Cargills ‘goes green’ with re-usable bags

Cargills (Ceylon) Ltd launched its Go Green programme last week to coincide with International Earth Day at Cargills Food City- Staple Street, the company said.

Speaking at the launch of the Go Green programme Janaki Kurruppu, Director- Strategic Planning of Cargills noted that ‘Cargills accounts for 1% of the annual national rice production, 1.8% of the fruits and vegetables and 3% of the annual livestock production, harnessing national development via its corporate business model.’

The company says its Green Business strategy will put people and the preservation of their natural habitat foremost in its overall business practices, making a firm commitment to minimizing any negative impact they might cause to the environment.

As a first step a re-usable Go Green bag has been introduced to be used in place of the infamous ‘sili sili’ bag.

M. Sumanadasa, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment addressing the gathering, observed that the Cargills Go Green venture exemplifies how the industry and the government should build partnerships in such issues of national significance. Sumanadasa noted that Polythene and Plastics account for 5-6% of the solid waste of the country with 4 million lunch sheets used on a daily basis. He pointed out that these polythene and plastic material block water ways and streams, while its deposit in the soil has an adverse effect on plant growth.