, the workshop aims to give consumers a more informed perspective on the plastic waste management challenge in the Philippines. Discussions went beyond the common association between plastic waste and flooding, also examining proposed government measures such as taxes on plastic products and the practical role that plastic packaging plays.
Plastic is widely used to protect products, particularly food, but it is just one material within the country's larger packaging ecosystem. A key takeaway from the workshop was the importance of proper waste management: waste of any composition can reach esteros and oceans when it is improperly discarded or handled.
The session also examined proposals for taxing plastic products, including sachets. As part of the discussion, Mondelēz International shared science-based scenarios exploring environmental initiatives that could complement or provide alternatives to taxation in addressing the Philippines' waste management challenges.
Mondelēz International: From Policy to Practice
The latest media workshop builds on an ongoing partnership between Save Philippine Seas (SPS) and Mondelēz International focused on addressing waste management challenges in the Philippines. Their initiatives combine support for policy measures, environmental education, and community-based plastic collection activities.
Mondelēz International supports the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act and received recognition from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in 2026 for efforts related to the collection and diversion of plastic packaging from its products.
Under its “Trash Right” program, Mondelēz International also invests in public information and education campaigns. These include the Miming and Friends animated YouTube series, as well as partnerships with SPS that bring interactive, hands-on waste management lessons to communities.
“At Mondelēz International, we believe that tackling the waste management challenge requires action on every front, from supporting legislation like the EPR Act, to collecting plastics in communities, to making sure Filipino consumers have the right information to make better choices. Bringing this workshop to media is a natural next step. Journalists are among the most powerful multipliers we have. When they understand the full picture — the science, the systems, the solutions — they can help us reach and empower millions more.” ~Caitlin Punzalan, Corporate & Government Affairs Lead, Mondelēz International in the Philippines
These educational programs are supported by community-based plastic collection initiatives, with the overall approach designed to encourage Filipino communities to better understand and practice responsible waste management.
About Save Philippine Seas
Save Philippine Seas (SPS) was founded in 2011 as a social media campaign in response to an illegal wildlife trade case in the Philippines. What started as an online movement eventually became a registered non-profit organization in 2013. SPS aims to narrow the gap between scientists and the general public, the old and young, and the passionate and indifferent by mobilizing seatizen-led initiatives that empower Filipinos towards collective action and behavior change for ocean conservation. Through education, community engagement, and policy advocacy, SPS continues to inspire Filipinos to become active stewards of the country's marine resources.
About Mondelēz International
Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ) empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world with 2025 net revenues of approximately $38.5 billion, MDLZ is leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as OREO, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. Mondelēz International is a proud member of the Standard and Poor’s 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones Sustainability Index. Visit www.mondelezinternational.com or follow the company on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MDLZ.
About Mondelez Philippines
Mondelez Philippines, Inc. has been providing consumers with delicious snack products for the past 63 years - since 1963. Its product portfolio includes Tang powdered beverages, Eden cheese, mayonnaise and sandwich spread, Cheez Whiz spread, Oreo cookies, Tiger energy biscuits, as well as Toblerone and Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolates. The company employs about 450 people in the Philippines, with a manufacturing facility in Parañaque City. Visit https://ph.mondelezinternational.com/home
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