Mentos Philippines upcycles plastic waste into bus terminal benches to provide commuters a refreshing pit stop

Through its partnership with PCX Markets (PCX), Perfetti Van Melle Philippines has transformed over 1,000 kilograms of plastic waste into 100 Mentos benches, distributed to bus terminals nationwide.

As part of its Mentos “Yes to Fresh” campaign, Perfetti van Melle is exploring new ways to refresh Filipino commuters, especially during the recent All Saints’ Day long weekend (Undas) when millions of Filipinos travelled to their provinces to visit friends and family, and in preparation for the upcoming Holiday season. Mentos looks forward to provide some much-needed freshness to commuters in major bus terminals in Batangas, Naga, Bacolod, and Cagayan de Oro. Besides sharing its beloved Mentos candies and other goodies, the brand donated 100 Mentos-blue benches made from 100% recycled plastic, giving commuters a chance to rest, refresh, and say ‘Yes to Fresh’ while waiting for their buses.

The Mentos benches, which will remain as permanent fixtures at the bus terminals, also offer a fresh lease of life to plastic waste that might otherwise have ended up in nature or landfills.

“As so many Filipinos enjoy our products every day, we have a unique opportunity to help drive positive change. By integrating sustainability into our brand plans, brands like Mentos can bring joy to consumers while also supporting the development of a circular economy for plastic in the Philippines. These “refreshing” Mentos benches, made entirely from recycled plastic waste, are a great example of how this can be done,” said David Roos, Perfetti Van Melle Philippines’ Managing Director.

Perfetti Van Melle has a strong commitment to sustainability and reducing its environmental footprint globally. The company continues to reduce plastic in its packaging and is dedicated to finding meaningful alternatives to plastic packaging materials. In the Philippines, Perfetti Van Melle partners with PCX Markets to support projects that divert plastic waste from nature. Besides the innovative Upcycled Benches project, the company supports recycling initiatives and social impact projects like the Aling Tindera waste-to-cash program, which empowers women micro-entrepreneurs to become sustainability champions in their communities, as well as company-wide beach clean-ups.

“This initiative is a fantastic example of how businesses can help fund the cleanup of plastic waste, bringing much-needed financing to our country’s emerging waste management sector, while also creating a circular economy by driving demand for the final product,” said Rudi Ramin, Commercial Director, PCX Markets. PCX Markets, a global marketplace for audited and traceable plastic waste recovery and responsible processing. It encourages the elimination of unnecessary plastic and enables the responsible recovery and processing of any remaining plastic, ensuring it doesn’t end up in nature.