Cleantech and Pepsi partner to accelerate Sri Lanka’s circular economy journey

From left: ESG & Sustainability Assistant Manager Dakshitha Rukshan, Legal Head Eresha Kumburulanda, Country Head Amit Joshi, Abans Environmental Services Managing Director Phiroze Pestonjee, Environmental and Sustainability Manager Zev Pestonjee, Circular Economy Services Assistant General Manager Kasun Thennakoon, Circular Economy Services Senior Manager Nilantha Gamage, and Sales and Business Development Senior Assistant Manage Kasunika Katukithula 

Cleantech Ltd., since 1998 has played a pivotal role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across key areas in Colombo. As plastic pollution continues to challenge communities and ecosystems around the world, meaningful progress depends on responsible collaboration. 

Therefore, Cleantech and Pepsi have initiated a strategic sustainability partnership to further the circular economy journey of both companies, by embracing a shared responsibility model. Under this initiative, Cleantech and Pepsi will both be working together to reduce environmental impact of post-consumer plastic waste, while advancing circular economy principles. 

At the heart of this mission is Cleantech’s Wattala Circular Economy Services Division, a specialised operation dedicated to closing the loop on plastic waste. The facility is equipped with recycling infrastructure that handles post-consumer plastic bottles through an end-to-end process encompassing collection, sorting, processing, and recycling into reusable raw materials. With a strong focus on PET bottle recycling, the division plays a critical role in preventing plastic leakage into the environment, while reducing the overall carbon footprint of packaging waste.

Cleantech, as a leading environmental solutions provider committed to sustainable waste management and recycling, is guided by the clear purpose of reducing environmental impact while creating economic value from recyclable materials.

In 2025, Cleantech’s circular economy operations have marked a productive year, with the Wattala facility recycling 30 tons of plastic in January 2025 alone. This is equivalent to around 1.14 million bottles. By December 2025, this figure was set to reach 80 tons, or around 3.04 million bottles recycled in a single month.

This represents an impressive 167% growth in capacity within one year, showcasing immense growth alongside the right partnerships and infrastructure, which has transformed plastic waste from an environmental burden into a resource.

However, building a reliable and efficient plastic recycling ecosystem presents significant challenges. Bottle collection and reverse logistics remains some of the most complex challenges. Overcoming these challenges demands more than individual effort. It requires alignment across the value chain, from producers and consumers to collectors and recyclers.

Cleantech believes that these recycling targets cannot be achieved in isolation, and therefore this partnership with Pepsi embodies a collective effort philosophy, demonstrating how collaboration can drive systemic change.

This partnership marks a significant milestone in Cleantech’s sustainability journey. It underscores the importance of multi-stakeholder involvement and sets a strong example of industry leadership through brand–recycler collaboration. By embracing a shared responsibility model, Cleantech and Pepsi are working together to reduce environmental impact while advancing circular economy principles.

Pepsi’s support has been instrumental in strengthening recycling outcomes. The company has actively contributed to the development of recycling infrastructure, providing both financial and operational support to enhance PET bottle collection networks and expanding recycling capacity at the Cleantech Wattala facility, which will enable a rapid scale-up in 2026.

Beyond infrastructure, Pepsi’s dedication to the cause reflects a deeper commitment of producer responsibility, demonstrating how major brands can play a proactive role in driving genuine, long-term sustainability impact.

As Cleantech concludes 2025, the partnership with Pepsi stands as a proud achievement and a clear validation of its circular economy model. The journey from 30 tons to 80 tons of monthly recycled plastic is tangible proof of what collaboration can accomplish when long-term vision and shared values align.

Ending the year with purpose, Cleantech and Pepsi reaffirm that the path to a cleaner, more sustainable future is best built together.