NLEX sustainability efforts gaining ground

MANILA, Philippines — NLEX Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., continues to gain ground on its sustainability efforts.

It has been successful in reducing its carbon footprint through the use of solar power panels and LED lights in its operations.

The company has so far reduced its carbon emissions by 4,989 tons, saving around 5.9 million kilowatt hours of electricity and 265,000 trees.

NLEX has been harnessing solar power in Meycauayan southbound, Balintawak, Bocaue, Mexico, Angeles, San Fernando southbound, and Karuhatan toll plazas since 2018.

It also incorporates sustainable energy in its roadway lighting systems, closed circuit television cameras, and variable message signs.

Based on 2021 data, NLEX said the solar-powered toll plazas have generated carbon emission savings of 202,492 kilograms or the equivalent to 6,041 trees planted.

The Bocaue barrier gained the highest carbon emission savings, followed by Balintawak Toll Plaza and San Fernando Toll Plaza southbound, with carbon emission savings of 70,292 kgs, 53,948 kgs, and 36,197 kgs, respectively.

“As a responsible and ISO-certified organization, we want to ensure that we protect the environment not only for our communities, but for the next generation as well. We’d like to create a positive change by integrating sustainability in all aspects of our operations and making it a way of life,” NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said.

To further boost its sustainability push, NLEX is also limiting plastic usage and lessening plastic waste.

Employees are being encouraged to use reusable containers and utensils for their meals, while suppliers and service providers are also being persuaded to reduce plastic usage in their transactions with NLEX.

In two years, the company has been able to reduce about 350,000 pieces of plastic waste through the implementation of the various waste management initiatives.

“These ongoing initiatives may be small scale, but we want everyone to be mindful of the negative effects of single-use plastics on the environment and hope to minimize the tons of plastic wastes that usually clog our waterways every day,” Bautista said.