Keells commits to 50% reduction in single use polythene bags by 2025

• A first in retail industry, Keells makes commitment to embark on journey to reduce single use plastics in-store
• Plans to reduce by 50% single use plastic bags and store single use packaging for fresh food by 2025
• Measures already rolled out include paper straws at juice bars, compostable bags at the fish and meat counters and a range of reusable bags to shop with

As Sri Lanka’s most valuable supermarket brand in 2018, Keells has taken a revolutionary step as the first supermarket chain in Sri Lanka to commit to a significant reduction in its single-use plastics. This in turn leads to a more sustainable shopping experience for consumers. 

The move comes from the company’s belief in having the right conversations with its customers and its commitment to responding proactively to feedback on being better. 

Encouraged by such feedback, Keells has initiated the following commitments with the aim of creating a sustainable, pollution-free future in the local supermarket industry; 

 

• It commits to reduce by 50% all single-use polythene bags at Keells stores by 2025 
• It commits to reduce by 50% store single-use packaging for fresh food by ensuring they are reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025 
• It will always help its customers to use less polythene and dispose of it responsibly whenever possible 
  
   

As the first of many steps, all Keells outlets provide paper straws at its juice bars and compostable bags at the meat and fish sections which can be disposed of at the customers’ homes through composting. It has also introduced a new range of affordable, reusable bags, which will benefit both the environment and the customer on the long-term. 

This pledge marks a significant step on a journey towards reducing its plastic footprint and impacting a positive environmental change. However, the chain has already adopted other sustainable practices such as installing solar panels at selected stores, providing paper bags for bakery products, Bring-Your-Own initiatives, discounts for customers who use reusable bags and the placing of recycle bins at 40 outlets islandwide in partnership with Plasticcycle. 

Speaking about the initiative, John Keells Group President – Retail Charitha Subasinghe says: “As a leader in the Sri Lankan retail industry, Keells is proud to be the first in the industry to make a commitment to reduce our single-use plastic footprint and to strive towards making a positive change. Today marks the beginning of our journey towards reducing our plastic footprint and so we invite our customers, suppliers and the wider industry to be a part of it – together we can reduce plastic.”  Keells always believes in listening to its customers and working together to drive the business towards doing better and improving the quality of life for the nation. Along with its employees, Keells takes this pledge to be better, and encourages its stakeholders and the larger community to join hands with them to bring an effective and positive environmental change to Sri Lanka. 

Keells Supermarkets, operating as JayKay Marketing Services Ltd., is a subsidiary of John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH), a Sri Lankan company, which is also the country’s largest listed conglomerate in the Colombo Stock Exchange, operating over 70 companies in seven diverse industry sectors. 

JKH provides employment to over 13,000 persons and has been ranked as Sri Lanka’s ‘Most Respected Entity’ for 13 years. Whilst being a full member of the World Economic Forum and a Member of the UN Global Compact, JKH drives its vision of “being the catalyst for significantly reducing the plastic footprint in Sri Lanka” through its social entrepreneurship project Plasticcycle.