The core teams from Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) and Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. (CCBSL) for the World Environment Day 2018 celebrations with the mangrove-cleaning programme at the Negombo Lagoon. 

The Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), under the Ministry of Mahaweli Development & Environment, in partnership with Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. (CCBSL) celebrated World Environment Day with a Mangrove Cleaning Programme at Negombo Lagoon on 30th May 2018.  The initiative encompassed three sites of Kings Island, Pitipana Road and the Ferry Harbour in Negombo, where the mangroves are located.  The event was a complete success and witnessed participation of approximately 800 participants across Government, NGOs, CBOs, universities, and community, with the private sector being represented by Coca-Cola. On the occasion, CCBSL launched its custom Coca-Cola “Give Back Life” PET recycling bins. Effective partnership with the government ensures the coverage and efficiency of PET recovery and recycling schemes led by volunteer mobilisation in key locations of national importance from a biodiversity and ecosystem standpoint, such as this collection programme with MEPA. 

Commenting on the occasion Rear Admiral (RTD) Rohana Perera - Chairman, Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA), added: “Mangroves are key to healthy coastal ecosystems but are increasingly under threat. The Mangrove Cleaning Programme was an apt initiative to drive awareness of the need to nurture mangroves. Public-private partnership is critical to driving improvements in sustainability projects with extensive public and community outreach. We are grateful to Coca-Cola for partnering with us again to protect the natural resources and their sustainability for preserving our beautiful island nation.” 

The Navy volunteering during the mangrove-cleaning programme

Mr. Mayank Arora - Managing Director, CCBSL said, “Coca-Cola is the beverage industry leader and is committed to spearhead the way in finding solutions for problems impacting our environment. Our global goal is to help collect and recycle a bottle or can for every one we sell by 2030 and we will work with the Government, NGOs and civil society bodies to achieve this goal. We are proud to partner with The Marine Environmental Protection Authority (MEPA) yet again following last year’s National Coastal and Marine Resources Conservation Week clean-up where we collected and recycled over 35,000 PET plastic bottles. As a sponsor of this year’s World Environment Day programme by MEPA, we thank them for the opportunity to partner with MEPA on this programme. The programme helped raise awareness for the need for conservation of the mangroves, which are rich in biodiversity and protect coastlines. The World Environment Day 2018 theme of “Beat Plastic Pollution” is of utmost important to Coca-Cola as a responsible local beverage company. We will be recycling all collected PET plastic having used our newly launched “Give Back Life” PET recycling bins as part of our PET packaging and recycling campaign.”

Deeply engaged in driving environmental protection and conservation initiatives, Coca-Cola works with a host of partners in and will continue to do so in the coming years to deliver its global “World Without Waste” packaging vision, which includes collecting and recycling a bottle for every one it sells globally by 2030 and renewing its focus on the entire packaging lifecycle..

Coca-Cola alongside MEPA, Navy, Army amongst other agencies during the mangrove-cleaning programme 

Coca-Cola is committed to making headway in achieving high volumes of PET recycling in Sri Lanka - by focusing on PET recovery and recycling and providing solutions to infrastructure gaps in waste collection schemes both at national and local levels. The Company continues to demonstrate the value of PET plastic as a reusable and recyclable material for communities and industries.