Geolette Marie Esguerra

Upcycling Plastic Waste into Creative Designs: Manila Automat's Sustainable Solution

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It’s wise to hit two birds with one stone in the name of sustainability: upcycle plastic waste into something aesthetic and create a movement to encourage recycling. Incredibly, Plastics by Manila Automat has mastered this art.Plastics by Manila Automat, a collaborative design and production studio, aims to renew the value of recycled plastic waste by making it a mission to turn everyday consumers into modern-day recyclers through creatively crafted and unique objects, tangible production methods, and accessible recycling platforms.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738296450070Metro.Style Lifestyle (1).jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Plastics by Manila Automat installation made for Sun Life</div>Mica Agregado, the founder and head of design of Plastics by Manila Automat, shares how this studio and movement came to be.“As a designer, I really wanted to start an upcycling-based design studio. Oftentimes when you think of design studios, you think of new materials—wood, plywood, graphic, or digital design. But here, I want to focus on recyclable materials,” Mica says.Her background and work experience in multiple industries contributed to her interest in this endeavor. She also attributes this enthusiasm for the arts to her generational and work exposure.“I started in arts management but our family also has a background in events management. So [my work experience] was about coordination and working with designers, artists, and craftsmen. [I was inspired when] particularly working with craftspeople and seeing how the creative industry works in the Philippines. I&#x27;ve worked with like brick makers and tile makers,” she begins.“So after doing those roles and all those kinds of jobs and since I see myself more as in-between design and also taga-execute ng designs, I thought ‘Why not recycle plastic waste?’” Mica continues. It was at this time that she also found that the recycling movement is a slowly emerging trend in other countries especially when it comes to plastic waste. The light bulb moment came when she finally found use for the surplus of plastic in their family business.“So I thought, what if we make use of this? When I started on the plastic material, we didn&#x27;t have formal sheets. But when I started making sheets, I thought of who could make use of them. This material is kind of like plywood or wood so I thought maybe carvers can use it. With the types of color available, fashion designers or interior designers would want this to create things. So in a way, it kind of went back to my initial idea that I&#x27;m not just recycling. I&#x27;m also helping the industry adapt to find ways to help in the waste problems of the Philippines since our country is the third biggest contributor to plastic pollution in the world,” she narrates.<div> </div><div>Plastic Pollution Solution</div>This is where Plastics by Manila Automat steps in—bridging together a solution the plastic waste and the design industry since Filipinos are very creative. It’s like merging the largest consumers of plastic with talented craftsmen who can make something beautiful and useful out of plastic waste.The company sees that innovating the way people use single-use plastics and upcycling can influence one’s perspective of turning the plastic problem into creative solutions.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738297576750Accessories Tropic Beatnik_1.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Accessories by Plastics by Manila Automat</div>Mica started testing out the plastic material in 2018 and kicked off the actual business in 2019 by producing accessories made out of plastic like hair clips, earrings, rings, bangles, keychains, and coasters, and selling them. Today, Plastics by Manila Automat expanded its shop and now produces bowls, paperweights, clocks, and chairs. They also collaborate with brands in producing upcycled products like furniture for a restaurant or holding an upcycling workshop with a company that has sustainability initiatives.“Our market evolved from small items to bigger items. We started with hair clips, rings, bowls, and other stuff as the expression of our customers’ individuality. So they see a variety of colors and shapes and they get surprised to learn that it’s made from a plastic bottle or from their favorite drink [with plastic packaging]. And then we shifted to [collaborating] with students for their thesis or projects. For example, getting challenged over making an upcycled table, and since we&#x27;re interested we&#x27;ll go ‘sure, let’s try it,’” Mica laughs, sharing the joy of working and challenging how creative they could get.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738297702551DTI Design Center Pinyapel_2.png" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>DTI Design Center Pinyapel Collaboration“We want to inspire communities to have that sense of creativity. We want our clients or partner students we collaborate with to come up with their own designs using the material. For example, earring designer Tropic Beatnik has a community of mothers who make accessories so we incorporated plastics in their designs. The imagination is really the one that would help us propel this. Part of product development in design is trial and error to see what will work—as long as you have an idea,” she says.</div>“We’re now scaling up and the biggest right now is the furniture we did for a restaurant. It’s a combination of plastics and wood,” Mica updates, looking pleased with their progress.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738297321982Vivistop Baguio Workshop_2.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Vivistop Baguio Workshop</div><div>Building Modern Recyclers</div>Taking things a step further, Plastics by Manila Automat also spearheads public advocacy by engaging with communities in upcycling through plastic collection drives, online video programs, on-ground demonstrations, and crafting workshops to help consumers become modern recyclers.“It’s an extra layer. When you explain this to a customer or community, natutuwa sila. Gusto rin ng NGOs na turuan mga communities na maging ganun mag-isip—to be more creative na if I recycle or upcycle this, ano pang pwede kong gawin dito to start a business? I think that’s the challenge ng LGUs and NGOs, may creative skills ang mga Filipino pero iyong pag-connect sa business [needs bridging],” she explains.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738297477527Metro.Style Manila Plastics WWF Workshop.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>WWF Workshop</div>Asked what inspires her to move forward with their upcycling and sustainability efforts, Mica provided a thoughtful answer.“It&#x27;s really the nature of collaboration. Not only are you inspiring a new batch of designers who want to incorporate recycled materials in their products—be it in fashion, interior design, or architecture—but you are also inspiring communities. You want to see communities really adapt,” she starts.“That&#x27;s our challenge with groups of recyclers—to help the communities. What&#x27;s good about what we’re doing is that we&#x27;re collaborative. We&#x27;re not competitors. We&#x27;re trying to lift the recycling industry as a whole. We&#x27;re helping each other. You won’t run out of plastic waste anyway. There are tons of plastics being consumed. Sa sobrang dami, walang competition kasi ang kailangang gawin maubos o mabawasan iyong plastic,” Mica continues, the amusement clear in her voice as she explains how the collaboration goes with fellow plastic recyclers.Plastics by Manila Automat has been making an impact in their efforts. As of August 2024, they have collected 586.82 kilograms of HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and PP (polypropylene) single-use plastics; from their first installation used over 280 disposable masks and 10 kilograms of sachets; utilized over 4 biocomposites and upcycled material variants; partnered with 5 NGOs, government agencies and communities; collaborated with over 25 enterprises, designers and brands; and had over 220 talk and workshop participants across 11 programs.Outside of her work, Mica walks the talk in her own little ways. She says she applies the concept of sustainable living with frugality and saving.“It’s about making conscious choices. Since I recycle, I’m more aware of plastic waste. Before I throw out the trash, I segregate it by type na nabubulok at hindi nabubulok, paper or plastic. I’ve also had a habit of when we order online and there are lots of wrappers in the packaging and I actually keep those and repurpose them. Apart from that, it’s also supporting other crafts that are sustainable. For instance, I support people who do pottery because I had a pottery background in UP Diliman. That’s where I found the value of discarded clay. Lupa sya turned into something sustainable and of value,” the founder says.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1738298398372Metro.Style Manila Plastics Retablos.jpg" style="width:700px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/>Retablos by Manila Automat</div><div>Future of Plastic </div>Mica is optimistic about the future of recycling and upcycling, especially in today’s culture.“From what we&#x27;ve seen, it&#x27;s become a trend in businesses, especially in local Filipino businesses, to take solutions into their own hands and that&#x27;s why they&#x27;re more aware of the materials they use for their businesses. For example, a restaurant. They will mix plastic and wood in their tables and chairs but it doesn’t end there. They’re thinking of applying sustainability in their overall ways of doing business. It&#x27;s not just the end product that you&#x27;re making, but you&#x27;re also making a narrative journey on how a business or how a community would create a circular economy,” she declares with visible hope and enthusiasm.“We&#x27;re really making people more eco-conscious out of their own self-expression and that&#x27;s what we want to promote. [The hope is that] it&#x27;s going to be a part of their lifestyle and their identity like it&#x27;s part of how they want to show their belongings made out of recycling. It’s in their consciousness,” Mica concludes, determined to continue making a difference.<div> </div><div>Read more sustainability stories on Metro.Style as part of their New Year, New Hope, New You campaign, and watch out for the Sustainability Heroes Series.</div>

Recycled plastic waste gets a new life in the form of creative designs and production that Plastics by Manila Automat cleverly comes up with

Recycled plastic waste gets a new life in the form of creative designs and production that Plastics by Manila Automat cleverly comes up with

Upcycling Plastic Waste into Creative Designs: Manila Automat's Sustainable Solution

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Upcycling Plastic Waste into Creative Designs: Manila Automat's Sustainable Solution

Grace C. Diez

Published Jan 29, 2025 08:00 AM PHT

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Updated Jan 31, 2025 12:41 PM PHT

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plastic waste

upcycling

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Manila Automat

Mica Agregado

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