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 program which is an urgent need of the hour.

The minister said modern development totally depends on fossils and that 86 percent of global economic achievements are based on oil, gas and coal. "Oil sources will decrease by 2015 and by 2050s oil will no longer be an economically viable source," he said and added that 70 percent 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 percent of food was affected by the floods and in 2009, 20 percent of food was affected by the drought. Around seven million people were directly affected by this, he said.

Minister Ranawaka also said that 25 percent 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 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' program comprises 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.