25th March 2024: Pelwatte Dairy, a leading player in the Sri Lankan dairy industry, has been honored with a Certificate of Merit in the project awards category at the prestigious Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2023. Organized by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, the ceremony took place on March 12, 2024, at the Cinnamon Grand, Colombo.
Pelwatte Dairy’s groundbreaking initiative, the ‘Design and Implementation of Milk Condensate Recovery System at spray drying plant’ garnered significant recognition in the Best Projects Sustainability Award category. This marks the first time Pelwatte Dairy has been acknowledged for its sustainability endeavors, signifying its commitment to environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.
Environmental management system is one of the pivotal pillars in the sustainable strategy at Pelwatte Dairy. The company’s dedication to environmental sustainability is exemplified by its innovative milk condensate water recovery system, installed at its processing plant in Buttala.
The milk condensate water recovery system, coupled with robust treatment system enables Pelwatte Dairy to efficiently reuse water for processing. Pelwatte Dairy will have potentiality to reduce ground water extraction significantly along with the design capacity of 240,000 liters per day generation of milk condensate water.
“Pelwatte Dairy’s pioneering initiative, exemplified by the ‘Design and Implementation of Milk Condensate Recovery System at spray drying plant’ epitomizes our unwavering dedication to sustainable practices and corporate responsibility. This groundbreaking project not only underscores our commitment to environmental stewardship but also sets a benchmark for excellence within the Sri Lankan business community. Through innovative solutions and collaborative efforts, we strive to create a more sustainable future, one where conservation, efficiency, and responsible resource management are at the forefront of our operations.” said Mr Akmal Wickramanayake, Managing Director of Pelwatte Dairy Industries Limited.
The initiative has not only reduced the plant’s groundwater usage by 50% but has also resulted in substantial cost savings, estimated at approximately LKR 38 million annually. Moreover, by leveraging thermal and electrical energy savings, Pelwatte Dairy anticipates additional savings amounting to LKR 155 million.
For a modest capital outlay of approximately LKR 5 million, Pelwatte Dairy now meets over 40% of its total water requirements through recovered condensate, underscoring the project’s cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
The success of the milk condensate recovery project is attributed to Pelwatte Dairy’s unwavering commitment to sustainability, with full support from top management and sponsorship under the Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) implementation. The project has fostered a culture of open communication and knowledge sharing among stakeholders, facilitating the exchange of ideas, best practices, and innovative cost-saving opportunities.
Pelwatte Dairy’s sustainability initiative aligns with its broader objectives of water conservation, cost reduction, and enhanced operational efficiency. By recycling water within a closed-loop system, Pelwatte Dairy is not only preserving local water sources but also optimizing its operational processes, thereby contributing to a more sustainable future.
The certificate of Merit bestowed upon Pelwatte Dairy at the Best Corporate Citizen Sustainability Awards 2023 is a testament to its pioneering efforts in sustainability and sets a benchmark for excellence in corporate citizenship within the Sri Lankan business community.