As world leaders gather in Belém, Brazil, for COP30, the Philippines is once again facing the harsh reality of a warming planet. Typhoons Tino and Uwan recently tore through Luzon and the Visayas, claiming lives and destroying homes. These disasters are no longer isolated events—they are the direct face of climate change. While leaders debate in global forums, the small decisions we make every day still shape the planet’s future. Every purchase carries a carbon footprint, often larger than most realize.
The shipping cost of cheap goods
Importing goods from abroad has an obvious environmental cost. Cargo ships crossing oceans burn thousands of tons of fuel, releasing carbon dioxide and sulfur compounds into the air. Added to that are packaging materials, storage, and local transport. By the time a product reaches a shelf in Manila or Cebu, it has already traveled thousands of kilometers and released large amounts of emissions. Choosing Filipino-made goods shortens that journey and cuts the emissions linked to long-distance trade.
The hidden carbon footprint of Chinese manufacturing
But the climate cost of cheap imports goes far beyond shipping. China’s manufacturing remains among the most carbon-intensive in the world. Around 60% of its total emissions come from heavy industries such as steel, cement, and plastics. Even though China’s total CO₂ output has stayed flat for the past 18 months, growth in plastics and chemical production—driven by food packaging and e-commerce—continues to erase those gains. Each plastic case, gadget, or tool exported worldwide carries “embodied carbon,” or the emissions created during production.
By contrast, Filipino producers often operate on a smaller scale and use less energy overall. When Filipinos choose local goods, they help reduce both shipping emissions and the hidden carbon locked into imported items.
Buying Filipino, supporting resilience
Buying local is not just patriotic—it’s practical. Shorter supply chains mean less transport pollution and more secure jobs at home. Local industries can recover faster after natural disasters, while communities keep more of the economic value they create.
The Philippines is also taking gradual steps toward clean energy. Renewable sources now supply about 22% of the country’s power capacity, with major solar and wind projects expected to add around 10 gigawatts over the next decade. The country still relies heavily on coal and imported gas, but local manufacturing powered increasingly by renewables will have a smaller carbon footprint in the coming years.
A moral and environmental choice
When you buy products made in China, you indirectly support an industrial system still anchored in coal and high-emission manufacturing. Buying Filipino instead supports craftsmanship, fairer labor conditions, and the transition to cleaner energy.
As COP30 focuses on climate finance and accountability, Filipinos can contribute in their own way. Reducing our carbon footprint begins at home—with conscious choices that favor local goods, stronger communities, and a greener economy. In an age of stronger storms and rising seas, supporting Filipino products is more than a matter of pride—it’s a step toward survival.
