The SyCipLaw ESG Bulletin Issue No. 1 – October 2022

Because of changing investment and consumer norms and a shifting global policy and regulatory landscape, sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns have become a compelling issue for businesses, and responding to these concerns have turned into an important performance metric and part of business agenda. In this bulletin, the Firm's Sustainability & ESG Group notes key legal developments in this area.

EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY BECOMES LAW

Concepts such as "circular economy", "plastic neutrality", and "sustainable consumption and production" became part of Philippine statutory law with the enactment of Republic Act No. 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 (the "EPRA"). Extended Producer Responsibility ("EPR") refers to the environmental policy approach and practice that requires producers to be environmentally responsible throughout the life cycle of a product, especially its post-consumer or end-of-life