Biodegradability seen as the future of plastics and packaging: Congress for Sustainable Materials 2024 concludes

Hayleys Aventura (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of Hayleys PLC, recently hosted the inaugural Congress for Sustainable Materials 2024 at the Kingsbury Hotel, Colombo, with this year’s theme based on ‘The Future of Plastics & Packaging.’

The Congress showcased two distinguished panels, each representative of various industries such as Agriculture, Food, Packaging, Textiles, and Gloves in Sri Lanka. The event garnered participation from over 80 companies spanning diverse sectors, with attendees also hailing from Bangladesh, the USA, and the Maldives. Furthermore, a global audience engaged with the proceedings through live streaming, amplifying the event’s reach and impact.

As plastic consumption rises in Sri Lanka, the issue of non-biodegradable waste becomes increasingly critical. Landfills, expanding due to materials like plastics that take centuries to degrade, necessitate urgent action. The country has struggled with inadequate waste management systems and limited infrastructure for recycling, leading to significant environmental issues. While there were local initiatives and efforts to promote recycling, the overall success rate of these initiatives was negligible compared to the volume of waste generated, with only 5% of total plastic waste being recycled in Sri Lanka.

Wasaba Jayasekera, Managing Director of Hayleys Aventura (Pvt) Ltd. stated, “At Hayleys Aventura, we recognize our responsibility to lead the charge toward sustainable practices. The inaugural Congress for Sustainable Materials 2024 served as a platform to foster collaboration, innovation, and a collective commitment to practical, sustainable solutions.

“Beyond the environmental benefit of minimizing plastic waste in landfills, adopting sustainable practices in the production of goods can offer exporters a strategic advantage in penetrating export markets. We want to shape a future where plastics coexist with sustainability. Through strategic collaboration, we aim to propel advancements that support responsible practices, such as biodegradable plastics, to guide us toward a more sustainable and environmentally conscious tomorrow.”