Nestlé Lanka partners Chakra Suthra’s ‘Trash2Cash’ initiative
Marking Global Recycling Day, Nestlé Lanka announced its collaboration with Chakra Suthra – a start-up focused on innovating solutions towards a zero-waste future. Accordingly, the ‘Good food, Good life’ company’s signature brand Nestlé Milo will be the exclusive category partner for aseptic beverage cartons for Chakra Suthra’s smart recycling bin ‘Trash2Cash’, which allows consumers to dispose of their plastic waste in exchange for credit.
The aseptic beverage cartons thus collected will be recycled to produce stationery at the local recycler EcoMaximus.
Officially launched at the beginning of this year following the successful completion of its pilot project, these smart machines are currently available at 10 outlets of a reputed supermarket chain, at Union Place, Darley Road, Duplication Road, Thalahena, Thalawathugoda 2, Maharagama, Kohuwala 2, Raththanapitiya, K Zone Mall in Moratuwa and Gorakana.
Chakra Suthra CEO Dr Himesh Fernando said “Trash2Cash was originally designed as an innovative collection platform for plastic bottles. However, when Nestlé Lanka came along looking for a similar solution for cartons we were thrilled. After a few months of collaborative fine-tuning, here we are today with the first ever incentivized carton collection platform in Sri Lanka.”
With its steadfast commitment towards tackling plastic pollution, Nestlé Lanka pioneered the switch to paper straws for Ready-To-Drink products in the local industry, starting with Nestlé Milo, making the entire pack recyclable.
As such, the company helped set up the first facility for recycling aseptic beverage cartons in Sri Lanka together with processing and packaging solutions company Tetra Pak and continuously work with government and private entities to help strengthen the collection and recycling infrastructure in the country. This trial project with Chakra Suthra is a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards creating a circular economy, as it allows consumers to drop off their used Nestlé Milo Ready-To-Drink packs and other aseptic beverage cartons at the respective collection points, which will then be sent to EcoMaximus to give a second life through the production of stationery items.
“Our work towards creating a circular economy for aseptic beverage cartons in Sri Lanka saw a ripple effect with the launch of paper straws for our much-loved Nestlé Milo Ready-To-Drink packs in 2021, and I am proud of the journey we have come thus far, together with our collection and recycling partners. Our vision is to help create a waste-free future and ensure none of our packagings ends up in landfills or the oceans. We are accelerating our efforts towards this end and are fully committed to making a significant difference in this regard,” said Nestlé Lanka Dairy Director Ruwan Welikala.