4 Earth Global Builds Training Facilities in the Philippines for Tetra Tech & USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Project
The Philippines is on the frontline of the global plastic pollution crisis. With a deeply embedded “sachet economy,” the country consumes approximately 163 million sachets every day — many of which are not recyclable through traditional systems. As a result, 20% of this plastic waste leaks into the ocean, severely impacting marine ecosystems, harming coastal livelihoods, and threatening public health.
But plastic waste doesn’t have to end in the ocean. It can be transformed into infrastructure — and opportunity.
A Project with Purpose in Puerto Princesa
As part of the USAID Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Project, implemented in partnership with Tetra Tech and the team at Eco-Kolek, 4 Earth Global proudly supplied its composite green building materials to construct two training facilities for a local school in Puerto Princesa, Palawan.
These structures demonstrate the power of circular economy solutions to not only manage waste but to fuel long-term social and economic impact. By turning non-recyclable plastic packaging into durable, maintenance-free, and permanently recyclable building materials, we are:
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Reducing plastic pollution at the source
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Creating safe, functional infrastructure for education
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Generating local jobs through material production and construction
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Empowering communities with access to sustainable, climate-resilient buildings
Why Our Materials Matter
Our panels are engineered using all seven grades of waste plastic packaging, including difficult-to-recycle sachets and multilayer food packaging — waste types that are typically excluded from formal recycling systems.
Features of our composite materials include:
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UV protection – will not warp or discolour
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Non-combustible and maintenance-free
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Thermally and acoustically insulated
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Resistant to mould, fungi, and pests
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Modular, fast to install, and cost-effective
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100% recyclable at the end of life
These panels not only diverted plastic waste from landfills and oceans but also supported the construction of critical infrastructure in a region where both plastic pollution and under-resourced education facilities are ongoing concerns.
One Solution. Many Outcomes.
This project is a compelling example of how waste can be turned into a resource that benefits people and planet. Through this partnership, we’ve delivered more than just buildings — we’ve delivered a blueprint for scalable change.
4 Earth Global is proud to work with Tetra Tech on the Clean Cities Blue Ocean project to reduce plastic leakage, protect marine environments, and strengthen coastal communities.
