From Single-Use to System Change

Plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental crisis — it’s a leadership challenge.

In this episode of #shifthappens, Nanette Medved Po, founder of HOPE and Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX), shares what it takes to move from promises to progress. From stalled UN treaties to homegrown innovation, she shows how governments, businesses, and individuals can stop waiting for consensus and start taking responsibility.

That belief – that transformation starts with the “man in the mirror” – defines Nanette’s work. Through her story, we see not only the scale of the plastic problem but also the mindset needed to solve it.

The Leadership Lessons Behind the Plastic Crisis

Beyond sustainability metrics, the conversation with Nanette centered on how leadership transforms good intentions into lasting impact.

Don’t Wait for Perfect Agreements

In 2022, the United Nations drafted a global treaty on plastic pollution, a potential milestone for environmental cooperation. However, according to UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen, negotiations at the Geneva session in 2025 stalled due to geopolitical tensions and competing national interests, highlighting the complexity of reaching consensus on global environmental action.

For Nanette, the situation underscored a larger truth: waiting for perfect alignment is no longer an option. Real progress often begins when leaders act locally and decisively, even before the global framework is in place.

See Plastics as Both a Planet and People Problem

The plastic crisis extends far beyond oceans and coastlines. Nanette shared that microplastics – tiny fragments of plastic from broken-down waste or added to everyday products – have now been detected in human blood, placentas, and even the brain. The same materials that made modern life convenient are now threatening human health.

This realization reframes the issue: plastic pollution isn’t just an environmental tragedy — it’s a deeply personal one. Understanding that connection between planet and people creates the empathy and urgency needed to act.

Adopt a “Start and Improve” Mindset

Nanette believes progress comes from iteration, not idealism. Countries like Singapore and California demonstrate that principle. Singapore’s waste-to-energy model continually evolves to reduce emissions, while California’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) law is one of the few that mandates reduction, not just recycling.

The Philippines follows a similar path with its Extended Producer Responsibility on Plastic Packaging Waste (RA 11898). “The Philippines is a very good example of a developing country who is trying to be very ambitious. There's been early success, which is encouraging to other developing countries who want to put legislation in place. And so it is very exciting,” said Nanette.

Prove Responsibility Is Possible

HOPE, Nanette’s bottled water company, was built to fund public school classrooms across the Philippines. When she realized its single-use packaging was contributing to the plastic problem, she faced a defining moment. Instead of scaling back, she redefined what success meant.

HOPE became 100% plastic responsible, offsetting every bottle produced. That pivot led to the creation of PCX — a platform that helps companies measure, offset, and reduce their plastic footprint through verified recovery and recycling projects.

Her message is clear: if a small, low-margin business can take responsibility for its entire footprint, larger organizations have no excuse not to. Accountability is a choice, not a luxury.

Take Individual Action, Not Just Corporate

Nanette’s call to action extends beyond companies. Through PCX’s Plastic Cleanup Hero program, individuals can calculate their annual plastic footprint and fund cleanup projects to offset it.

This personal approach turns awareness into action. It shows that responsibility isn’t reserved for executives or policymakers — it’s something everyone can practice daily. When individuals lead by example, collective behavior follows.

Design the Future with Innovation

Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are already reshaping waste management, but Nanette sees even greater potential in design. Smarter, AI-driven packaging and production systems can reduce waste before it’s created.

Still, innovation must be guided by intent. Leadership determines whether new tools serve people and the planet — or just efficiency. Sustainable progress depends on how responsibly we direct innovation.

The Power of “Start and Improve” in Practice

Nanette often points to countries that are embracing practical, evolving solutions. Singapore’s waste-to-energy model, California’s reduction mandates, and the Philippines’ early plastic responsibility laws all share a common trait: progress through persistence.

None of these systems are perfect, but all of them are improving — and that, she says, is the essence of leadership. It’s not about flawless execution; it’s about taking the first step, learning fast, and sharing what works.

This mindset – “start and improve” – has guided her work at PCX and beyond. It’s a reminder that every action, no matter how small, can become a catalyst for systemic change.

Turning Waste into Leadership

Nanette often jokes that she never expected to end up “in trash,” but she’s quick to point out that waste reveals who we are as a society — what we value, and what we choose to ignore.

Through HOPE and PCX, she has turned that uncomfortable truth into an opportunity. By creating systems that reward responsibility, she’s shown how sustainability can be embedded in how companies operate, how governments legislate, and how people live.

“Leadership isn’t about waiting for everyone to get on board — it’s about doing the right thing first.”

That principle defines Nanette’s approach: courageous, pragmatic, and deeply human. It’s the kind of leadership the plastic crisis – and every global challenge – urgently needs.

Leading the Change We Want to See

Plastic pollution exposes the weaknesses of our global systems, but it also highlights our capacity for adaptation. Nanette’s journey shows that meaningful change begins with personal accountability.

She didn’t wait for perfect policies or global alignment. She started where she was, learned by doing, and built a model others could follow.

In the end, the fight against plastic pollution is a mirror. It reflects how we consume, how we lead, and what we’re willing to change. And as her story demonstrates, progress begins not with policy or technology, but with people willing to take action.

Episode Resources

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#shifthappens Insights:

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Nanette Medved Po on LinkedIn

Dux Raymond Sy on LinkedIn

HOPE website

Plastic Credit Exchange (PCX) website

#shifthappens podcast

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Episode 113: From Single-Use to System Change