Convenience Foods (Lanka) receives ISO certification for Environmental Management

CFL Managing Director Thilanka de Zoysa, CFL Manager Quality Assurance/Research and Development Mala Ranathunga and CFL Manager Quality Assurance Iranga Mahanama receiving the certificate from SLSI Director General Dr. L.N. Senaweera

Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC a subsidiary of Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. (CBL), is the pioneer in manufacturing and marketing Lankasoy, the market leader for soya based products in Sri Lanka. 

The company was recently awarded the ISO 14001:2004 certification for demonstrating the company’s commitment towards environmental management. The award presentation ceremony was held at the Sri Lanka Standard Institute (SLSI) auditorium recently. 

Throughout its 25 years of existence, Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC has worked towards optimizing its resource footprint with the diversification of its products, and has been a front runner in adopting strategies and frameworks endorsing responsible operations. 

The ISO 14001: 2004 certification is an environmental management standard that specifies a set of management requirements for environmental management systems. It is recognised worldwide and ensures that a company maintains its activities in an environmental friendly manner.

The purpose of this standard is to help organisations protect the environment, prevent pollution and to improve their environmental performance. It applies to those environmental aspects that the organisation identifies as those which it can control and influence.

Having extended his gratitude to SLSI for continuously supporting and guiding Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC towards the greater good of the society, Convenience Foods Lanka PLC Managing Director Thilanka De Zoyza said: “We are truly delighted to achieve this certification, gaining recognition for our commitment towards quality, environmental consciousness and continuous improvement. Protecting our customers have always been the key to our success and as a socially responsible food manufacturing company, our developmental aspects and future growth depends on sustainability. In that endeavor, it is important to remember that when you protect the environment, it directly benefits the consumers and the wider population. Thus we have taken all possible measures to minimize the unnecessary usage of natural resources which will eventually result in the depreciation of wastage and emission.”

De Zoyza added: “Special thanks to our Quality Assurance department for their tireless efforts and leadership towards this initiative and I would like to inform all consumers to always consider buying products from socially responsible companies who make an extra effort to protect the environment and globe for our future generations.”

Speaking at the event, Sri Lankan Standard Institute Director General Dr. L.N. Senaweera stated that all companies should be extra conscious about the environment around them. He said that the benefits of this certification can be indicated in many ways such as minimising the impact to the environment plus giving back to the society as a CSR activity. He also stated that the process will add to the profit and will help to improve the bottom line of any organisation.

“This certification is given to an organization that has demonstrated environmental stewardship. This stewardship has to be inculcated in all the employees as well as all other partners who will in turn, carry this message of environmental consciousness to the outside world. In order to achieve this standard and status, we audit the company against all requirements with the help of professionals in the industry. I congratulate Convenience Foods Lanka for their tremendous effort in adhering to all the requirements and for proving their leadership in the industry,” he said. 

In addition to this accolade, Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC has also been recognised with standard certifications, namely; Product Certification for Lanka Soy Textured Soya Protein (SLS 898), Food Safety Management Systems (ISO 22000: 2005), Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2008), Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Code of practice for General Principles of Food Hygiene (GMP) and Environmental Management Systems (ISO 14001:2004).

Convenience Foods (Lanka) PLC manufactures a range of quality food products under the brand names Lankasoy, Nutiline Cereal, Ramba Snacks and Rasahari Soups.