The Truth Behind “Eco-Friendly” Labels: What Filipino Consumers Need to Know

Take a walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll spot a rainbow of products boasting green labels: “eco-friendly,” “recyclable,” “biodegradable.” It’s a tempting promise—who wouldn’t want their everyday purchases to help save the planet? But here’s the catch: not everything wrapped in green is as good for the environment as it claims.

More and more Filipinos are thinking about the impact their choices make. According to a 2023 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, over 83% of us now consider environmental sustainability a key factor in what we buy. A Pulse Asia poll found even more people are worried about plastic waste, and hungry for honest product labels. We’re asking the right questions—but companies aren’t always giving the right answers.

Green Labels: Helpful or Hype?

Here’s where things get messy. The practice of dressing up products with eco-claims without solid facts is called “greenwashing”. Brands splash on buzzwords like “recyclable” or “biodegradable,” but their packaging often tells a different story. In reality, most plastics found in sachets, snack wrappers, and bottle caps are made from mixed materials—layers of plastic, aluminum, paper, topped off with colorful inks and branding. Local recycling centers just can’t handle these hybrids. So, even with a green label, a lot of supposedly “recyclable” items end up in landfills, rivers, or the ocean.

Think about it: you want to do the right thing and toss that wrapper in the recycling bin. But if local facilities don’t have the tech to process it, your good intentions go to waste—literally!

 

Lawsuits and Accountability: The Fight for Honest Labels

This isn’t just a small issue, or a few companies bending the rules. Popular brands—including Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestle, Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive, and Universal Robina—have faced legal action for misleading “recyclable” claims. The ongoing Andrade et al v. Coca-Cola et al case in the Philippines is a big one: it aims to hold these corporations accountable and forces them to come clean about the realities of their packaging. Another global brand, Procter & Gamble, was initially one of the respondents in the Andrade et al case. However, after a successful mediation, Procter & Gamble was dropped as a respondent from the case. Since then, the same consumer complainants have continued to dialogue with Procter & Gamble, aiming for changes on the company’s eco-friendly labeling practices. By pushing for improvements, the complainants hope to set a precedent for stronger standards and greater protection against greenwashing in the industry.

 

 Pulse Asia. (2023). Survey: 83% of Filipinos prefer environment-friendly products and brands (Survey results). https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/861931/8-10-filipinos-prefer-environment-friendly-products-pulse-asia-survey/story/

ScienceDirect. (2024). Greenwashing. In ScienceDirect Topics. Elsevier. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/greenwashing

350.org. (2022, November 15). Top plastic polluters Coca-Cola, 6 other retail giants sued for dangerous plastic packaging, false ‘recyclable plastic’ ads. https://world.350.org/philippines/press-release/hold-plastic-polluters-accountable/

 Packaging Insights. (2024, February 21). P&G settles Filipino consumer complaint alleging “false” recyclability labels. https://www.packaginginsights.com/news/pg-settles-filipino-consumer-complaint-alleging-false-recyclability-labels-on-pack.html

 

And it’s not just here. Around the world, groups are pushing back. In the U.S., Earth Island Institute v. Coca-Cola is challenging the way plastic packaging is marketed. In the UK, Greenpeace has taken on supermarket giant Tesco. Regulators across the European Union have launched investigations into Coca Cola, Nestle and other known companies for recycling claims that just don’t stack up. The result? Tougher rules and demands for real evidence behind every eco-label.

Why Should We Care?

Every time a product overstates its green credentials, it slows down real progress. It misleads consumers, harms the environment, and chips away at public trust. As more Filipinos try to make sustainable choices, we need clear, honest information—so we’re not playing a guessing game in the grocery store.

Companies must be held to strong standards, with real rules and real consequences for greenwashing. Accurate labels give us the power to make choices that truly protect our communities and our planet.

What Can You Do?

• Be skeptical: Don’t take “eco-friendly” claims at face value. Check how products are made, their materials, and if local facilities can recycle them.
• Ask questions: If you’re unsure, talk to store managers or contact manufacturers. Push for transparency.
• Support transparency: Choose brands that back up their claims with data and certifications. Spread the word about companies doing the right thing.
• Get involved: Advocate for stronger and truthful labeling standards and reduction in plastic production.

 

C-Help advocates for environmental human rights, emphasizing not only the right to a healthy environment but also the vital consumer rights to accurate information, transparency, and protection from misleading claims. By championing consumers’ right to know the true environmental impact of the products they buy, C-Help seeks to ensure that individuals can make informed choices that genuinely benefit both themselves and the planet. This includes defending consumers against greenwashing and pushing for stronger standards that hold companies accountable for their sustainability claims. If you are interested in learning more about this important issue—or if your organization requires training, compliance assistance, or legal advice to safeguard environmental human rights—we invite you to connect with us. You can reach out via our official Facebook Page or contact us directly at (63) 936 979 2296 or (63) 908 867 6601. Let’s work together to ensure honesty in sustainability claims and uphold the laws that protect both our planet and our communities.

 

 Earth Island. (n.d.). Ending Coke’s Greenwashing. https://www.earthisland.org/index.php/advocates/suit/coca-cola-plastic

 Greenpeace UK. (2024). Giant protest at Tesco AGM as 10,000 shoppers say “drop forest destroyers”. https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/giant-protest-at-tesco-agm-as-10000-shoppers-say-drop-forest-destroyers/