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Pilipinas Shell joins fight vs. air pollution by painting one petrol station at a time

Vehicular emissions account for 80% of pollution in Metro Manila. According to studies, the average 24-hour Nitrogen Oxide (NO2) level in Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) is over 4 ½ beyond the health limit set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), subjecting Filipino commuters and motorists plying the major thoroughfare every day to respiratory diseases and health problems. The level of air pollution is significantly higher than that of Shanghai, China, and contributes immensely to the degradation of air quality and the environment.

One Wall, One World initiative
We have one world and we breathe the same air, therefore we have a common responsibility of improving air quality. Air pollution is everyone’s problem. Every time we drive a car or ride a bus, we add pollutants to the air that harm people. To help combat air pollution one wall at a time, Pacific Paints (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. spearheaded the One Wall, One World initiative, through its latest paint innovation Boysen KNOxOUT, the world’s first air-cleaning paint with CristalActiv photocatalytic technology, which takes out harmful Nitrogen Oxides or NOx that we put in the air. The One Wall, One World campaign, an advocacy project spearheaded by Boysen in partnership with the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) and the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), aims to have as many walls in Metro Manila painted against pollution.

In support of this initiative, Shell, which has a long standing partnership with Boysen, is making Shell retail stations as air purifiers, in line with Shell and Boysen’s common advocacy of creating a cleaner and healthier environment. “I am glad that both our companies are working together for a very important cause. By painting the Shell stations with Boysen KNOxOUT, Shell is boldly taking the initiative to be part of the solution to air pollution. It will help reduce nitrogen oxides in the air, making reduction of noxious gases equivalent to planting 50 mature trees,“ said Pacific Paints (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. Vice President Johnson Ongking. 
 

Making Shell stations air purifiers
“The innovative technology of Boysen KNOxOUT, proven to purify noxious gases such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matters, perfectly complements the staunch advocacy of Pilipinas Shell towards caring for the environment and promoting sustainable development,” said Shell companies in the Philippines Country Chairman Edgar Chua.

Shell stations nationwide are constantly exposed to high amounts of vehicle exhausts with the high traffic of vehicles fuelling up daily. Says Chua, “We’ve chosen a Shell station along EDSA (for the ceremonial painting) simply because the air pollution levels here are off the charts. With a long-term collaboration with Boysen Paints spanning more than 40 years, we envision to help reduce air pollution by making use of KNOxOUT’s breakthrough pain technology.” 

The ceremonial painting of the Shell gas station in Florida Street along EDSA on July 22, 2011 jumpstarted Shell’s support for the One Wall, One World initiative. Other Shell stations that have been painted with Boysen KNOxOUT are Shell Kanlaon in NIA and Shell Mercedes in Pasig City. According to Shell Network Delivery Manager Arlyn Gamab, perimeter and exterior buildings of Shell retail stations being constructed will be likewise painted with Boysen KNOxOUT.  [Jo Diana-Diga]

Shell companies in the Philippines Country Chairman Edgar Chua and Pacific Paints (Boysen) Philippines, Inc. Vice President John Ongking turn Shell Florida station along EDSA into an air purifier by painting its perimeter wall with Boysen KNOxOUT, a Filipino innovation that’s been proven to take away 10 cars’ worth of emissions per square meter painted. Other Shell retail stations that have been painted with Boysen Knoxout are Shell Kanlaon in NIA and Shell Mercedes in Pasig City.

KNOxOUT has demonstrated its ability to clean the air during numerous tests and trials a few years back. This Filipino innovation is proven to take away 10 cars’ worth of emissions per square meter painted. Essentially, it is essentially an air purifier first and a paint, second.

KNOxOUT contains CristalActiv photocatalytic technology that absorbs energy from light and transforms ordinary water vapor into free radicals, which then break down noxious air pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), that come into contact with the surface. Boysen KNOxOUT also has a self-cleaning feature that keeps painted surfaces looking fresh while other surfaces turn grey from air pollution.

Boysen KNOxOUT has previously backed advocacy projects that also aimed to help clean the air, such as the “Green Walls” initiative and the “One Wall, One World Campaign.” To find out how you can be one of the citizens or companies who are stepping up to clean our air, please visit www.onewalloneworld.com. (Courtesy of Pilipinas Shell)