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MITZI DUQUE-RUIZ

mitzi@mitziduqueruiz.com(02) 726-9482(0917) 5314355

Not Plastic about the environment

(25 July 2007, Power Plant, Makati) Lines blur between Manila’s styleand environment advocates in a five-day event that brings togetherand celebrates both aspects of the current Philippine lifestyle. “Somewhere in between the pursuit of individual style and stayingcurrent with fashion, and caring for the planet we live in, there is anarea of conflict. We don’t see why we can’t try to do away with that,” says Jessica Duque-Cabuay, one of the partners of EdgyEcology, Inc.From recent global developments, we have seen how the use andimproper disposal of plastic has made a major dent in the earth’secological balance. And plastic, as well all have gotten used to, is amain element in shopping, a favorite and vital element of everydayliving.The enterprising women behind EdgyEcology, brought together theirexperiences from the worlds of fashion, publishing, and education tocome up with their own baby steps in solving the environmental

problem with their Not Plastic Project. “We thought we should startwith something everyone can take part in, and that would beminimizing if not totally eliminating the need for plastic bags,” saysJessica, who, along with partners Carisse Escueta and Cathy Babao-Guballa, is launching a line of reusable carryalls, starting with theirmaiden “I am not plastic” bags. “One of the first things that drew us together as friends is our sharedconviction about saving the environment. Another thing is our habit of carrying all our stuff – shopping, work, magazines, books -- in bigsturdy bags. We put these two together, along with everything weknow from our work experience, to come up with our Not PlasticProject reusable bags,” Carisse shares.Their maiden product, is a 12” x 16” x 5” cotton muslin carryall withan inside pocket and the catchy statement, “I am Not Plastic” printedon one side and their Not Plastic logo on the other. “Our initial step isto get Filipino shoppers into the habit of refusing plastic bags whenthey shop. Then, we will soon launch our next batches of bags whichwill have more of a statement and function beyond what can be seen.These will be made with eco-friendly materials in various designs andsizes, some even crafted by handicapped or local indigent groups,” Jessica adds.Not Plastic Project carryalls are practical and stylish, especially if youcount caring for Mother Earth as part of your personal style. “Globally,about a million disposable plastic bags are used each day. That’s not just a waste of energy, but an unnecessary use of petroleum. Plasticwould take about a thousand years to break down in the environment.And since they are not biodegradable, they just break down into

smaller pieces that end up eaten by animals and fish, and eventually,us,” Jessica shares from some recent studies.The group chose to introduce their reusable totes in Power Plant’sArchaeology because it is a venue where creativity and individualismare highlighted, for both the designers and store owners, and theircustomers, who not only love fashion but also seek various ways tomake their personal convictions show through what they wear. “We have lined up various activities to show how style andenvironmental consciousness can merge. Our friends in various fields– local fashion, education, entertainment, media, the arts, sports, andbusiness – have shown their support and excitement in this firstventure, and are here to help us make the statement that caring forthe environment does not have to start with something grand anddrastic. We can all start with the practice of bringing our own bagsand using them instead of the standard plastic bags when we shop, apractice known almost everywhere in the world as, ‘BYOB & UI’,” theEdgyEcology, Inc. share.Carisse points out how other countries, including our neighbors HongKong and Singapore, encourage consumers to practice bringing theirown bags when they shop, and are actually passing laws to supportthe drive to do away with plastic bags. “We know this (using plasticbags) is a decades-old practice, and it takes time to change old habits,but if we think about how fast it is damaging our environment, takinga foldable, spacious, light, and machine-washable canvass tote isn’tsuch a bad substitute.”