Republic Cement announced  the company has achieved plastic neutrality, in addition to helping other companies achieve the same.

Republic Cement, through ecoloop, its official resource recovery group, pioneered the use of alternative fuel in Philippine cement manufacturing through co-processing over 20 years ago. Co-processing is reuse or recovery of thermal and mineral properties of qualified waste materials, such as residual plastic or rice husk, as alternative fuels. Through co-processing, Republic can manufacture cement with reduced dependence on fossil fuels, such as coal. This process is also unique to cement manufacturers since the high temperatures used in the manufacture of cement allow for alternative fuels to be completely consumed, with any waste byproduct fully integrated into the final output.

By collecting and co-processing the equivalent volume of residual plastic waste as what is used in the packaging and transport of its cement products, Republic has been able to offset its plastic packaging footprint for 2020 to 2022 year-to-date. This is equivalent to over 890 dump trucks filled with plastic waste.

Co-processing supports the public sector in their solid waste management initiatives and the private sector in recovering the plastic used in operations. “Co-processing is one of the best solutions available for diverting end-of-life plastics from landfills and waterways,” said Republic Cement CEO Roman Menz. “Especially with the recently passed Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Law of 2022, co-processing provides a globally recognized method that companies can use to not only comply with the law but also realize their sustainability and plastic neutrality vision.”

To date, Republic Cement has helped a number of Filipino manufacturers and conglomerates reach their plastic neutrality goals, including Nestlé Philippines, Colgate-Palmolive, Century Pacific Food, Inc., Hope In A Bottle, and Plastic Credit Exchange with its partners Nutri-Asia and Alaska. Republic Cement has also partnered with over 30 local government units in support of their local solid waste management initiatives.

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