Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No: __ 33

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This bill seeks to mandate the labelling of plastic products according to the type of
plastic resin used in such products. It also provides penalties for violations thereof. t

The segregation of wastes before these are collected by garbage collectors may not be
enough to lessen the impact of plastic products on our environment. It can be observed that
despite the waste segregation schemes in the collection of garbage being employed by different
local government units, many plastic products still end up on our waterways, rivers, seas and
oceans.

Clearly, there is a need to put into place a system that would hasten the management
and disposal of plastic products in order to minimize their harmful impact on the environment.
The labelling of plastic products before they come out of the factories is envisioned to help
achieve this objective. In this manner, it is hoped that post-consumer plastic products will be
easier to sort according to what may be recycled and what may already be considered waste.

In view of the foregoing, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

woh bob frizos '
Represéntative

Lone District, Muntinlupa City


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

33
House Bill No.

Introduced by HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BLIAZON

AN ACT
MANDATING THE LABELLING OF PLASTIC PRODUCTS ACCORDING TO THE
TYPE OF PLASTIC RESIN USED IN SUCH PRODUCTS, PROVIDING PENALTIES
FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:

“TION ONE. Short Title. ~ This Act shall be known as the “Plastics Labelling Act
of 2019.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. — It is hereby declared the policy of the State to protect
the environment in order to achieve a sustainable future for its citizens. Towards this end, it
shall come up with policies that shall promote the effective use of resources and materials
through the principle of reducing waste, reusing and recycling resources and products.

Sec. 3. Definition of Terms. — As used in this Act:

a. Bioplastics are plastics derived from renewable biomass sources, such as
vegetable fats and oils, corn starch, straw, woodchips and food waste among others. Bioplastic
can be made from agricultural by-products and also from used plastic bottles and other
containers using microorganisms. Common plastics, such as fossil-fuel plastics (also called
petrobased polymers) are derived from petroleum or natural gas.

b. Ethylene is a hydrocarbon which has the formula C2Hs or H2C=CHo. It is a
colorless flammable gas with a faint "sweet and musky" odour when pure. It is the
simplest alkene (a hydrocarbon with carbon-carbon double bonds).

©. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polyethylene high-density (PEHD) is
athermoplestic polymer produced from the monomer ethylene. It is sometimes called
“alkathene" or "polythene" when used for HDPE pipes.) With a high strength-to-density ratiog
HDPE is used in the production of plastic bottles, corrosion-resistant piping, geomembranes
and plastic lumber.


d. Hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and
carbon. Hydrocarbons are examples of group 14 hydrides. Hydrocarbons, from which, one
hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups called hydrocarbyls. Aromatic
hydrocarbons (arenes), alkanes, cycloalkanes and alkyne-based compounds are different types
of hydrocarbons.

«Linear low-density _polyethylene(LLDPE) is a_ substantially
linear polymer (polyethylene), with significant numbers of short branches, commonly made
by copolymerization of ethylene with longer-chain olefins. Linear low-density polyethylene
differs structurally from conventional low-density polyethylene (LDPE) because of the
absence of long chain branching. The linearity of LLDPE results from the different
manufacturing processes of LLDPE and LDPE. In general, LLDPE is produced at lower *
temperatures and pressures by copolymerization of ethylene and such higher alpha-
olefins as butene, hexene, or octene. The copolymerization process produces an LLDPE
polymer that has a narrower molecular weight distribution than conventional LDPE and in
combination with the linear structure, significantly different rheological properties.

£ Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) isa thermoplastic made from
the monomer ethylene.

Monomer is a molecule that "can undergo polymerization thereby contributing
constitutional units to the essential structure of a macromolecule". Large numbers of monomers
combine to form polymers in a process called polymerization.

h. Plastic is a material consisting of any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-
synthetic organic compounds that are malleable and so can be molded into solid objects.

i, Polyethylene terephthalate, sometimes written poly(ethylene terephthalate),
commonly abbreviated PET, PETE, or the obsolete PETP or PET-P, is the most
common thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in fiber for
clothing, containers for liquids and foods, thermoforming for manufacturing, and int
combination with glass fiber for engineering resins.

j. Polyester is a category of polymers that contain the ester functional group in
their main chain, As a specific material, it most common

k. Polymer refers to a molecule whose structure is composed of multiple repeating
units, from which originates a characteristic of high relative molecular mass and attendant
properties. The units composing polymers derive, actually or conceptually, from molecules of
low relative molecular mass. Polymers range from familiar synthetic plastics such
as polystyrene to natural biopolymers such as DNA and proteins that are fundamental to
biological structure and function. Polymers, both natural and synthetic, are created
via polymerization of many small molecules, known as monomers.

1. Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropene is a thermoplastic polymer
used in a wide variety of applications. It is produced via chain-growth polymerization bfrom
the monomer propylene.

Polypropylene belongs to the group of polyolefins and is partially crystalline and non-
polar. Its properties are similar to polyethylene, but itis slightly harder and more heat resistant.
Itis a white, mechanically rugged material and has a high chemical resistance. '

2


m. Polystyrene (PS) is a synthetic aromatic hydrocarbon polymer made from the
monomer styrene. Polystyrene can be solid or foamed. General-purpose polystyrene is clear,
hard, and rather brittle, It is an inexpensive resin per unit weight. It is a rather poor barrier to
oxygen and water vapour and has a relatively low melting point.

n. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a tough, lightweight synthetic plastic polymer that
is durable, fairly rigid and versatile, and is resistant to acids and bases. PVC comes in two basic
forms: rigid (sometimes abbreviated as RPVC) and flexible. The rigid form of PVC is used in
construction for pipe and in profile applications such as doors and windows. It is also used in
making bottles, non-food packaging, food-covering sheets," and cards (such as bank or
membership cards). It can be made softer and more flexible by the addition of plasticizers, the
most widely used being phthalates. In this form, it is also used in plumbing, electrical cable
insulation, imitation leather, flooring, signage, phonograph records,” inflatable products, and
many applications where it replaces rubber"! With cotton or linen itis used to make canvas. »

Pure polyvinyl chloride is a white, brittle solid. It is insoluble in alcohol but slightly
soluble in tetrahydrofuran.

0. _ Resinis a solid or highly viscous substance of plant or synthetic origin that is
typically convertible into polymers. Resins are usually mixtures of organic compounds.

p. Styrene, also known as ethenylbenzene, vinylbenzene, and phenylethene, is
an organic compound with the chemical formula CcHsCH=CHp. This derivative of benzene is
a colorless oily liquid that evaporates easily and has a sweet smell, although high
concentrations have a less pleasant odor. Styrene is the precursor to polystyrene and several
copolymers.

q. Thermoplastic, or thermosofiening plastic, is a plastic polymer material that
becomes pliable or moldable at a certain elevated temperature and solidifies upon cooling. The
following are types of thermoplastics:

1. Acrylic, a polymer called polymethy! methacrylate (PMMA) serves as a sturdy
substitute for glass for items such as aquariums, motorcycle helmet visors, aircraft
windows, viewing ports of submersibles, and lenses of exterior lights of #
automobiles. It is extensively used to make signs, including lettering and logos. In
medicine, it is used in bone cement and to replace eye lenses. Acrylic paint consists
of PMMA particles suspended in water.

2. Acrylonitrile butadiene —_styrene(ABS) _ is _ a terpolymer synthesized
from styrene and acrylonitrile in the presence of polybutadiene. ABS is a light-
weight material that exhibits high impact resistance and mechanical toughness. It
poses few risks to human health under normal handling. It is used in many consumer
products, such as toys, appliances, and telephones.

3. Nylon belongs to a class of polymers called polyamides. It has served as a substitute
mainly for hemp, cotton and silk, in products such as parachutes, cords, sails, flak
vests and clothing, Nylon fibers are useful in making fabrics, rope, carpets and
musical strings, whereas in bulk form, nylon is used for mechanical parts including


s

machine screws, gears and power tool casings. In addition, it is used in the
manufacture of heat-resistant composite materials.

. Polybenzimidazole (PBI, short for Poly-[2,2°-(m-phenylen)-5,5°-

bisbenzimidazole]) fiber is a synthetic fiber with a very high melting point. It has
exceptional thermal and chemical stability and does not readily ignite. It was first
discovered by American polymer chemist Carl Shipp Marvel in the pursuit of new
materials with superior stability, retention of stiffness, toughness at elevated
temperature. Due to its high stability, Polybenzimidazole is used to fabricate high-
performance protective apparel such as firefighter's gear, astronaut space suits, high
temperature protective gloves, welders’ apparel and aircraft wall fabrics. In recent
years, polybenzimidazole found its application as membrane in fuel cells.

. Polycarbonates (PC) are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate

groups in their chemical structures. Polycarbonates used in engineering are strong,
tough materials, and some grades are optically transparent. They are easily
worked, molded, and thermoformed. Because of these properties, polycarbonates
find many applications.

. Polyether sulfone (PES) or polysulfone is a class of specially engineered t

thermoplastics!*! with high thermal, oxidative, and hydrolytic stability, and good
resistance to aqueous mineral acids, alkalis, salt solutions, oils and greases.

. Polyoxymethylene (POM), also known as acetal, polyacetal and polyformaldehyde,

is an engineering thermoplastic used in precision parts requiring high stiffness, low
friction, and excellent dimensional stability. As with many other synthetic
polymers, it is produced by different chemical firms with slightly different
formulas.

. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) is a colorless organic thermoplastic polymer in the

polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family, used in engineering applications. It has
attractive properties like good abrasion resistance, low flammability and emission
of smoke and toxic gases.

. Polyetherimide (PEI), produced by a novel nitro displacement reaction involving

bisphenol A, 4, 4’-methylenedianiline and 3-nitrophthalic anhydride, has high heat
distortion temperature, tensile strength and modulus. They are generally used in
high performance electrical and electronic parts, microwave appliances, and under-
the-hood automotive parts. '

. Polyethylene (polyethene, polythene, PE) is a family of similar materials

categorized according to their density and molecular structure. It is also known as
poly and is obtained by the addition polymerisation of ethylene.It may be of low
density or high density depending upon the process used in its manufacturing. It is
resistant to moisture and most of the chemicals. It is flexible at room temperature
(and low temperature) and can be heat sealed. Since it is an inexpensive plastic itis
made in large amounts to cater demand. For example:


5

>=

i, Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is tough and
resistant to chemicals. It is used to manufacture moving machine parts,
bearings, gears, artificial joints and some bulletproof vests.

ii. High-density polyethylene (HDPE), recyclable plastic no. 2, is commonly
used as milk jugs, liquid laundry detergent bottles, outdoor furniture,
margarine tubs, portable gasoline cans, drinking water distribution systems,
water drainage pipes, and grocery bags.

ili. Medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) is used for packaging film, sacks
and gas pipes and fittings.

iv. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is flexible and is used in the manufacture
of squeeze bottles, milk jug caps, retail store bags and linear low-density
polyethylene (LLDPE) as stretch wrap in transporting and handling boxes
of durable goods, and as the common household food covering.

. Polylactie acid (polyactide) is a compostable thermoplastic aliphatic polyester

derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, tapioca roots, chips or starch,
or sugarcane. It is one of the materials used for 3D printing with fused deposition
modelling (FDM) techniques.

Polyphenylene oxide (PPO), which is obtained from the free-radical, step-growth
oxidative coupling polymerization of 2,6-xylenol, has many attractive properties
such as high heat distortion and impact strength, chemical stability to mineral and
organic acids, and low water absorption. PPO is difficult to process, and hence the
‘commercial resin (Noryl) is made by blending PPO with high-impact polystyrene
(HIPS), which serves to reduce the processing temperature.

. Polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) obtained by the condensation polymerization of p-

dichlorobenzene and sodium sulfide, has outstanding chemical resistance, good
electrical properties, excellent flame retardance, low coefficient of friction and high
transparency to microwave radiation. PPS is principally used in coating
applications. This is done by spraying an aqueous slurry of PPS particles and
heating to temperatures above 370 °C. Particular grades of PPS can be used in
injection and compression molding at temperatures (300 to 370 °C) at which PPS
particles soften and undergo apparent crosslinking. Principal applications of
injection and compression molded PPS include cookware, bearings, and pump parts
for service in various corrosive environments.

Polypropylene (PP) is useful for such diverse products as reusable plastic food
containers, microwave- and dishwasher-safe plastic containers, diaper lining,
sanitary pad lining and casing, ropes, carpets, plastic moldings, piping systems, car
batteries, insulation for electrical cables and filters for gases and liquids. In
medicine, it is used inhernia treatment and to make heat-resistant’ medical
equipment. Polypropylene sheets are used for stationery folders and packaging and
clear storage bins. Polypropylene is defined by the recyclable plastic number 5.
Although relatively inert, it is vulnerable to ultraviolet radiation and can degrade
considerably in direct sunlight. Polypropylene is not as impact-resistant as the


iv

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3

polyethylenes (HDPE, LDPE). It is also somewhat permeable to highly volatile
gases and liquids.

. Polystyrene is manufactured in various forms that have different applications.

Extruded polystyrene (PS) is used in the manufacture of disposable cutlery, CD and
DVD cases, plastic models of cars and boats, and smoke detector housings.
Expanded polystyrene foam (EPS) is used in making insulation and packaging
materials, such as the "peanuts" and molded foam used to cushion fragile products.
Polystyrene copolymers are used in the manufacture of toys and product casings.

. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a tough, lightweight material that is durable, fairly rigid

and versatile, and is resistant to acids and bases. Much of it is used by the
construction industry, such as for vinyl siding, drainpipes, gutters and roofing
sheets. Itis also converted to flexible forms with the addition of plasticizers, thereby
making it useful for items such as hoses, tubing, electrical insulation, coats, jackets
and upholstery. Flexible PVC is also used in inflatable products, such as water beds
and pool toys. PVC is also a common material in vinylaction figures, especially in
countries such as Japan, where the material is used extensively in so-
called Sofubi figures. As PVC bends easily and has a tendency to be bent during
transit, a method to mitigate this deformation is to heat the plastic until it becomes
mobile, then reform the material into the desired shape.

PVC is produced in many specific modifications to affect its chemical and
physical properties. In plasticized polyvinyl chloride (pPVC), plasticizers are added
to the raw material before molding to make it more flexible or pliable. Early on, the
health and environmental aspects of this were poorly understood and replacements
and product bans resulted after studies. The original form is often referred to as
unplasticized polyvinyl chloride (uPVC), which is the more commonly used type
for installations such as water, waste, and sewer conveyance plumbing.

Chemical modification often produces more drastic changes in
properties. Chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC) is produced through exposing
PVC to the continued free-radical chlorination reaction that originally formulates
the PVC polymer. The chlorination reaction continues to add chlorine atoms to the
polymer hydrocarbon backbone until most commercial applications reach a percent
range between 56 to 74% total chlorine!®l, This increase in elemental chlorine
content contributes to CPVC's increased expression of chlorine-based
characteristics, such as chemical durability, resistance to acids, bases, and salts;
susceptibility to ammonia-based compounds, aromatics, esters, ketones!”!; chemical
stability; heat energy transfer resistance. CPVC is commonly used in water,
chemical, hot and cold, delivery systems for residential, commercial, and industrial
applications.

Polyvinylidene fluoride, PVDF, belongs to the fluoropolymer class of
thermoplastics and is known for its high chemical inertness and resistance. PVDF
is obtained through the polymerization of the vinylidene fluoride monomer. PVDF
thermoplastic is fabricated into sheets and pipes for engineering uses as well as
powders and coatings that can be dissolved in solvents and applied across a product
surface. PVDF is widely used in the chemical industry as piping for aggressive


chemicals and high purity liquids. The PVDF material is used in construction,
transportation, chemical processes, electricity, batteries, waste water and treatment.

18. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene
is commonly recognized under the brand name Teflon. PTFE is hydrophobic:
aqueous liquids do not wet the material, as fluorocarbons demonstrate
mitigated London dispersion forces due to the high electronegativity of fluorine.
This also supports its use in coatings of cooking ware. The polymer has one of the
lowest coefficients of friction of any solid and is therefore commonly used for
bearings and support of moving mechanical parts.

Sec. 3, Labelling of Plastic Products by Manufacturers. ~ Manufacturers of plastic
products are hereby mandated to label their products using arrows that cycle clockwise to form
a triangle that encloses a numeral from 1 to 7 that identifies the plastic resin used in said
products as follows:

Resin Resin
Identification Identification
Resin Code Codd’
Option A Option B
“N N
Polyethylene terephthalate < AD) oy
PETE Per
High-density polyethylene aS Oo
HOPE PESHO

Polyvinyl chloride a ron
7 Pe
Low-density
polyethylene, Linear low-density a ay
polyethylene Tore PECLO
Polypropylene a ay
’P ‘P


Resin
Identification
Resin Code
Option A
Polystyrene Cy
Bs
Other Resins such
as acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate,
and polylactic N
acid (a bioplastic also knownas «= 7)
PLA), and multilayer Shes
combinations of different
plastics

Where:

a. "I" or “01” signifies that the product
terephthalate (PET);

polyethylene (HDPE);

Resin
Identification
Code

Option B

aS

PS

is made out

"2" or “02” signifies that the product is

made out

of polyethylene

of high-density

¢. "3" or “03” signifies that the product is made out of polyvinyl chloride (PVC);

d. "4" or “04” signifies that the product
polyethylene (LDPE);

is

made out

of low-density

e. "5" or “05” signifies that the product is made out of polypropylene (PP);

f. "6" or “06” signifies that the product is made out of polystyrene (PS); and

g. "7" or “07” signifies that the product is made out of other plastics such as acrylic,

nylon, polycarbonate and polylactic acid (PLA).

See. 4. Ban on Unlabeled Plastic Products. — The sale, distribution and importation of

plastic products that are not labeled as prescribed in the preceding section shall be prohibited

upon the effectivity of this Act.

Sec. 5. Penalties. — Any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be meted a penalty

of One million pesos (PhP1,000,000.00)..


Sec. 6. Implementing Rules and Regulations. The Department of Trade and Industry
shall, within sixty (60) days come up with the rules and regulations necessary for the effective

implementation of this Act.

See. 7. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations »
and other issuances that are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly.
See. 8. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication
in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,