Our Response

ThinkPlace was engaged by UNDP to implement a systemic design approach in four pilot cities: Manila, Caloocan, Cotabato, and Quezon City. The work began with in-depth ethnographic research to explore behavioral drivers of circular economy adoption. We engaged a wide range of ecosystem actors—including consumers, producers, policymakers, waste managers, and circular economy innovators—across diverse urban settings: homes, barangays, malls, sari-sari stores, city halls, and public spaces. The resulting insights were synthesized into ethnographic reports for each city and validated through feedback sessions with local stakeholders. 

 Building on this foundation, we facilitated a national systemic design workshop to bring together key actors from government, academia, and industry. This created space for dialogue and co-creation around enabling a national shift toward circularity. Ideas emerging from the workshop were further refined through city-level design workshops, ensuring that each intervention was grounded in local realities.