Ruwan Waidyaratne, Managing Director of Hayleys Advantis, a key logistics solutions provider in Sri Lanka, explains why sustainability is crucial for business excellence. He says adopting ESG reporting aligned with global transparency standards has strengthened customer trust, enhanced Advantis’ brand positioning, and driven growth. For Waidyaratne, sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility. He says it is an effort to combat climate change and build a more resilient future for generations.
What pivotal moment solidified sustainability as a core business strategy, and how has it reshaped Advantis’ growth trajectory?
At Advantis, sustainability has long been a priority, but it became a core business strategy when we recognised that securing long-term success in the transportation and logistics sector requires a balance between operational excellence and environmental responsibility.
Driven by evolving regulatory frameworks, increasing client demand for sustainable solutions, and the growing urgency to address global climate challenges, we launched our ESG strategy to embed sustainability across operations, aligning with the ESG Strategy of our parent company, Hayleys PLC. This strategy integrates sustainability action plans, including GHG reduction targets, into business unit objectives and our global expansion roadmaps.
Which sustainability initiatives have significantly impacted your business and the communities you serve?
The Advantis Blue C initiative has had the most significant sustainability impact on our business and the wider community. This blue carbon project enhances Sri Lanka’s national blue carbon-sinking capacity by supporting the conservation and restoration of coastal ecosystems. Blue carbon ecosystems contribute approximately 40% of the world’s CO₂ sequestration capacity, essential in combating climate change.
Under this initiative, we focused on the natural regeneration of mangroves at the Anawilundawa Ramsar and Pubudugama wetlands. Mangroves are vital for carbon capture, coastal protection, and biodiversity.
Beyond environmental benefits, this initiative has uplifted local communities by creating jobs and sustaining livelihoods. To strengthen conservation efforts, we established a research facility at Anawilundawa, serving as a base for international scientists and students studying Sri Lanka’s mangrove ecosystems, conducting field research, analysing conservation strategies, and developing sustainable restoration methods. In addition, we provide ongoing technical expertise and actively engage our teams in research and community development. This approach delivers a measurable environmental and social impact, ensuring long-term sustainability.
How have you navigated the complexities of embedding sustainability at scale across your operations, and how do you see this setting a benchmark for others in the sector?
As Sri Lanka’s most extensive transportation and logistics solutions provider, we reach nearly every sector of the Sri Lankan economy. Given our position as an emerging regional player, we recognised the responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint in a meaningful and sustainable manner. However, incorporating sustainability into our operations has been challenging due to the very nature of the logistics industry, where scale, complexity, and environmental impacts present significant hurdles.
To address these challenges, we follow the guidelines outlined in our ESG roadmap, which clearly defines our long-term sustainability targets. As part of this initiative, we have set specific sustainability goals for our subsidiary business units, which we periodically monitor to ensure progress towards a sustainable transition. We have already integrated a few eco-friendly vehicles into our fleet and sea-going assets. We are actively researching green fuel solutions to power our vehicles in the future. These efforts mark a significant step towards reducing emissions and enhancing the sustainability of our operations.
In addition to these fleet upgrades, as mentioned earlier, we have engaged in large-scale projects focused on environmental conservation and regeneration and have adopted innovative technologies that set a precedent for responsible corporate stewardship. Through these efforts, we aim to set a benchmark for others in the logistics sector, demonstrating that large-scale operations can thrive while remaining committed to sustainability.
What does winning the ACCA Sustainability Award mean for Advantis, and how will it shape your future initiatives?
We are proud to be the only transportation and logistics company recognised at the 2024 ACCA Sustainability Awards. This achievement highlights our dedication to integrating sustainability into our core business strategy and reflects our commitment to ESG excellence in the logistics and supply chain sectors.
Winning this award reinforces our role as a responsible corporate leader, strengthening our focus on environmental responsibility and ethical business practices. More importantly, it motivates us to push the boundaries of sustainable innovation, enhance accountability, and align our reporting with global best practices, ensuring a lasting and positive impact on the industry.
What steps is Advantis taking to push the boundaries of sustainability? What advice would you give to other industry leaders?
Looking ahead, we plan to expand our blue carbon initiatives beyond mangrove restoration to include other vital ecosystems, further strengthening carbon sequestration and coastal conservation efforts. We are also exploring alternative fuel solutions, scaling renewable energy integration, and advancing data-driven sustainability and transparency measures to ensure long-term impact.
To our industry peers, our advice is to start now, even on a small scale. Every step towards green solutions creates momentum for positive change. Sustainability is not just a corporate responsibility. It is a collective effort to combat climate change and build a more resilient future for generations.
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