Shell Philippines has delivered a set of 110 bike racks made from 3,000 kg of plastic waste around Metro Manila and Southern Luzon as part of a unique activation to help encourage sustainable mobility and spotlight the power of the circular economy.

The Philippines has been hard hit by the plastic waste crisis, which threatens 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 bought 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 that upcycles plastic waste into various items such as outdoor furniture.

Funds raised by credit sales helped EFT Philippines expand 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 fund the entire circular journey of plastic waste, from collection through to processing and finally, through 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 and ensure 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 several recycling, upcycling, and social impact projects to help keep plastic out of nature.