Recycled Pedestrian Bridges

In a unique public-private initiative, Banco Bladex and the Panama Canal Authority have built an 81-meter community bridge entirely from recycled plastic in the Panama Canal watershed. Inaugurated in early May, the bridge connects four rural communities (over 300 residents) that previously had limited safe access between them.

The project repurposed more than 3 tons of plastic waste -- largely recovered via local 'Bottle of Love' recycling campaigns -- into sturdy building materials. Bladex’s CEO Jorge Salas said the effort showcases how 'what was once considered waste is now a symbol of hope,' solving an environmental problem while meeting a local infrastructure need. This is the second such bridge the partners have completed (the first was in 2023) and is part of Bladex’s broader ESG strategy to support sustainable development in Latin America.