As part of an innovative initiative to reduce plastic waste and promote eco-conscious practices, a petroleum company has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative: a road infused with plastic debris in Karachi.
Shell Pakistan, together with start-up BRR Enterprises and District Municipal Corporation South (DMC South), have embarked on an ambitious venture to construct an environmentally-friendly road using recycled shell lubricant bottles.
Over 2.5 tonnes of shell lubricant bottles that had been recycled into something useful has now been transformed into a 730-foot long and 60-foot wide road outside Shell House in Karachi – standing as proof of both sustainability and innovation.
Shell Pakistan has implemented the dry process method of recycling plastic bottles into asphalt roads in order to not only reduce plastic waste but also create a long-term and eco-friendly solution.
Plastic pollution has long plagued our environment due to its non-biodegradable and toxic qualities. Recent studies have revealed that one plastic bag could last 500 years while 300 years is estimated for plastic bottles. Recognizing this looming threat, Shell Pakistan launched an initiative designed to combat plastic waste crisis and its negative impacts on the environment.
Plastic roads present many advantages over their traditional counterparts. Their flexibility, durability and lifespan nearly three times longer make them superior. Furthermore, construction materials for conventional roads tend to come at a significant price tag while plastic can be obtained at minimal expense and reduce construction expenses significantly. Furthermore, this ground-breaking innovation not only presents an ecological solution, but it also addresses pressing social issues of plastic waste directly.
Waqar Siddiqui, Chief Executive and Managing Director of Shell Pakistan Limited, proudly unveiled a newly constructed road in Karachi. He expressed his enthusiasm about this innovative approach which involved using plastic waste discarded lubricant bottles as road construction material – surpassing his expectations in doing so! This novel approach not only reduces plastic waste but also provides an eco-friendly alternative for future infrastructure projects in Pakistan – something to explore further as part of a goal toward building a cleaner society.
Shell Pakistan has made significant strides toward creating a greener future with their plastic-infused road. Their remarkable achievement sets an inspiring example for other companies and communities to emulate by finding innovative solutions to some of our planet’s greatest environmental challenges. And so the journey toward creating a cleaner plastic-free world begins here on this innovative route.