FMCG sector teams up to address rising environmental impact from consumer packaging waste

Key industry leaders in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector have teamed up to tackle the situation with sustainability-centred solutions. Offficially named The Malaysian Recycling Alliance (MAREA), it has been established to enable a voluntary, industry-led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) group of like-minded companies to focus on boosting the value chain and significantly improve collection and recycling of post-consumer packaging.

The first alliance of its kind in the country, MAREA comprises 10 initial members, made up of (in alphabetical order) Coca-Cola Malaysia, Colgate-Palmolive Malaysia, Dutch Lady Milk Industries, Etika Group of Companies, Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd, Mondelēz International, Nestlé Malaysia, Spritzer, Tetra Pak Malaysia and Unilever Malaysia.

MAREA’s goals will primarily revolve around enhancing collection, promoting the use of recycled and renewable materials as well as minimising post-consumer packaging leakage into the environment. MAREA is committed to collaborating with the Malaysian Government and other stakeholders interested in the matter to drive its goal of achieving circular economy solutions that are conducive to a cleaner and greener Malaysia. 

Among the initial tasks to be undertaken by MAREA will be to strengthen public-private collaborations as well as drive consumer education and awareness on better packaging waste disposal. An incentive scheme will also be implemented via a pilot project where consumer packaging waste, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, used beverage cartons (UBC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and Flexible packaging will be collected and channeled to local recycling providers. 

“As industry leaders, the members of MAREA decided that we must proactively take action by creating the first EPR platform to radically improve how consumer packaging waste is managed in Malaysia,” said MAREA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, Mr. Juan Aranols, said. “Through MAREA, we will rethink how we can make the packaging value chain more environmentally sustainable.”

He then added that despite these plans and strategy, change cannot be driven by one entity alone and requires proactive collaboration between FMCG companies, policy makers, consumers, recycling companies and other stakeholders who share an aspiration.

“With packaging waste escalating in recent times, environmental concerns are at an all-time high,” said MAREA General Manager, Ms. Pauline Goh added. “Our aim is to promote sustainable end-of-life disposal of post-consumer plastic packaging waste through higher recyclability and recycled content.”

MAREA was incorporated on January 4, 2021. For more information, please visit www.marea.com.my.

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