Right after the end of school in Malabon City, a small shop named Tingi Tindahan sees more foot traffic. Mothers come in with their kids, bringing bottles to refill with soy sauce and cooking oil. The store offers an experience that's different from traditional small shops in the Philippines, which often sell goods in single-use sachets and plastic packaging. Products in this shop are stored in large glass jars with handwritten labels, avoiding plastic entirely.
Plastic waste has become a major crisis in the Philippines. The country generates at least 2.7 million tons of plastic waste each year, with some reports estimating as many as 164 million sachets used daily. These convenient, low-cost single-use sachets have overwhelmed landfills and are now found in rivers, lakes, and oceans, polluting the environment.
Khate Nolasco, a local councillor from Potrero, a district in Malabon, experiences the consequences of the plastic problem firsthand. During typhoon season, which sees at least 20 storms annually, the city floods with debris, blocking estuaries and drainage systems. Clearing up this mess can take up to a month, and it’s the unmanaged plastic waste that stays behind the longest, including sachets from multinational brands.
Community-Led Change
In July 2024, with backing from the barangay leader, Nolasco initiated Tingi Tindahan, transforming an unused space near the local office into a community-driven solution. The shop is operated by women who already monitor waste practices for the barangay. These women also produce liquid cleaning products sold in the shop, using raw materials sourced from nearby factories.
Though there are other zero-waste stores in the country, Tingi Tindahan stands out as the first to be both established and funded by a barangay. The initiative has also deployed a retrofitted vending machine that dispenses cleaning products and condiments, operating even when the shop is closed in the evenings. This effort is tailored to the needs of the local community and aims to address waste problems at the grassroots level.
Regine Nayve, an advocate from the environmental group Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), emphasizes that the shop is challenging the belief that refilling is an expensive or exclusive option. By making these sustainable choices accessible, especially for low-income households, Tingi Tindahan is setting an example for the rest of the country.
A year after the shop’s opening, Nolasco says Tingi Tindahan has drawn mixed reactions from Potrero residents. However, the overall sentiment has been positive. Many elderly customers are particularly drawn to the initiative, seeing it as a return to traditional methods they remember from their younger days. “They like the idea of bringing back something familiar,” she says, highlighting the emotional connection residents feel to the shop’s approach.
Residents initially hesitated to use the store, having grown used to the ubiquity of sachets and plastic. However, as they discovered that Tingi Tindahan offers a cheaper alternative to supermarket prices, more people began to embrace the model. For example, a 100ml sachet of vinegar that typically costs 8 Philippine pesos in a grocery store is now priced at just 5 pesos at the shop. This affordability, combined with the freedom to purchase only what they need, has encouraged more people to switch from single-use plastic.
The vending machine, a key part of the initiative, allows customers to access products even when the shop is closed, adding convenience to the sustainability message. The machine dispenses items like liquid cleaning agents and condiments, all without plastic. This innovation helps bridge the gap between traditional and modern solutions, making it easier for residents to adopt eco-friendly habits without compromising on accessibility or affordability.
Nayve of MEF points out that while zero-waste and refill shops are often associated with affluent neighborhoods, Tingi Tindahan is changing that perception. “These stores can seem intimidating because of their design or location, but here, we’re showing that refilling is not a luxury. It’s practical and accessible, even in low-income communities.” Through this project, the MEF aims to demonstrate that sustainability is a universal concern, not a privilege.
Tingi Tindahan is more than a shop—it’s a movement. By combining reuse with community action and affordable pricing, it addresses the dual challenges of waste and inequality. Nolasco and her team are not only reducing plastic use in their barangay but also empowering women and fostering a sense of environmental responsibility among residents. For Nolasco, this project represents a long-term commitment to change, one that she hopes will inspire similar efforts in other parts of the Philippines.