Keells commits to 50% reduction in single use polythene bags by 2025
View(s):Keells Supermarkets, a top supermarket brand in Sri Lanka, has taken a revolutionary step as the first supermarket chain in Sri Lanka to commit to a significant reduction in its single-use plastics.
The move comes from the company’s belief in having the right conversations with their customers and their commitment to responding proactively to feedback on being better, the company said in a media release.
Encouraged by such feedback, Keells has initiated the following commitments with the aim of creating a sustainable, pollution-free future in the local supermarket industry: (a) Commitment to reduce by 50 per cent all single-use polythene bags at Keells stores by 2025; (b) Commitment to reduce by 50 per cent single-use packaging for fresh food by ensuring they are reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025; and (c) Keells will always help their customers to use less polythene and dispose of it responsibly whenever possible
As the first of many steps, all Keells outlets provide paper straws at their juice bars and compostable bags at the meat and fish sections which can be disposed of at the customers’ homes through composting. Keells has also introduced a new range of affordable, reusable bags, which will benefit both the environment and the customer on the long-term.
“This pledge marks a significant step on a journey towards reducing their plastic footprint and impacting a positive environmental change. However, the chain has already adopted other sustainable practices such as installing solar panels at selected stores, providing paper bags for bakery products, Bring-Your-Own initiatives, discounts for customers who use reusable bags and the placing of recycle bins at 40 outlets islandwide in partnership with Plasticcycle,” the release said.
Speaking about the initiative, President – Retail of John Keells Group, Charitha Subasinghe said: “As a leader in the Sri Lankan retail industry, Keells is proud to be the first in the industry to make a commitment to reduce our single-use plastic footprint and to strive towards making a positive change. This marks the beginning of our journey towards reducing our plastic footprint and so we invite our customers, suppliers and the wider industry to be a part of it – together we can reduce plastic.”
Keells Supermarkets, operating as JayKay Marketing Services (Pvt) Ltd, is a subsidiary of the John Keells Group.