Writing for the Planet – How a Community’s Words Took on Plastic Pollution

Shining a spotlight on one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time—plastic pollution—the Community Legal Help and Public Interest Centre launched an essay writing contest themed 'HOW DO WE SOLVE THE PLASTIC POLLUTION PROBLEM?' Through this initiative, C-Help invited young voices from the community to share their ideas, experiences, and visions for a cleaner, healthier planet.

What emerged was more than just a collection of wonderful writing through essays—it was a chorus of determination, creativity, and hope. Each winning entry offered a unique lens on the crisis, weaving together personal insight, scientific understanding, and calls to action that resonated far beyond the page.

The authors collectively explore the urgent and multifaceted issue of plastic pollution in the Philippines, highlighting the country's significant role as a top contributor. They emphasize that this is not only an environmental crisis, with plastics harming marine ecosystems and wildlife, but also a social one, disproportionately affecting marginalized communities through issues like flooding and inequality.

The essays present a unified message: a holistic approach and collective action are essential to solving the problem. They call for systemic changes, including stronger government regulations, corporate adoption of circular economies, and the development of sustainable alternatives. At the same time, the authors stress the critical importance of individual responsibility, urging people to embrace sustainable habits.

The winning essays can be accessed through the following links (in no particular order):