BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, together with local and international partners has initiated Project REPLACE (Restoring the Environment by promoting biodegradable Plastic Resources) in Colombo, Sri Lanka earlier in 2014.
To further create awareness, educate and engage stakeholders, educational sessions have been planned by the project initiators.
Gathering key government officials, policy makers, waste management companies, representatives from Colombo Municipal Council, Urban Councils, educational institutes, converters, top hotel chains, food cities and shopping malls; the objective of the project is to encourage the use of certified compostable bags made with BASF’s ecovio® / ecoflex® to efficiently and effectively manage organic and biodegradable waste in Sri Lanka.
As part of the project initiative, an awareness station was inaugurated on World Environment Day (June 5) in Good Market, Colombo to create awareness among the public about the need to switch to certified compostable plastic bags.
It also aims to educate the public about the importance of source segregation of waste. University students/volunteers will be engaged to faciliate the educational session and conduct surveys to collect feedback from the participants. Apart from Good Market, the awareness stations are also being planned to be set up at some of the prominent retail stores.
Certified compostable bags enable the hygienic collection of organic waste: they prevent liquid leaking from organic waste and keep out unpleasant odors. Additionally, as the bags are certified compostable, it can be processed immediately upon arrival at composting site, to be quickly converted into high quality compost.
This nutrient-rich compost in turn helps improve the soil quality, treat loss of arable land and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. BASF has already been involved in several projects worldwide to demonstrate the
potential of composting as a feasible and effective waste management option for organic waste.
The REPLACE project is co-financed by the German DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, with public funds of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. This project is implemented by BASF and Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation (ASSIST) in association with the National Cleaner Production Center.
ecovio® is made of the partially bio-based ecoflex® and PLA (polylactic acid). Like the biodegradable waste itself, the ecovio® waste bags are completely broken down by microorganisms with the aid of enzymes. At the end of the composting process, the microorganisms have completely converted the bags into carbon dioxide, water and biomass. The bags can help reduce the amount of organic waste that ends up in the regular garbage cans, contribute to protecting the environment and also lower the disposal costs for residual waste.
About BASF Sri Lanka
BASF has had an association with Sri Lanka for almost 75 years now. With 57 employees, and a state-of-the-art warehousing complex at Sapugaskande, BASF registered sales of €20 million to customers in Sri Lanka in 2013. BASF in Sri Lanka also contributes to the local community with initiatives that support relief and rehabilitation efforts.
About BASF
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society.
Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchanges in Frankfurt (BAS), London (BFA) and Zurich (AN). Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.
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