KUALA LUMPUR: Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd has expanded its Project RELeaf reforestation initiative to educate and cultivate greener values among schoolchildren.
Launching its inaugural RELeaf Educational Programme at SK Abaka in Tawau, Sabah, over 100 students and teachers joined Nestle Cares volunteers in tree planting efforts and other interactive activities.
Chief executive officer Juan Aranols said the company committed to shaping a sustainable future for both people and the planet.
As part of Nestle's Forest Positive strategy, through Project RELeaf, and previously Project Rileaf, the company has planted three million trees to date.
"This marks our positive progress towards our goal of planting four million trees across Malaysia by the second or third quarter of 2025, as well as contributing to the national 'Greening Malaysia' campaign, which aims to plant 100 million trees," he said.
Nestle said with the support of partners Yayasan Sime Darby, SD Guthrie Bhd and the Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre, the programme engaged both pre-school and primary school students to plant native tree species in the vicinity of the school.
This includes Tropical Almond trees or Ketapang, Jambu Air, Taisai Paya, Simpur, Sentang and Obah Jangkang, among others.
These species were carefully selected to enhance local biodiversity and promote ecological balance, while also contributing to the greening of the school area.
According to Nestle, a highlight of the RELeaf was its six interactive learning stations, designed to engage the students in meaningful environmental education.
Participants received practical demonstrations on planting and caring for trees, learned about native species through engaging trivia games and discovered the critical role trees play in generating oxygen and supporting wildlife, it added.