The PTC Group joined One Earth One Ocean (OEOO), Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST), and HOLCIM in the Circular Explorer Milestone event last August 15, 2024. This landmark event highlighted the significance of a circular economy, a system designed to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources by bringing together industry leaders and environmental advocates.

PTC Shipmanagement provides crew and ship management services to the Circular Explorer, the world's first solar-powered ambassador vessel that aids in cleaning up Manila Bay, having collected 40,000 kg of marine litter as of July 2024, with around 40% of this being plastic. In addition to waste collection, it also gathers data to assist researchers in developing recommendations for policymakers on potential solutions.

One of the event's highlights was the launch of an innovative educational toolkit designed to empower students with the knowledge and tools to understand and implement circular economy principles. This initiative further expands the Circular Explorer team's youth outreach through a partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), aiming to deploy the educational toolkit on circularity to select primary and secondary schools in NCR. The goal is to eventually incorporate the modules into the educational curriculum to teach children the value of conserving resources and preventing waste through circularity. This initiative represents a significant step toward a more sustainable future, where society thrives within the Earth's ecological limits.

Ambassador to Switzerland Nicolas Bruhl and Ambassador to Germany Andreas Michael Pfaffernoschke were present during the milestone event as well as representatives from ADB, PTC Shipmanagement, PTC Talent Acquisition Group, and other industry partners. Guests had a chance to participate in a guided tour of the Circular Explorer and explore the vessel's advanced waste collection systems, learn about its solar-powered capabilities, and discover its role in collecting critical water data to protect marine ecosystems. The tour provided a hands-on experience that underscored the importance of innovative technology and collaborative efforts in addressing environmental challenges.

The Circular Explorer Milestone event not only celebrates its achievements to date but also reinvigorates the collective resolve to build a more sustainable and resilient future. The partnerships forged and strengthened during this event are expected to yield an even greater impact in the years to come, paving the way for a cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

"We would like to thank PTC, especially PTC Shipmanagement for without your support, our endeavors will not be possible," said Christine Bellen, Project Manager of Circular Explorer.