Kuha sa Tingi grows in Metro Manila

Every day, the Philippines consumes an estimated 164 million plastic sachets, a figure that translates to roughly 1.5 sachets per person daily. These small, single-use packets for shampoo, detergent, and coffee are nearly impossible to recycle due to their multi-layer composition, and they make up a staggering 52 percent of the residual plastic waste stream in the country. That waste clogs waterways, contributes to flooding in vulnerable communities, and has been linked to public health concerns. Against this backdrop, a grassroots initiative called Kuha sa Tingi is quietly demonstrating that a traditional Filipino practice—buying goods in small, affordable portions—can be revived as a modern solution to the plastic crisis.

The numbers are hard to ignore, but what makes Kuha sa Tingi worth watching is not just the scale of the problem it addresses—it is the fact that it works within the existing retail system of neighborhood sari-sari stores. Instead of asking consumers to change their buying habits entirely, it simply changes the container. The approach has already prevented over 47,000 sachets from entering the waste stream during its pilot phase, and as of late 2024, the initiative has expanded to over 2,000 stores across Metro Manila, avoiding an estimated 3.9 million sachets in total. For a deeper look at how plastic pollution affects the country’s ecosystems, you can read more about the Philippines’ broader plastic waste battle.

How refill stations are changing the economics of everyday shopping

The core idea behind Kuha sa Tingi is straightforward: install refill dispensers for household essentials like liquid detergent, dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner, and multipurpose cleaner inside existing sari-sari stores. Customers bring their own reusable containers—old bottles, jars, or jugs—and pay only for the amount they need. This revives the traditional tingi culture, where goods were sold in small quantities, but replaces the single-use sachet with a durable container that gets used again and again.

The economics are what make the model stick. During pilot runs in Quezon City and San Juan City, participating households saw significant savings by choosing refills over sachets. Store owners also benefited: Menchie Paule, a store partner in Quezon City, told Greenpeace that the initiative increased her store’s income, helping cover daily household expenses. This dual benefit—lower costs for consumers and higher margins for retailers—creates a self-sustaining cycle that does not rely on charity or external subsidies. For more context on how pollution intersects with other environmental threats, see our coverage of climate change and pollution in the Philippines.

From pilot to citywide expansion: what the data shows

The initiative began in 2022 as a small pilot with 30 stores in Quezon City and 10 in San Juan. The results were strong enough to attract the attention of the Metro Manila Mayors’ Spouses Foundation (MMMSF), which partnered with Greenpeace Philippines to expand the project to all cities across the metro. Starting in September 2024, refill dispensers began appearing in barangays and sari-sari stores throughout the capital region.

The pilot data is instructive. Early results showed that refill options reduced costs by up to 201% compared to sachet purchases—meaning consumers effectively paid one-third of the price for the same amount of product. Store owners reported a 15% increase in profits, driven by higher customer loyalty and the ability to sell in larger volumes without the packaging cost. These figures come from the initiative’s own monitoring, but they align with broader research on the economics of reuse systems: when packaging is eliminated, the savings are split between the retailer and the consumer.

It is worth noting that the 201% savings figure represents the upper end of the range. Actual savings vary depending on the product and the store, but even conservative estimates put the savings at around 50–70% for most household essentials. That gap matters because it means the financial incentive is strong enough to drive sustained behavior change, even among households with very tight budgets. For a broader look at how pollution affects marine ecosystems, you can read about marine pollution in the Philippines.

What gets overlooked: the limits and complications of refill systems

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While the results are promising, the model has real limitations that deserve attention. First, the convenience gap is non-trivial. Sachets are everywhere—every sari-sari store stocks them, and they require no planning. Refill stations, by contrast, require the consumer to remember to bring a container. For households that rely on impulse purchases or have irregular access to transportation, this can be a barrier. The initiative currently operates in around 2,000 stores across Metro Manila, a fraction of the estimated 800,000 sari-sari stores nationwide.

The product range is still narrow

Currently, refill stations offer only four product categories: liquid detergent, dishwashing liquid, fabric conditioner, and multipurpose cleaner. Shampoo, cooking oil, coffee, and other staples commonly sold in sachets are not yet available through the system. This limits the initiative’s ability to fully replace sachet consumption in a typical household. Expanding the product range will require partnerships with fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, many of which have resisted shifting away from sachet packaging because it is a highly profitable distribution model for low-income markets.

Hygiene and safety concerns

Some consumers worry about the cleanliness of refill stations, particularly for products like detergent that come into contact with skin or food utensils. The initiative addresses this by using sealed dispensing systems and providing cleaning protocols for store owners, but the perception of risk can still deter adoption. In the pilot cities, store owners reported that regular cleaning and visible hygiene practices helped build trust over time.

The policy gap

Greenpeace Philippines has been clear that Kuha sa Tingi is not a silver bullet. The initiative is designed to demonstrate that refill systems work, but scaling them to a national level requires regulatory support. Currently, there are no meaningful policies in the Philippines that require FMCG companies to reduce sachet production or invest in reuse infrastructure. The initiative’s proponents are pushing for a comprehensive regulatory framework that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal. For more on the government’s role in environmental protection, see our article on the Philippine government’s fight for a clean environment.

What you can do: practical steps for consumers and store owners

Whether you are a consumer looking to reduce your plastic footprint or a sari-sari store owner considering a refill station, the path forward is clearer than it might seem. The Kuha sa Tingi model has already been tested and refined, and the steps to participate are straightforward.

For consumers: find a partner store and bring your own container

The first step is locating a sari-sari store that participates in the program. As of late 2024, over 2,000 stores across Metro Manila are part of the network, with new ones being added through the partnership between Greenpeace Philippines and the MMMSF. Once you find a partner store, bring any clean, dry container—old detergent bottles, glass jars, or plastic jugs all work. The store attendant will weigh your container, fill it with the product you need, and charge you only for the contents. The savings are immediate: a typical refill of liquid detergent costs about one-third of the price of the equivalent in sachets.

For store owners: the process to install a refill station

Store owners interested in joining the program can reach out through Greenpeace Philippines’ local campaigns or through their barangay’s partnership with the MMMSF. The process typically involves:

• 1
  Contact the program coordinators

  Reach out via Greenpeace Philippines’ website or through your local barangay office. The MMMSF is actively recruiting partner stores across all Metro Manila cities.

• 2
  Receive the refill kit

  Eligible stores receive a free kit that includes the dispensing station, initial product stock, and signage. The kit is designed to fit on a standard countertop.

• 3
  Attend a brief training session

  Store owners learn how to operate the dispenser, maintain hygiene standards, and explain the system to customers. Training takes about an hour.

• 4
  Start selling refills

  Once the station is set up, you can begin offering refills. Most store owners see a return on their time investment within the first month, thanks to the 15% average profit increase.

What to watch for: the Global Plastics Treaty and policy shifts

The timing of Kuha sa Tingi‘s expansion is not coincidental. World leaders are preparing for the final United Nations negotiations of the Global Plastics Treaty in late 2024, and the initiative has been presented at regional webinars and events parallel to the treaty talks as a proof-of-concept for reuse systems. If the treaty includes binding targets for reducing single-use plastics, the Philippines could be well-positioned to scale refill infrastructure quickly, given the groundwork already laid by this project. Conversely, if the treaty falls short, the burden will remain on grassroots initiatives and local governments to drive change.

Frequently asked questions about Kuha sa Tingi

Closing thoughts

The Kuha sa Tingi initiative is not going to solve the Philippines’ plastic crisis on its own. That would require systemic changes in how FMCG companies package products and how governments regulate waste. But what it does offer is a working example—tested at neighborhood scale, backed by real data on savings and waste reduction—that refill systems can be economically viable and socially inclusive. For anyone watching the plastic debate in the Philippines, this is the model to track. If this was useful, you might also want to read how agricultural runoff contributes to water pollution in the Philippines.

Sources

The Philippines’ plastic waste battle — A deeper look at the scale of the country’s plastic pollution problem and the policy responses being considered.

Philippine government’s fight for a clean environment — An overview of regulatory efforts and environmental programs led by national and local government agencies.

Philippines fights plastic crisis with store refill stations. Impactful Ninja, 2024.

‘Kuha sa Tingi’ expands in Metro Manila. Greenpeace Philippines, 2024.

Kuha Sa Tingi: redefining convenience, reducing plastic waste. Plastic Free July, 2024.