SWITCH-Asia rewards SME sustainability efforts in F&B sector

By David Ebert

The SWITCH-Asia program held its annual symposium and awards ceremony on 31 October at the Ramada Hotel Colombo, which saw a host of corporate entities walking away with awards for their efforts in sustainable consumption and production.

Maxies & Company Pvt. Ltd. received an award as the ‘Water Champion,’ Freelan Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. received the ‘Green’ award, Nilgiri Tea Factory secured the ‘Material Championship’ award while Rasoda Dairies Pvt. Ltd. was adjudged the ‘Energy Champion.’ A number of beneficiaries of the program also showcased the positive results that they have achieved in their respective businesses.

The program launched in 2009, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, offers free consultation and knowledge sharing in order to minimise dependency on natural resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, waste and other pollutants among Sri Lankan producers and consumers.

Speaking at the event, the chief guest at the ceremony, the European Union Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Bernard Savage stated that he was impressed by the manner in which the project has been implemented and commended the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on the contributions the project has made in the food and beverages sector to reduce wastage and optimised the use of resources.

With Asian economic growth on the fast track and the region fast becoming the world’s manufacturing hub, the related drawbacks attributed to this growth is significant and needs to be addressed in the long term.

SWITCH-Asia’s methodology of working closely with producers and consumers as well as at the policy-making level through support for formulation and implementation of SCP related national policies has already garnered significant response from both the commercial and state sector as well with over 500 SMEs already having participated in the program since its inception.

The program formulated specifically for SMEs in the F&B sector, is designed to facilitate optimum usage of raw materials, energy, water and promote improved compliance with international food safety standards.

Delivering the program analysis, Chamber of Commerce Senior Assistant Secretary General, Chandra Vithanage stated: “The CCC has been actively involved in promoting sustainability in production and consumption for the past fifteen years and we are here today to showcase our success stories after four years of hard work through the SWITCH-Asia program.

“Our main objective is to improve the environmental performance of SMEs and increase local capacity in sustainable consumption and we were fortunate to receive the grant from the European Union out of a total of 17 proposals submitted which goes to show how important the issue is in our current context.”

He went on to add that the program addresses policy making at its core through formulation and implementation of SCP related activities for support components, such as ‘National Green Reporting’ with 20 industrial signatories already involved, as well as the ‘Green Procurement’ initiative which is currently in the process of being drafted by the Ministry of Environment.