Special Features October 22, 2025

This Mission-Driven Startup Leverages Science to Offer Sustainable Environmental Solutions

Lithos Manufacturing is one of the recipients of the inaugural Startup Awards at GrowthCon PH 2025.

With the theme “Powering Up the Startup Ecosystem Through AI,” GrowthCon PH 2025, held last June, explored how artificial intelligence is driving innovation and accelerating startup growth across the Philippines.

The inaugural Startup Awards, which took place during GrowthCon, shone the spotlight on the most forward-thinking startups that are reshaping industries through groundbreaking AI integration, visionary leadership, and sustainable growth strategies.

One of the recipients of this prestigious award is Lithos Manufacturing, an enterprise that transforms natural minerals into sustainable solutions that promote environmental protection and climate adaptation.

In an exclusive interview with The Business Manual, founder and CEO Eleanor Olegario and Partnerships Head Sabrina Escalona share the story behind Lithos, detailing its mission and the value it brings to the industry.

Lea Olegario — *Eleanor Olegario, CEO of Lithos*

A Farm Discovery

Olegario says that Lithos Manufacturing traces its origins to her father Elias’ farm, where the discovery of zeolites first sparked the idea for the company.

Zeolites, which typically contain aluminum and silicon compounds, have many industrial and environmental applications. They are typically used in wastewater treatment, water and air purification, and nuclear waste management.

Armed with an understanding of what zeolites are and what they can do, Olegario and her family eventually discovered that most of the components of the mineral are imported.

“We wanted to localize the global supply chain of these minerals and use it for climate technology,” says Olegario.

Shining the Spotlight on Climate Technology

As a first-hand witness to how water scarcity and climate disasters have left communities vulnerable, Olegario realized that the key to sustainable solutions was already found in nature. This insight became the foundation of Lithos Manufacturing.

The company is a mission-driven enterprise that transforms natural minerals into sustainable solutions for agriculture, aquaculture, and water management. It places a strong focus on climate technology as a key solution to the pressing challenges affecting both people and the environment.

“Climate technology is one of the applications of these minerals,” says Olegario. “For example, aquaculture. The minerals are used for ammonia removal, preventing fish kill. Like in wastewater, these minerals are absorbing heavy metals and removing them from wastewater.”

The Challenge of Introducing Climate Tech to Communities

Introducing climate technology as a sustainable alternative comes with its share of challenges. For Lithos, one of the biggest has been driving wider acceptance and making climate technology a mainstream solution.

“Filipinos are more accustomed to, let’s say, conventional types of technology and infrastructure. Why choose a more sustainable option?” She points out. “So being able to bridge that gap—that educational gap—to get people to understand why zeolites, minerals, and sustainable climate tech are better alternatives to the way we do what we do now is one of the things we are faced with.”

To address this particular challenge, Lithos works closely with the communities at the grassroots level. The startup also works with different stakeholders to learn and understand the needs of its clients so such needs can be addressed at a “very customizable and personal level,” according to Escalona.

“We work with a lot of communities, and we also work with government, LGUs [local government units], when we pilot such systems,” she adds. “We work with DOST [Department of Science and Technology] in the innovation side of our product, and we also work with other startups also in the disaster and risk-reduction management space, climate tech space.”

Constant Innovation and Adaptation

Given the environmental challenges Lithos seeks to address and its commitment to plug climate technology into the mainstream, it strives to continuously innovate and remains proactive in creating solutions.

For instance, Lithos has developed innovative solutions for cacao farmers who traditionally rely on pesticides and plastic sleeving to protect their pods from pests.

“So, what we do in climate technology and minerals nanotechnology is that we spray coat the pod so that it will not be infested anymore by pests,” says Olegario. By doing so, farmers will no longer have a need for pesticides and plastic sleeving, which reduces the use of plastics in cacao farms.

Another example of a Lithos innovation is the Foldable Rainwater Harvesting Tank, otherwise known as Rainfold. Rainfold collects rainwater from the roof and then filters it. The resulting clean rainwater can then be put to good use, particularly in remote communities.

However, for Lithos, the work does not stop at innovating products and devising solutions. For the startup, innovation always comes hand-in-hand with continuous research and development, as well as adaptation.

“We adapt constantly and iterate our products constantly depending on what barangay we’re working with, what province, and where in the Philippines,” says Escalona.

Leadership Driven by Values, Purpose

What Lithos has been trying to achieve is no small feat, but the startup is already making a meaningful impact on the communities it serves. A vital part of Lithos’ success is Olegario’s leadership, which fosters a participative, mission-driven culture.

Olegario believes that values and passion are just as important as technical expertise, and has placed emphasis on working with people who are adaptable and share her vision for sustainability.

This brand of leadership has allowed Lithos to have a culture of purpose and agility, which is evident in the startup’s business-to-business (B2B), business-to-government (B2G), and corporate social responsibility(CSR)-driven approaches. While Lithos earns revenue from product sales, service contracts, and subscription-based monitoring, it is able to scale through partnerships with LGUs, schools, and corporate foundations.

“We don’t just sell a product,” Olegario explains. “We deliver resilience, backed by science and powered by collaboration.”

Lithos has come a long way from when it started and Olegario has picked up bits of wisdom throughout her journey. She shares the following advice for fellow entrepreneurs who want to make their mark in their chosen fields:

Start with a clear purpose
Validate with users before scaling
Build collaborations early

And if she were to share some advice to her younger self, it would be this: “Protect your intellectual property, build strong governance, and don’t wait for perfect timing. Start lean, test fast, and learn along the way.”

The Future of Lithos

Its science-driven and socially grounded nature has allowed Lithos to excel in today’s competitive landscape. The growing demand for sustainable green technologies and climate adaptation programs presents more opportunities for the startup.

Olegario envisions the expansion of Rainfold installations across the Philippines. The Lithos founder aims to scale new zeolite-based products for pollution control, waste to energy solutions (GH-Gaz) and regenerative agriculture (BioCoat-Z and CropZhield).

Eventually, she plans to reach other markets across Southeast Asia. In fact, she sees Lithos becoming the leading Filipino provider of nature-based solutions for water and food security in the next five years, recognized across the ASEAN for its innovation and impact.

About GrowthCon PH 2025 Startup Awards

As part of GrowthCon PH 2025, The Business Manual held the inaugural Startup Awards, which recognizes the contributions and celebrated the success of five of the Philippines’ most forward-looking startups. Along with MindNation, the Startup Awards honored Shoppable, Lithos Manufacturing, Invested Ed, and Flying Tigers Express.

The five awardees were selected from a total of 16 finalists that were nominated based on the following criteria: