JAT Holdings’ Finance Director, Rizna Dilshard, discusses how sustainability is central to the company’s mission, shaping its strategy and decision-making. She explains how JAT integrates environmental and social responsibility into its operations, turning challenges into opportunities for innovation and efficiency. She highlights the company’s efforts in sustainable product development, regulatory compliance, and workforce training while outlining the tangible business benefits of these initiatives. Rizna also shares JAT’s recent innovations, including environmentally-conscious coatings and green certifications, and details its long-term sustainability goals, including achieving net-zero emissions and expanding its portfolio of environmentally conscious products.
Why is sustainability critical to your company’s goals?
Sustainability is fundamental to our mission at JAT because it aligns with our commitment to integrity, performance, and customer satisfaction. By prioritizing sustainability, we ensure our operations and solutions are high-quality, innovative, environmentally responsible, and socially beneficial.
We have pledged to support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which shape our overall strategy and decision-making process. Sustainability fosters trust and reliability, which are essential for building long-term relationships with our stakeholders. It drives innovation, enabling us to develop more efficient and effective solutions that meet evolving customer needs while minimizing environmental impact. These initiatives set new industry standards, ensuring the delivery of safer products.
Our focus on sustainability also supports social and economic development within the communities where we operate. It helps us attract and retain talented professionals who are passionate about making a positive impact on the world while uplifting our overall performance and reputation.
Implementing sustainable practices can be challenging. How do you turn them into opportunities for growth and innovation?
Sustainability does come with challenges, but we have successfully turned them into opportunities for growth and innovation.
Managing resources efficiently has pushed us to innovate and optimize operations, reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. When faced with industrial waste management challenges, we implemented recycling programmes and waste reduction strategies, which helped us comply with regulations and lower expenses. To address high energy consumption, we invested in energy-efficient technologies and renewable energy sources, which have decreased our energy costs and reduced our carbon footprint.
Navigating complex environmental regulations led us to develop robust compliance strategies, ensuring adherence to laws while positioning us as a leader in responsible chemical management. The need to implement sustainable practices encouraged us to invest in new technologies, including a state-of-the-art research and development unit. These strategies allow us to create cost-effective, environmentally conscious products that meet customer demands.
Since sustainability requires company-wide participation, we have developed comprehensive training programmes to educate our employees, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility. To further accelerate our sustainability initiatives, we have formed partnerships with government institutions, NGOs, and private sector companies, which has helped us strengthen our sustainability performance.
Beyond environmental responsibility, how has your focus on sustainability-driven tangible business outcomes?
Our sustainability efforts have led to significant business benefits.
By implementing sustainable supply chain practices, we have minimized delays and disruptions, ensuring a more reliable flow of materials and optimal stock levels to meet customer demands on time. Investing in renewable energy sources like solar panels has significantly reduced our energy expenses.
We have also introduced initiatives like the JAT Lean Green Belt Practitioner Programme, which has enhanced our operational excellence and nurtured a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Our commitment to sustainability has strengthened our brand reputation, attracting environmentally conscious customers and fostering long-term loyalty.
Through our research unit and newly established acrylic binder and alkyd resin manufacturing plants—key raw materials for our main products—we have enhanced product design and development, enabling us to meet customer demands while offering cost advantages.
Our sustainable practices have enabled us to enter new local and international markets, generating new revenue opportunities.
Can you share any groundbreaking innovations or sustainable practices JAT has recently introduced?
We have introduced several innovations and sustainable practices to reduce our environmental impact. We were the first to bring water-based wood coatings to Sri Lanka, significantly lowering ecological implications. Our WHITE by JAT emulsion paint range is the only Sri Lankan paint product to receive the Green Seal certification from the USA, ensuring minimal VOCs, a safer formula, and uncompromising performance. We have also eliminated APEO, a non-biodegradable substance in paint manufacturing, to protect aquatic life and human health.
Through the Pintharu Abhiman project, which seeks to revolutionize the painting industry, we provide painters with NVQ qualifications, educational assistance, and insurance, expanding opportunities for both male and female painters with plans to support marginalized communities further.
What are JAT’s sustainability goals for the future?
Sustainability is our long-term commitment, driving both business growth and environmental responsibility. We aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and reduce our carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2035 through investments in renewable energy, carbon offset initiatives, and technological advancement. Through continued research and development, we also plan to expand our portfolio of environmentally conscious products by 50% within five years.
Beyond business operations, we are committed to empowering communities through education, health, and livelihood programmes. Strengthening partnerships and ensuring transparency in our sustainability initiatives remain key priorities as we drive innovation while upholding our environmental and social responsibilities.