Keells has embarked on a partnership with Chakra Suthra, to implement the concept of ‘Trash2Cash’, a first in the Sri Lankan retail landscape.
Chakra Suthra is a technology startup dedicated to creating circular economic solutions to business problems, with a vision to make every home and business in Sri Lanka, zero waste.
It comprises a team of domain experts in a variety of fields such as technology, chemistry, and circular economy with open-innovation links locally and internationally.
Trash2Cash is an interactive and smart machine that allows customers to deposit plastic bottles and earn credit. The credit can be redeemed against the bill when you shop at selected Keells stores. Trash2Cash was first trialed at the Keells Union Place store last year.
The beauty of Trash2Cash lies in its simplicity. A user can dispose of empty plastic bottles and gain a benefit from it in four easy steps.
Step 1 – Insert empty bottles one at time scanning the barcode.
Step 2 -Enter mobile number.
Step 3 – Finish the session and receive a SMS.
Step 4 – Present the SMS to the cashier at selected Keells stores to redeem the credit.
The collected plastics get upcycled into polyester yarn, recycled garments or into household products, in partnership with other recycling partners.
Due to the overwhelming success of the pilot project, the initiative is now being expanded to other parts of Greater Colombo. Trash2Cash machines are now available at the following Keells stores: Raththanapitiya, Thalawathugoda (Kalalgoda), Panadura (Gorakana), Thalahena, Union Place, Maharagama, Kohuwala (Sunethradevi Road), Duplication Road, Darley Road, Moratuwa Mall K-zone.
Chakra Suthra also aims to expand its recycling operation into other recyclable material such as glass bottles, aluminium cans, and cartons through its Trash2Cash machines in the near future.
Keells has also partnered with Plasticcyle of the John Keells Group to introduce plastic collection bins at 47 Keells stores and the Keells Sooriyawewa collection centre.
Keells also encourages customers to bring their own reusable bags to shop and to use their own containers/boxes to shop for bakery and fish and meat items by providing a Rs. 6 discount per bag/container.