INSEE ECOCYCLE LANKA
INSEE ECOCYCLE LANKA’S ROLE IN DRIVING SRI LANKA’S ESG AND CIRCULAR ECONOMY TRANSITION
INSEE Ecocycle Lanka, the waste management arm of INSEE, continues to position itself as a pioneering practitioner of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) transformation in Sri Lanka while also enabling others to do the same.
Director Sujith Gunawardhana highlights the company’s mission to strengthen the country’s circular economy ecosystem by bridging communities, businesses and public sector stakeholders despite regulatory limitations.
For over two decades, INSEE Ecocycle has been at the forefront of responsible waste management, collaborating with more than 1,000 organisations including multinational companies, local conglomerates, SMEs, government bodies, NGOs and over 100 local councils.
Its work spans safe industrial and post-consumer waste disposal, resource recovery and the production of alternative fuels that reduce reliance on fossil energy. This integrated approach diverts over 100,000 tonnes of waste annually from landfills, waterways and open burning while supporting the livelihoods of over 1,000 families involved in Ecocycle’s operations and value chain.
Gunawardhana notes that ESG is embedded in INSEE’s organisational DNA, guided by the INSEE Sustainability Ambition 2030, which is built on five pillars: climate and energy, circular economy, biodiversity and water, community and stakeholder engagement, and occupational health and safety.
At Ecocycle, this translates into initiatives such as alternative fuel generation, waste disposal, multiple recycling initiatives, water conservation systems, mangrove restoration, ocean strainers and various community led sustainability programmes – all underpinned by uncompromising occupational safety standards.
As Sri Lanka’s waste management sector evolves, several challenges persist. The country’s economic scale does not yet support certain advanced waste processing technologies.
In addition, the absence of extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation weakens manufacturers’ accountability. Community level awareness gaps also lead to informal, environmentally harmful waste disposal practices.
INSEE Ecocycle addresses these issues by innovating within global circularity frameworks and customising solutions to Sri Lanka’s context.
The company introduces international best practices, scaling appropriate technologies and developing collaborative concepts such as the producer responsible organisation (PRO) model to fill policy gaps left by the absence of EPR.
Standardised and certified processes including ISO based systems further strengthen transparency and stakeholder trust.
What truly differentiates Ecocycle is its focus on long-term impact, Gunawardhana explains. Over 21 years, the company has safely managed more than 1.3 million tonnes of waste, preventing the creation of massive waste dumps that would otherwise generate environmental, social and public health risks.
The organisation also invests heavily in building a local knowledge base, employing a diverse pool of professionals who design solutions tailored to Sri Lanka’s unique technical and economic realities. Community education remains a priority as Ecocycle believes the community is the driving force of the country’s circular economy transition.
Looking ahead, Ecocycle envisions a more integrated circular economy landscape aligned with global climate imperatives and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company continues to expand its portfolio with digitalised and innovative waste management solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability across sectors.
In this spirit, INSEE Ecocycle is organising the second International Conference on Resource Efficiency Towards Sustainability on 19March at Cinnamon Life. Created as a collaborative platform, it unites industry experts, academics, regulators and institutions in pre-conference webinars, knowledge sharing sessions and a circularity innovation challenge.
The goal is to accelerate collective action, strengthen stakeholder engagement and pave the way towards a more sustainable Sri Lanka.
– Compiled by Sunera Bandara
COMPANY DETAILS
Telephone 7800800 | Email customerservice-inseeecocycle@siamcitycement.com | Website www.ecocylcle.lk
