KUALA LUMPUR: Nestlé Malaysia Berhad's annual Beach & Underwater Clean-Up brought together more than 300 Nestlé Cares volunteers who rallied to remove waste from Malaysia's coastlines.
According to the company's chief executive officer Juan Aranols, this initiative is part of Nestlé Malaysia's broader commitment to achieving plastic neutrality and moving towards net-zero emissions.
"As we continue this journey, the Beach & Underwater Clean-Up engagement demonstrates how corporate responsibility, community engagement and environmental stewardship can work together to create positive change. It also serves as a platform for employee involvement and heightened awareness on environmental topics," he said in a statement.
Since its inception in 2019, this initiative has collected a total of over 15 tonnes of waste.
The annual event also included other nature protection activities such as coral replanting, removal of discarded fishing nets ('ghost nets'), and population control of invasive species such as the coral-damaging "crown-of-thorns" starfish.
In 2024, clean-up efforts spanned five locations across the nation, namely Pantai Teluk Batik (Perak), Pantai Kemaman (Terengganu), Pantai Pasir Panjang (Sarawak), Pantai Saujana (Negeri Sembilan), and Pulau Perhentian (Terengganu).
Each location saw enthusiastic participation from Nestlé employees, who joined hands with like-minded volunteers from different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies, all working together for a common goal.
Aranols said that this initiative also highlighted the strength of public-private collaboration, with active participation by government agencies and NGOs.
In Negeri Sembilan, Nestlé partnered with PUSPANITA, who brought 54 additional volunteers to aid in clean-up efforts.
Meanwhile, the clean-up in Kemaman saw collaboration with JabatanPenjara Terengganu and NGO Geng Plastik Ija, enhancing local engagement.
Pantai Saujana and Pantai Pasir Panjang also saw a decrease in trash collected compared to 2023. This year's effort also contributed to Hari Cuci Malaysia, an initiative by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), demonstrating Nestlé's support towards national environmental goals.
"We are strong believers in the power of partnerships to drive positive change. We are heartened to have once again joined hands with like-minded partners to make this initiative a success.
"These strategic collaborations are crucial in amplifying the reach of our sustainability efforts and promoting a culture of environmental responsibility across the nation," added Aranols.
All collected waste from the activity was channelled to specialised ocean-bound recyclers, ensuring that these materials are recycled or responsibly disposed of.