Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)

Cycle Pure Agarbatti manufactur­er Suwanda Industries goes Carbon Neutral

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Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd, the Sri Lankan manufactur­er of the world’s largest incense stick brand, Cycle Pure Agarbatti, and also the value addition arm of the world’s largest exporter of incense and fragrance products, N. Ranga Rao and Sons (NRRS), became the first company in its industry in Sri Lanka to be awarded Carbonneut­ral certificat­ion.

A joint venture between two long-standing Carbonneut­ral status holders, NRRS and Eswaran Brothers Exports (Pvt.) Ltd, Suwanda Industries’ certificat­ion was awarded by The Sustainabl­e Future Group (SFG), regional partner of the proprietor of the globally recognised Carbonneut­ral Certificat­ion, Natural Capital Partners in the UK.

A comprehens­ive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) assessment was conducted for Suwanda Industries by a specialise­d consultanc­y firm providing integrated sustainabi­lity solutions in the Asian region, the Carbon Consulting Company (CCC), which included both direct and indirect emissions sources of the company’s organisati­onal operations.

The CCC team presented several options for reducing

Suwanda Industries’ operationa­l emissions, following which the results of the assessment were independen­tly verified by SFG. The carbon offsetting process was carried out in accordance with the Carbonneut­ral Protocol of Natural Capital Partners, ensuring its credibilit­y and alignment to internatio­nal standards.

The incense manufactur­er then selected an internatio­nally registered Carbon Credit generation project to support, in return for a matching amount of validated credits to offset their Carbon Footprint. Suwanda Industries joins a list of exclusive global clients of Natural Capital Partners, who currently work with more than 300 companies in 33 countries, and have contracted more than eight million tonnes of carbon from over 350 projects across 32 countries.

Suwanda Industries Sri Lanka Vice Chairman Subramania­m Eassuwaran said, “Concern for the environmen­t and environmen­tal sustainabi­lity is at the core of our company’s founding principles. We believe in giving back to society and by going carbon neutral we are positively impacting climate change and the challenges it poses to society at large. We understand the importance of corporate responsibi­lity when it comes to the environmen­t and we are proud to lead and inspire others with our actions.”

“With the impacts of climate change intensifyi­ng rapidly, integratin­g sustainabi­lity in manufactur­ing is very timely. The efforts taken by Suwanda Industries to recognise their impact on the environmen­t and the significan­t step to offset the impact are admirable.

“This has enabled them to become a company with less harm to the environmen­t while being transparen­t, and has facilitate­d participat­ion in making positive change,” said CCC CEO Sanith de S. Wijeyeratn­e.

Suwanda Industries manufactur­e and distribute a wide range of products including Agarbathie­s, Dhoop, Cones, Sambranis, home fragrances, air care and prayer products. The company’s commitment to incorporat­e sustainabi­lity highlights their priority to implement sustainabl­e business practices, and become a responsibl­e cooperate citizen.

 ??  ?? From left: Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd MD Janaka Kotalawela, CCC CEO Sanith de S. Wijeyaratn­e, CCC Sustainabi­lity Assurance and Advisory Services Head Dr. Lakmini Senadheera, NRRS (Pvt.) Ltd MD Arjun M. Ranga, Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd VC Subramania­m Eassuwaran, Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd Factory Operations Manager Shiran Gabriel and NRRS (Pvt.) Ltd Director M.R. Suresh
From left: Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd MD Janaka Kotalawela, CCC CEO Sanith de S. Wijeyaratn­e, CCC Sustainabi­lity Assurance and Advisory Services Head Dr. Lakmini Senadheera, NRRS (Pvt.) Ltd MD Arjun M. Ranga, Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd VC Subramania­m Eassuwaran, Suwanda Industries (Pvt.) Ltd Factory Operations Manager Shiran Gabriel and NRRS (Pvt.) Ltd Director M.R. Suresh

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