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MIT Cargo promotes eco friendly practices to Group companies
One year after it launched a ‘Go Green’ initiative to drive its evolution into an eco friendly organization, MIT Cargo, The Hayleys Group’s international freight management specialist is seeking to stimulate other companies in the Group to follow its lead.
As part of this effort, MIT Cargo together with the Central Environment Authority (CEA) recently conducted a seminar for Hayleys Group employees to enhance their awareness of Eco Friendly practices.
Environment and Natural Resources Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka made a presentation at the event on ‘Global Warming, Energy Crisis and Green Jobs’ and thanked MIT Cargo for initiating such an environmental friendly programme which is an urgent need of the hour.
The minister in his speech said modern development totally depends on fossils and that 86 per cent of global economic achievements are based on oil, gas and coal. “Oil sources will be decreased by 2015 and by 2050s oil will no longer be an economically viable source,” he said and added that 70 per cent of Global Warming is caused by burning of fossil fuels.
According to the minister, a unit of oil costs Rs.140 per annum while a unit of solar energy costs Rs 80, coal energy costs Rs.12 and dendro energy costs Rs. 20. “Oil has no future. Dendro energy projects, small scale hydro projects and renewable energy sources should be promoted more,” he said.
Referring to the food crisis in Sri Lanka the minister recalled that in 2008, 10 per cent of food was affected by the floods and in 2009, 20 per cent of food was affected by the drought. Around seven million people were directly affected by this, he said.
Minister Ranawaka also said that 25 per cent of Sri Lanka’s flora and fauna are affected by climate change. “Because of this crisis 39 Sri Lankan flora and fauna species and 10 animal species have become vulnerable and some species began to show invasive characteristics,” he said.
Several eco friendly products made by Hayleys out of materials such as coconut fibre and coir were displayed at the seminar and Mr. Asiri Silva from the Hayleys Group’s Fibre Cluster made a presentation on these products. He also elaborated on the eco friendly products made by and the eco friendly practices of Hayleys Group companies such as KVPL, Puritas and Hayleys Agro.
MIT Cargo’s own ‘Go Green’ programme comprises of four main initiatives, ‘Recycling of polythene,’ ‘Food waste,’ ‘Paper collection’ and ‘Drive Green,’ and the company plans to introduce several more elements in the future.
“ Our aim is to promote eco friendly practices among all Hayleys Group Companies,” said Ashan Fernando the company’s Deputy General Manager. “We also hope to introduce the concept to factories in the Free Trade Zone as that will have a greater impact on the environment.”
Under its ‘Recycling of Polythene’ project , MIT Cargo hands over all polythene waste to the KISOK centre operated by the Colombo Municipal Council for recycling purposes. The company’s ‘Food Waste’ project results in food waste being handed over to a collector to feed animals on a daily basis. Food Separation for recycling at the lunch room is another initiative conducted under Food Waste project. Company staff separate the types of food into separate bins assigned for the purpose.
“Currently, we are negotiating with a party introduced by the Central Environmental Authority for collection and we intend to introduce the same practices to other Hayleys Group premises at Foster Lane and Union Place,” Mr. Fernando said.
Collecting of all paper waste in the company premises under the ‘Paper collection’ initiative has been already extended to other Hayleys Group companies and all paper is sent for recycling, he said.
MIT Cargo’s ‘Drive Green’ programme was conducted initially in March this year together with Clean Co Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. All vehicles have been tested for emissions and issued with certificates of compliance.
An ISO 9001:2000 certified company, MIT cargo is part of Hayleys Advantis Group of Companies, the transportation and logistics arm of the Hayleys Group. A leader in the local freight management industry for more than two decades, the company provides domestic and global logistical solutions to the import and export trade. The company is accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA). MIT Cargo is partnered globally by Panalpina World Transport, an integrated door-to-door forwarding solutions provider who operates a global network of 554 branches in 88 countries.
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