PWS launches plastic credits to back sustainability efforts

MANILA, Philippines — Prime Integrated Waste Solutions (PWS), a subsidiary of Enrique Razon Jr.’s Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc., has launched the commercial sale of verified plastic credits, a move that underscores the group’s growing presence in the environmental solutions space and aligns with global trends toward measurable sustainability efforts.

Since its formal launch in January 2025, the initiative has sold over one million plastic credits—equivalent to removing the plastic footprint of more than 700 mid-sized vehicles from the environment.

These credits are generated from operations at PWS’s materials recovery facility (MRF) in Cebu City, supported by a secondary hub in Pampanga.

The sale of plastic credits positions PWS as a strategic partner for companies looking to comply with the Philippines’ Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act. The legislation, implemented to curb plastic waste, requires companies to recover a portion of the plastic they release into the market.

PWS’s high-throughput and automation-enhanced facilities allow for the efficient generation and certification of plastic recovery at scale.

“Our objective is to provide enterprises with scalable and verifiable solutions to integrate sustainability into their core operations,” said Cara Peralta, Market Sector Lead for Waste at Prime Infra.

“By offering traceable plastic credit mechanisms, we make it easier for companies to demonstrate tangible environmental impact,” Peralta noted.

Each credit comes with a digital certificate detailing the type of plastic recovered, its source, and the method of diversion. The process is backed by a proprietary digital platform designed to ensure data accuracy and allow third-party auditing, aligning with international sustainability standards.

PWS operates a modern waste processing facility in Cebu City with a capacity of up to 1,000 tons per day. The plant emphasizes segregation, recycling, and material recovery—minimizing landfill use and reducing waste entering waterways.

The initiative is the latest step in Prime Infra’s wider strategy to invest in essential infrastructure across sustainability sectors, including renewable energy, clean water, and waste management.

“Our investments are anchored in social relevance and economic necessity,” the company said, citing its focus on enabling the transition to low-carbon and circular systems.

In a bid to expand its environmental reach, PWS has also partnered with Finland-based RiverRecycle to combat marine plastic pollution. As part of the partnership, a floating boom system has been deployed along the Kinalumsan River in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City.

The barrier is projected to intercept up to 97,000 kilograms of waste annually—13,000 kilograms of which is plastic—before it enters the ocean.

Plastic credits from PWS are now available to businesses across industries, offering a pathway toward compliance and corporate sustainability, while supporting broader environmental goals.