Pearl Protector Approved – Accredited Standardisation Certificate

Wednesday, 27 November 2019 00:27 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Pearl Protectors, a volunteer-based organisation that advocates protecting the marine environment of Sri Lanka, and Ranbath Organic Food and Catering Services Ltd. (Ranbath) an organic and eco-friendly restaurant that serves heirloom rice varieties and traditional vegetables, signed a Memorandum of Understanding constituting the ‘Pearl Protector Approved’ Accredited Standardisation Certificate (PPA) to jointly improve environmental sustainability. The agreement was signed by Pearl Protectors Co-ordinator Muditha Katuwawala and Ranbath Managing Director Randima Balasooriya on 13 November. The volunteers of the Pearl Protectors were present at the inauguration ceremony that followed, and infographics of the certificate were placed at Ranbath.

Recently introduced by the Pearl Protectors, the PPA aims to create a national incentive to reduce the amount of single-use plastic items used by restaurants and food vendors. The certificate comprises three categories, namely the Euphotic Level, Disphotic Level and the Aphotic Level.

Euphotic Level

No plastic straws been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic bags been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic bottles been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic lunch wrapping used by staff or provided to customers

Disphotic Level

No plastic straws been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic bags been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic bottles been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic lunch wrapping used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic cutlery used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic cups used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic packaging of any item that is offered to the customers

Aphotic Level

No plastic straws been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic bags been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic bottles been used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic lunch wrapping used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic cutlery used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic cups used by staff or provided to customers
No plastic packaging of any item that is offered to the customers
Promotes and actively engages in recycling and reducing ‘Single use Plastic’
Provides filtered water facility
Prioritises in segregating waste

Ranbath, being the first restaurant under the initiative, has adapted the Aphotic Level, the highest of the three commitments. The Pearl Protectors will actively engage in identifying food vendors and restaurants eligible for the certification. Further, interested vendors and restaurants can apply in receiving the PPA certification under any of the aforementioned levels. The PPA certified food vendor/restaurant will be recognised as an environmentally sustainable establishment among the growing community of environmentally conscious consumers, hence increasing the customer base. By reducing and controlling the waste generated from food vendors and restaurants, The Pearl Protectors firmly believe that the outcome will create a positive impact on the marine environment of Sri Lanka.