Shell Philippines has delivered a set of 110 bike racks made from 3,000kg of plastic waste around Metro Manila and Southern Luzon as part of a unique activation aimed at promoting sustainable mobility and highlighting the power of the circular economy.
The Philippines has been severely impacted by the plastic waste crisis, which poses a significant threat to the health of our planet. The country’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act, which requires large companies to recover 40% of their plastic packaging footprint in 2024, aims to encourage a circular economy for plastics to ensure waste doesn’t end up in nature.
Shell Philippines purchased plastic credits from PCX Markets,a responsibility platform that offers upstream solutions and helps fund plastic pollution cleanup projects around the world. One credit enables the collection and processing of 1,000 kilograms of plastic waste by project partners listed on PCX Markets. This purchase supports the work of EFT Philippines, an SME based in Davao, which upcycles plastic waste into various items, including outdoor furniture.
Funds raised through credit sales helped EFT Philippines expand its collection and purchase more plastic waste from informal sector waste pickers through aggregators, such as junk shops. Shell went on to purchase upcycled bike racks from EFT, helping to fund the entire circular journey of plastic waste, from collection through to processing and, ultimately, the purchase of the end product.
Shell unveiled the project on October 24, 2024, including the first prototype, as part of the company’s Sustainability Week event in Manila. The first 55 bike racks were installed in various Shell Mobility sites in Q1 of 2025, and another 55 will be deployed within the 3rd quarter of 2025.
Shell supports the need for improved circularity of plastics markets and globally aims to increase the amount of recycled plastic in Shell-branded packaging to 30% by 2030, ensuring that the packaging used in their products is reusable or recyclable. The company’s approach to sustainability is to integrate sustainable practices in every aspect of the business, from its operations to customer interactions.
In the Philippines, Shell has partnered with PCX Markets to develop a downstream plastic diversion program that helps fund various recycling, upcycling, and social impact projects aimed at keeping plastic out of the natural environment.