As COO of The Plastic Flamingo, Erica Reyes aims to convert common detritus into community building blocks
In 2019, social enterprise The Plaf, which is short for The Plastic Flamingo, launched its first pilot project in Manila, Philippines. Its core mission: to tackle marine plastic pollution through recycling. Under the leadership of COO Erica Reyes, the organisation has since expanded to offer both products and services, all of which cater to promoting environmental responsibility.
Read more: Filipino conservation photographer Gab Mejia shares their favourite photos
Corporations can partner with The Plaf to create corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes or simply get a hold of its recycled products to use for communal spaces including classrooms, store fronts and boardwalks. Here, Reyes describes The Plaf’s mission and impact in her own words.
Our motivation is knowing that we are creating an impact. Even with the workers we hire, most come from indigenous communities and don’t have a proper education.
Our impact is threefold: environmental, social and educational. On the environmental side, The Plastic Flamingo has managed hundreds of metric tons of plastic waste and is handling over 250 plastic collection points. Socially, we provide livelihoods and opportunities for low-income families to upskill themselves. Also, 40 percent of our management are women. For our educational impact, we have garnered a substantial following on social media and use our platforms to spread awareness to our followers.
Read more: In her element: actress and eco-warrior Nadine Lustre on how she plans to save the planet
The Plastic Flamingo is able to recycle a variety of plastics. These ranges from PET plastics such as liquid or food containers and soda bottles to PVC plastics like plastic trays, chairs and hangers. Plastic cups and utensils, shampoo bottles and even egg trays, yoghurt containers and bottle caps can be recycled and turned into something sustainable. We can recycle anything, as long as the plastic is cleaned, washed and dried.