In a historic development for Sri Lanka’s plastic recycling sector, Cleantech (Pvt) Ltd, a member of the Abans Group of Companies, was the first to earn GP Certification for its state-of-the-art recycling plant. This certification marks the beginning of a new era for local recyclers, FMCG companies, and sustainability-driven manufacturers seeking high-quality, reliable, and ethically processed recycled plastic.

Mr Shantha Kuruppumullage, the CEO of Ind-Expo Certification Ltd, the premier certification and training body for industries in Sri Lanka, awarded the certification to Mr Rukitha Nanayakkara, the Chief Executive Officer of Cleantech (Pvt) Ltd at a ceremony held on the 7th of January 2026 at the CleanTech office in Colombo. Also present at the event were Mr Vijaypala Sinnathamby, Project Management Specialist from the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme, Mr Zev Pestonjee, Manager- Environment & Sustainability for CleanTech and Mr Chaminda Rajapakse from GP Certified.

Ind-Expo Certification Ltd, conducted an extensive evaluation of Cleantech’s operations, assessing process integrity, quality control, worker safety, and environmental compliance in accordance with the standards set by GP Certified. Cleantech successfully met the rigorous criteria required to produce GP Certified recyclate, ensuring consistent material performance suitable for FMCG packaging applications.

This achievement paves the way for industry-wide transformation, enabling Sri Lanka to reduce dependency on imported virgin plastic while strengthening its circular economy. With certification, Cleantech now offers verified, traceable, and responsibly produced recycled pellets, providing a strong value proposition for FMCGs and packaging manufacturers aiming to meet global sustainability targets.

Speaking on the milestone, Mr. Kasun Thennakoon, Assistant General Manager of Cleantech, stated:

“We are proud to be the first recycler in Sri Lanka to receive GP Certification. This achievement reinforces our commitment to create cleaner cities, support local industries, and contribute to a more sustainable future for the country.”

Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Chaminda Rajapakse, Managing Director of GP Certified, expressed:

“Certifying Cleantech marks a major step forward for Sri Lanka’s recycling. This milestone directly supports the rollout of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) in Sri Lanka by providing FMCG companies with a credible, local compliance pathway. GP Certified recyclers like Cleantech enable brands to meet EPR obligations through verified recycled content, traceability, and accountable downstream processing, reducing reliance on offsets or non-circular disposal. By linking compliant producers with certified recyclers, GP Certification helps translate EPR from a regulatory requirement into a practical, scalable market mechanism that strengthens domestic recycling and closes the loop.”

Cleantech’s certification marks a defining moment for Sri Lanka’s move toward sustainable packaging and responsible manufacturing. GP Certified remains committed to supporting recyclers, FMCG brands, and packaging manufacturers in making recycled plastics a mainstream, trusted solution for a cleaner tomorrow.

This initiative was supported by the PLEASE project which was funded by the World Bank and implemented by the South Asia Co-operative Environment Program (SACEP).