As part of Nestlé Lanka’s journey towards fostering a cleaner and greener environment, the company initiated the ‘School Waste Management Programme’ in 2020, along with the Ministry of Education and the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). This programme focuses on promoting positive behavioural change on responsible waste disposal amongst Sri Lankan school children.
Through this programme, the Central Environmental Authority will be conducting waste management awareness sessions in schools across the country, under the guidance of the Ministry of Education. The CEA plans to reach approximately 500,000 students across 1,000 schools during this year’s programme.
“The School Waste Management Programme is an important initiative in our journey towards creating a greener future. While we remain steadfast in our endeavours of reducing plastic packaging and making our packaging designed for recycling, it is equally important to foster a sense of responsibility towards proper waste management in the younger generation. We are delighted to continue our collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the Central Environmental Authority in this regard” said Mr. Bernie Stefan, Managing Director, Nestlé Lanka.
Professor Tilak Hewawasam, Chairman of the Central Environmental Authority, said, “Plastic pollution is a pressing issue for Sri Lanka, and creating awareness about responsible waste disposal is an important factor in creating a sustainable ecosystem. Our partnership with Nestlé and the Ministry of Education gives us the perfect opportunity to address the issue at its core and instil greener behavioural practices in the younger generation, who will cultivate this mindset at home.”
At the culmination of the School Waste Management Programme, an Art Competition will be conducted in commemoration of World Environment Day, under the theme ‘සිසු නෙතින් දකින සුවදායී පරිසරය’. This art competition will provide a platform for students to creatively illustrate the key messages they have learned during the School Waste Management Programme.
Driven by its purpose of ‘unlocking the power of food to enhance quality of life for everyone, today and for generations to come’, Nestlé has nourished generations of Sri Lankan families with high quality food and beverages from early childhood to old age. Having started its operations in Sri Lanka in 1906, today, Nestlé has become an integral part of Sri Lankan lives. The company manufactures over 90% of its products sold in Sri Lanka locally at their state-of-the-art factory in Kurunegala, employing strict safety and quality controls.