Sri Lanka at turning point: first plastics recycler certified

Sri Lanka has awarded its first Good Practice (GP) Certification to a domestic plastics recycler, marking a milestone for the country’s circular economy.

Cleantech, part of the Abans Group, has been accredited for its recycling plant in the capital Colombo. The GP approval verifies the company as a supplier of responsibly processed recycled plastics.

Traceable scrap

Ind-Expo Certification carried out the independent audit against GP Certified standards. It assessed process integrity, quality control, worker safety and environmental compliance.

Cleantech can now supply verified recycled pellets for use in consumer packaging and manufacturing. The company says this strengthens confidence across local and international supply chains.

The certification creates new options for FMCG brands and packaging producers seeking traceable recycled content. It also supports efforts to reduce Sri Lanka’s reliance on imported virgin plastics.

Long-term goals

Kasun Thennakoon, assistant general manager at Cleantech, says the certification reinforces long-term sustainability goals. ‘It supports cleaner cities, stronger local industries and a more sustainable future for Sri Lanka.’

Md Chaminda Rajapakse describes the move as a turning point for the sector. ‘This milestone supports the rollout of extended producer responsibility in Sri Lanka. It gives FMCG companies a credible local compliance pathway.’

GP Certified recyclers enable brands to meet EPR requirements through verified recycled content and full traceability. This reduces reliance on offsets or non-circular disposal routes. The certification received support from the PLEASE project, an initiative funded by the World Bank and implemented by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP).

Ind-Expo was formally awarded the certification at Cleantech’s Colombo offices. Senior representatives from Cleantech, GP Certified and SACEP attended the ceremony.