‘Towards a greener tomorrow’: Phoenix Industries sustainability initiative

From left: Representatives of Phoenix Industries, Manager Sustainability Dinushika Gunaratne, Managing Director Suren Abeywickrema, Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranataunga, Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services (SLPMCS) CEO

Mangala Gunasekara

As the world strives towards achieving sustainable environmental processes and practices, it becomes a shared responsibility of every individual to both actively participate in such initiatives and make their contribution. This is no more an option, but an imperative.

In this light, Phoenix Industries Ltd., a leading company in the plastic manufacturing industry in Sri Lanka has taken proactive leadership by implementing a streamlined waste management solution which is a crucial and pressing need, to protect the sustainability of the environment, we Sri Lankans live in. 

Over the past 40 years, Phoenix has successfully become a recognisable and acceptable brand due to the quality and reliability of their products, in both Business to Business and Business to Consumer channels, they have touched the hearts of all Sri Lankans in every strata of society. Phoenix industries has a range of products going into various segments giving solutions to all household needs. The clean and hygiene range comprise of a comprehensive waste management product range with different capacities. Including pedal bins from 8L, 18L and 70L, and waste bins ranging from 20L to 660L in various colours, tailor made for waste segregation and disposal, at the home, office and factory.  

As Sri Lanka is currently facing an environmental problem with regard to waste disposal, and Phoenix Industries, has developed a program, which focuses on enlightening society on the responsible disposal of waste, by introducing practices of waste segregation, through the use of colour coded bins. Phoenix Industries believes that by instilling good practices of segregating waste, and recycling within the community could be the crucial stepping stone to overcome the waste management issues of the country.

Hence, their pilot project, under the banner ‘Towards a greener tomorrow’ will be initiated in close collaboration with the Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services Ltd. (SLPMCS) at the popular Galle Face Green, which is an iconic location in Sri Lanka. This is a venue patronised by many individuals from all walks of life, from tourists to school children and also used as a central meeting point for many occasions. This ideal location will be used to educate and communicate the message of responsible disposal and the principal of reduce/reuse recycling to the public.

The overall strategy would include the installation of heavy duty, purpose built, colour coded plastic garbage bins at the Galle Face Green to develop responsible waste disposal habits within the community. Activations at these points will also help educate people about the need for responsible garbage disposal and how they as individuals can contribute to a critical national issue. 

The installation of these bins will be followed by a general awareness campaign that will initially focus on employees at the Galle Face Green, the staff of the SLPMCS team and other officials involved in the process. Thereafter, Phoenix Industries intend to carry out a communication campaign for the public via an awareness video, posters, flyers and etc. 

The final objective would be to reduce the volume of waste entering the landfill, with this in mind, the Phoenix team will develop a continuous monitoring system, in collaboration with the CMC and the Galle Face management staff, to ensure the segregated waste (i.e. plastic, paper, food waste and glass) is collected separately in the Phoenix sponsored, colour coded bins and thereafter managed responsibly. 

The initial project at the Galle Face Green would serve as a model for further projects targeted around the island by Phoenix Industries Ltd., as a continuous sustainability initiative ‘towards a greener tomorrow’.

From left: Representatives of Phoenix Industries Chief Financial Officer Saroj Ranatunga, Chief Officer Sales and Marketing – B2B Ahmed Zumri, Manager Sustainability Dinushika Gunaratne, Managing Director Suren Abeywickrema, representing the Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services (SLPMCS), CEO Mangala Gunasekara, Snr. Manager Nishantha Waduge, Coordinator Galle Face Green Jayawickramasinghe, and officers Janaka Liyanage and Prashan Silva