PGP Glass Ceylon PLC, the sole manufacturer of glass bottles for food and beverages in Sri Lanka and Heineken Lanka Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Heineken N.V., launched the 625ml reusable bottle incorporating screen printing technology.
A senior official of Heineken Lanka Limited said that they had invested around Rs. 250 million for this initiative
Ambassador of the Netherlands to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Bonnie Horbach was the chief guest.
The bottle is sourced and manufactured end-to-end in Sri Lanka, incorporating PGP’s cutting-edge screen-printing technology, which is considered a first for Heineken within the Asia Pacific region. The technology can reduce plastic or paper-based labelling, and consumers can be encouraged to participate in waste reduction efforts by having a returnable bottle.
“We have already installed a water treatment plant at our brewery and are also using renewable biomass energy as part of our net zero efforts,” he said.
Ambassador Horbach said, “As Sri Lanka continues its momentum of economic recovery, it is equally important to achieve business excellence in sustainability and circularity. We continue the drive to promote responsible business conduct (RBC) as part of the European Union.”
“Conforming to global sustainability standards will be mandatory in the upcoming years and Sustainable value chains will generate competitive advantages, and for Sri Lanka, early entry into this sphere could be the all-important difference manufacturers could make in outplaying the competition and staying ahead of the game,” he said.
Executive Director and COO PGP Glass Ceylon PLC, Sanjay Jain said, “This collaboration showcases our commitment to innovative and sustainable packaging solutions, which is a long-standing need for the country, as we recognise the significance of contributing to responsible consumption in Sri Lanka.”
“The investment required for screen printing technology on glass bottles is considerable. However, its positive effects on the planet are far-reaching,” he said.
Managing Director, Heineken Lanka, Maud Meijboom-van Wel said, “As an innovative and pioneering company that is present in over 190 markets globally, our Brew a Better World vision for 2030 raises the bar and enables faster progress towards a net zero, fairer and healthier world.”