In the Philippines, small-scale retail known as “tingi” is being paired with reuse and refill practices to reduce plastic waste. Reports describe Tingi Tindahan in Malabon City, run by a district council, where customers bring empty containers such as bottles and tubs for refilling. During after-school hours, mothers and children return with used containers that are weighed and refilled with items including soy sauce, cooking oil, flour, and sugar. Some products are packaged in alternatives such as kraft paper for sweets and snacks.
The initiative is presented as a way to keep the affordability and convenience of micro-retail while moving away from single-use sachets and plastic packaging. Coverage notes the scale of the plastic problem facing the country, citing that the Philippines uses a very large number of sachets each day. By promoting refills instead of new plastic packaging, the shop seeks to lower the volume of discarded materials while maintaining access for low- and middle-income customers.
