After over two months of preparations, Island Climate Initiative with funding from USAID and in collaboration with the National Innovation Agency, John Keells X and MAS Foundation for Change, hosted a Demo Day and Innovation Trade Show dedicated to unveiling groundbreaking solutions to address the pressing issue of single-use plastics.
The event, held on September 14 at The Stables, Park Street Mews, was attended by renowned dignitaries and industry leaders who are committed to sustainable initiatives in Sri Lanka.
The highlight of the evening was the culmination of the Plastic Innovation Challenge, an initiative launched by Island Climate Initiative and its partners. This challenge was part of a project funded by United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Clean Cities Blue Oceans program, a global project operating in Sri Lanka and six other countries working to identify solutions to plastic waste issues.
With Sri Lanka generating over 900 metric tons of plastic waste daily, of which only four percent is recycled, the majority ends up in landfills or unregulated dumps. Such plastic waste enters waterways, eventually finding its way into the ocean, impacting aquatic and marine life, and contaminating food chains that affect both land animals and humans. As a response, the Plastic Innovation Challenge was launched to empower Sri Lanka’s young entrepreneurs to innovate themselves out of the plastic problem.
Over 150 innovators responded to the call out launched in May and after a rigorous assessment, seven applicants were selected to participate in a comprehensive two incubation program that helped them further develop their enterprise towards successful commercialisation.
During the event, a wide array of innovative solutions was showcased, including biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics made of organic waste, non-recyclable plastic waste management systems, and portable machinery to decentralise plastic waste processing.
Four finalistswho were selected by a panel of industry experts, pitched their ideas and technologies to an audience comprising potential investors, consumer goods companies, industry leaders, government representatives, and USAID delegates. These innovators will now have the opportunity to collaborate closely with industry partners to bring their solutions to market, addressing the issue of single-use plastics in Sri Lanka. Two of the innovators received financial support for product development.
The event featured a trade show that showcased technologies and products from already commercialised solution providers from Sri Lanka. This exhibition aimed to introduce currently available solutions addressing single-use plastics to consumer goods companies.
An insightful panel discussion titled “Reducing, Recycling, and Repurposing Plastics: Opportunities and Challenges in the Journey from Innovation to Commercialisation” was also held.
The discussion was moderated by Head of John Keells Research Thilina Weerasekara, and featured a panel of experts including Chief Innovation Officer of the National Innovation Agency Prof. Ajith de Alwis; Director of MAS Foundation for Change Sharika Senanayake; Head of Sustainability at John Keells Holdings Anosha Koralage; and Co-Founder of Thuru and Zerotrash Hasanka Padukka.
