Single-use plastics have served many functions that make our daily lives easier – from ensuring our takeaway meals are safely sent to our doors, to preventing cross-contamination in medical uses. However, without proper end-of-life management, the convenience that plastics offer comes with a cost – one that jeopardises the environment and human health.
Over the last decade, the use and disposal of single-use plastics in the Philippines has increased. Insufficient waste management infrastructure has driven a large proportion of single-use plastics waste to pile up in landfills and eventually leak into the ocean. When seeking for solutions, one innovative company came up with the idea of turning the low-value plastic waste into durable products of higher value, extending the useful life of the plastics.
Meet Sentinel Upcycling Technologies, a plastics manufacturing company that transforms discarded single-use plastics into functional furniture, trays, trolleys, pallets, and crates. Following circular economy principles, Sentinel collects used foil sachets, plastic bottles, and tarpaulin. The startup then repurposes them into products such as school chairs that are now used across the country.
This inspiring company is led by a business executive with more than 20 years of experience in plastics manufacturing and upcycling: Jonathan F. Co. Under his leadership, Sentinel has successfully diverted over 220 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills and oceans, while building community-based collection hubs as well as training partners to recover recycle-ready materials.
In the third article of the Beyond the Business series, the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris spoke directly with Jonathan on how Sentinel Upcycling Technologies came to be, and his vision on building a sustainable business that actively contributes to reducing plastic pollution.
Jonathan Co: I started Sentinel Upcycling Technologies in 2014 to capitalise on the opportunity from our first customer, Mondelez. They wanted us to make tablet armchairs using their Tang juice sachets. As a plastics engineer with a capable team and available equipment, we were able to make that happen for them. That became the successful Tang Recyclass project, which was meant to be a one-off.
Two years later, Nestlé Bear Brand wanted us to do the same and that became the Bear Brand Tibay Chair programme. Around this time, there was a concerted effort to ban plastics amongst communities. What frustrated me was that when I spoke with community leaders and government officials, they seemed unaware that the plastics they were banning were actually monetisable. And yet, they passed local legislations that threatened the livelihood of so many workers in the plastics manufacturing industry.
Seeing this, I thought to myself, ‘If only there were an ecosystem that enabled more plastic recyclables from communities to come back to us manufacturers, this would significantly reduce the pollution in the environment.’
Inspired by this idea, we founded Sentinel to prove that post-consumer plastic waste can be a viable addition to the industrially sourced plastic recyclables that have traditionally served as raw materials for manufacturers like us.
Our guiding value is simple: waste is not the end – it is the beginning of something new. We see discarded plastics not as garbage but as resources waiting to be transformed.
That mindset shapes everything we do – from designing products, building partnerships with schools and communities, to finding like-minded individuals and companies that close the circular economy loop by buying our products that are made from post-consumer sourced, third party validated plastic recyclables.
We believe that every piece of plastic that doesn’t end up in a landfill is a story of transformation – from waste to worth. And this message must be communicated to every participant in the circular economy loop, which is essentially everyone.
Private companies are deeply tied to plastic pollution. Most of the plastics that end up as waste were produced, packaged, or distributed by the private sector. That’s why businesses can’t sit on the sidelines.
We control supply chains, design choices, and customer experiences. If private companies don’t step in and take responsibility, we’re leaving the burden of tackling plastic pollution to communities and governments that are already stretched thin.
That being said, I believe consumers also play a huge part in proper waste management. While private companies can work on packaging innovation and other supply-side solutions, we need the consuming public to play their part by availing themselves of such options.
Consumers must also play a part in taking the time to make their recyclable waste recycle-ready – meaning it has to be cleaned and sorted properly. The larger communities must then put in the infrastructure, such as a properly functioning material recovery facility, to keep the already clean and sorted recyclables separate from residual waste.
Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue – it is a business and community issue. Everyone must be part of the solution.
Our biggest challenge has been bridging the gap between innovation and consumer acceptance. People love the idea of upcycling, but when it comes to buying, some hesitate. They ask: ‘Is it durable? Is it safe? Is it worth the price?’
It takes education, real-world proof, and persistence to shift mindsets. Sometimes it feels like we’re not just selling products – we’re selling trust.
In upcycling, our biggest product isn’t the chair or the pallet – it’s trust. And trust takes time to build.
I don’t see sustainability and profitability as opposites. The key is to design products that make sense both financially and environmentally.
Take our school furniture, for example. It’s made from upcycled plastic, but it’s stronger than wooden chairs, meaning schools spend less on replacements. That’s a win for the environment and for the budget.
A green product isn’t truly sustainable if it doesn’t also make economic sense.
The truth is, many businesses are still comfortable with the old linear model: take, make, and dispose. It’s familiar, it’s convenient, and it looks cheaper upfront.
But with laws like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) coming in, and with consumers demanding more sustainable options, companies will have no choice but to adapt. I believe that it’s not about if – it’s about when.
The future of business is circular. The only question is: will you lead the shift, or be forced into it?
Yes, I’ve thought of giving up many times. There were times funding was tight, or when industries weren’t ready to embrace what we were offering. But what kept me going were the real people benefitting from our work.
When I see students sitting on chairs made from plastic waste in our partner schools – such as Ninoy Aquino Elementary School in Malabon – or communities like BASECO and Payatas finding value in plastics that would’ve otherwise polluted their rivers, it reminds me that this is more than just a business. It’s a mission.
I’d describe my leadership style as collaborative and mission-driven. I believe in giving people the space and tools to innovate, while making sure we’re aligned on why we do what we do.
A good leader in this space needs adaptability, empathy, and grit because you’re not just managing a business – you’re leading a change in a society that doesn’t always welcome change.
Ten years from now, I want Sentinel Upcycling Technologies to be a hub for sustainable manufacturing in the Philippines. I imagine us not only making our own products, but also empowering other businesses, schools, and communities to set up their own circular systems.
We want to normalise the idea that waste is a resource – and make it impossible to imagine going back to the old way of doing things.
In 10 years, I don’t just want Sentinel to succeed. I want circularity to be the default in society.
My advice to young entrepreneurs is: start small, but start now. Don’t wait for everything to be in place – use what you have and keep improving.
Find partners who believe in your vision because you won’t be able to do this alone. And above all, remember that sustainability is not a marketing gimmick. It has to be at the heart of your business decisions.
Research Associate
Project Head of Sentinel Upcycling Technologies
Single-use plastics have served many functions that make our daily lives easier – from ensuring our takeaway meals are safely sent to our doors, to preventing cross-contamination in medical uses. However, without proper end-of-life management, the convenience that plastics offer comes with a cost – one that jeopardises the environment and human health.
Over the last decade, the use and disposal of single-use plastics in the Philippines has increased. Insufficient waste management infrastructure has driven a large proportion of single-use plastics waste to pile up in landfills and eventually leak into the ocean. When seeking for solutions, one innovative company came up with the idea of turning the low-value plastic waste into durable products of higher value, extending the useful life of the plastics.
Meet Sentinel Upcycling Technologies, a plastics manufacturing company that transforms discarded single-use plastics into functional furniture, trays, trolleys, pallets, and crates. Following circular economy principles, Sentinel collects used foil sachets, plastic bottles, and tarpaulin. The startup then repurposes them into products such as school chairs that are now used across the country.
This inspiring company is led by a business executive with more than 20 years of experience in plastics manufacturing and upcycling: Jonathan F. Co. Under his leadership, Sentinel has successfully diverted over 220 tonnes of plastic waste from landfills and oceans, while building community-based collection hubs as well as training partners to recover recycle-ready materials.
In the third article of the Beyond the Business series, the Regional Knowledge Centre for Marine Plastic Debris spoke directly with Jonathan on how Sentinel Upcycling Technologies came to be, and his vision on building a sustainable business that actively contributes to reducing plastic pollution.
Jonathan Co: I started Sentinel Upcycling Technologies in 2014 to capitalise on the opportunity from our first customer, Mondelez. They wanted us to make tablet armchairs using their Tang juice sachets. As a plastics engineer with a capable team and available equipment, we were able to make that happen for them. That became the successful Tang Recyclass project, which was meant to be a one-off.
Two years later, Nestlé Bear Brand wanted us to do the same and that became the Bear Brand Tibay Chair programme. Around this time, there was a concerted effort to ban plastics amongst communities. What frustrated me was that when I spoke with community leaders and government officials, they seemed unaware that the plastics they were banning were actually monetisable. And yet, they passed local legislations that threatened the livelihood of so many workers in the plastics manufacturing industry.
Seeing this, I thought to myself, ‘If only there were an ecosystem that enabled more plastic recyclables from communities to come back to us manufacturers, this would significantly reduce the pollution in the environment.’
Inspired by this idea, we founded Sentinel to prove that post-consumer plastic waste can be a viable addition to the industrially sourced plastic recyclables that have traditionally served as raw materials for manufacturers like us.
Our guiding value is simple: waste is not the end – it is the beginning of something new. We see discarded plastics not as garbage but as resources waiting to be transformed.
That mindset shapes everything we do – from designing products, building partnerships with schools and communities, to finding like-minded individuals and companies that close the circular economy loop by buying our products that are made from post-consumer sourced, third party validated plastic recyclables.
We believe that every piece of plastic that doesn’t end up in a landfill is a story of transformation – from waste to worth. And this message must be communicated to every participant in the circular economy loop, which is essentially everyone.
Private companies are deeply tied to plastic pollution. Most of the plastics that end up as waste were produced, packaged, or distributed by the private sector. That’s why businesses can’t sit on the sidelines.
We control supply chains, design choices, and customer experiences. If private companies don’t step in and take responsibility, we’re leaving the burden of tackling plastic pollution to communities and governments that are already stretched thin.
That being said, I believe consumers also play a huge part in proper waste management. While private companies can work on packaging innovation and other supply-side solutions, we need the consuming public to play their part by availing themselves of such options.
Consumers must also play a part in taking the time to make their recyclable waste recycle-ready – meaning it has to be cleaned and sorted properly. The larger communities must then put in the infrastructure, such as a properly functioning material recovery facility, to keep the already clean and sorted recyclables separate from residual waste.
Plastic pollution is not just an environmental issue – it is a business and community issue. Everyone must be part of the solution.
Our biggest challenge has been bridging the gap between innovation and consumer acceptance. People love the idea of upcycling, but when it comes to buying, some hesitate. They ask: ‘Is it durable? Is it safe? Is it worth the price?’
It takes education, real-world proof, and persistence to shift mindsets. Sometimes it feels like we’re not just selling products – we’re selling trust.
In upcycling, our biggest product isn’t the chair or the pallet – it’s trust. And trust takes time to build.
I don’t see sustainability and profitability as opposites. The key is to design products that make sense both financially and environmentally.
Take our school furniture, for example. It’s made from upcycled plastic, but it’s stronger than wooden chairs, meaning schools spend less on replacements. That’s a win for the environment and for the budget.
A green product isn’t truly sustainable if it doesn’t also make economic sense.
The truth is, many businesses are still comfortable with the old linear model: take, make, and dispose. It’s familiar, it’s convenient, and it looks cheaper upfront.
But with laws like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) coming in, and with consumers demanding more sustainable options, companies will have no choice but to adapt. I believe that it’s not about if – it’s about when.
The future of business is circular. The only question is: will you lead the shift, or be forced into it?
Yes, I’ve thought of giving up many times. There were times funding was tight, or when industries weren’t ready to embrace what we were offering. But what kept me going were the real people benefitting from our work.
When I see students sitting on chairs made from plastic waste in our partner schools – such as Ninoy Aquino Elementary School in Malabon – or communities like BASECO and Payatas finding value in plastics that would’ve otherwise polluted their rivers, it reminds me that this is more than just a business. It’s a mission.
I’d describe my leadership style as collaborative and mission-driven. I believe in giving people the space and tools to innovate, while making sure we’re aligned on why we do what we do.
A good leader in this space needs adaptability, empathy, and grit because you’re not just managing a business – you’re leading a change in a society that doesn’t always welcome change.
Ten years from now, I want Sentinel Upcycling Technologies to be a hub for sustainable manufacturing in the Philippines. I imagine us not only making our own products, but also empowering other businesses, schools, and communities to set up their own circular systems.
We want to normalise the idea that waste is a resource – and make it impossible to imagine going back to the old way of doing things.
In 10 years, I don’t just want Sentinel to succeed. I want circularity to be the default in society.
My advice to young entrepreneurs is: start small, but start now. Don’t wait for everything to be in place – use what you have and keep improving.
Find partners who believe in your vision because you won’t be able to do this alone. And above all, remember that sustainability is not a marketing gimmick. It has to be at the heart of your business decisions.
Research Associate
Project Head of Sentinel Upcycling Technologies
