Can the Philippines' refill-and-reuse "tingi" culture stem the plastic waste tide?
The Philippines has a long-standing "tingi" tradition of buying goods in small quantities, often with refillable containers and reused jars. As the country grapples with a massive plastic waste crisis, this practice is being examined as a potential counterweight to the pervasive use of single-use sachets. The outcome matters for the nation's environmental future and offers lessons for reducing plastic reliance elsewhere.