Established in 1997 as part of Aberdeen Holdings, Ex-Pack Corrugated Cartons PLC has spent 25 years evolving into a leader in eco-friendly packaging solutions. Its subsidiary, Neptune Recyclers, founded in 1994, is Sri Lanka’s premier resource recovery and environment management company. Mohamed Riyaz, Chief Executive of Ex-Pack, and Fazleen Majeed, Chief Executive of Neptune Recyclers, share a vision to lead in sustainability and Sri Lanka’s circular economy and preserve natural resources for future generations, and the impact they’ve had thus far.
Can you elaborate on how your sustainable sourcing and waste management practices at Ex-Pack have contributed to growth?
As an ISO 14001:2015 certified company, Ex-Pack is dedicated to eco-friendly manufacturing, sourcing materials from reliable, green suppliers to ensure sustainability and quality. This commitment aligns with the global emphasis on environmental responsibility and has driven our growth. Our 100% paper-based line features recycled and recyclable options, and we partner with FSC-certified suppliers for responsible sourcing.
We are proud to be carbon-neutral for the second consecutive year. Ex-Pack is WRAP certified, ensuring our products are made under ethical labour, health and safety, and environmental conditions.
As a responsible manufacturer, Ex-Pack continually improves its environmental impact. Our quality management has been ISO 9001 certified since 2006, with an upgrade to ISO 9001:2015 in 2017. Partnering with Neptune Recyclers, our subsidiary focused on environment management, we continue to lead in sustainable packaging solutions.
What is your approach to CSR at Ex-Pack?
At Ex-Pack, our CSR reflects our dedication to the community and workforce, extending beyond mere duty. Initiatives like free medical clinics and community projects enhance employee satisfaction and local relations, providing business benefits. Since 2011, our Ex-Pack MediCare has served over 55,000 patients. We also installed a rainwater drainage system to prevent flooding around our facility and educate local schools on recycling to nurture sustainable habits in the next generation. Ex-Pack actively enhances the learning opportunities of employees’ children by providing them with a complete pack of books and stationery to support their educational advancement each year. This year we provided 219 packs of stationery and books for this purpose.
Our CSR aligns with business goals, fostering respect and teamwork among employees. Involving suppliers and buyers in our sustainability projects has enhanced our reputation and strengthened relationships around a shared vision for a sustainable future. Additionally, the recently launched Snehadhana Foundation, part of Aberdeen Group’s CSR efforts, features a community kitchen serving dinner to 100 underprivileged people every working day.
How have your governance practices strengthened stakeholder relationships and impacted business performance and sustainability?
Our commitment to transparency and ethics strengthens stakeholder relationships, enhancing business performance and sustainability. Our open-door policy invites global buyers to visit our factory, fostering trust and showcasing our pristine environment and dedicated employees.
Ex-Pack prioritizes innovation and sustainability, collaborating with buyers to pioneer ideas meeting global demands, such as shifting from virgin to recycled paper to reduce carbon footprints. Partnerships with clients, government, and international institutions keep us at the forefront of packaging advancements, promoting continuous improvement and innovation.
Ex-Pack has consistently been recognized for its excellence in the Manufacturing and Production industry, earning a spot among the top 15 companies for three consecutive years by Great Place to Work – Sri Lanka. Moreover, we’ve been ranked among the top 50 workplaces in Sri Lanka for the fifth time and also secured a place in ‘Asia’s Best Small and Medium Workplaces’ for the fourth time. To further acknowledge the dedication of its team, Ex-Pack honours its employees with longstanding service awards, highlighting its deep appreciation for employee contributions and commitment.
In Sri Lanka, while multinational buyers lead in adopting recycled concepts, standard buyers still need progress. Ex-Pack remains dedicated to promoting sustainable packaging, working with our community and partners to emphasize its cost-effective benefits and long-term sustainability gains—a value instilled by the Aberdeen Group and embraced across all our businesses.
What is Neptune Recyclers’ vision for furthering sustainability and recycling?
Our straightforward vision is “To lead Sri Lanka’s circular economy and preserve natural resources for future generations”. We serve not just corporates and industries, but also individuals, households, and small businesses, ensuring comprehensive participation in the circular economy. Our efforts extend beyond economic contributions; over the last 3 decades of our successful journey, Neptune Recyclers was able to uplift thousands of families by bringing them to the mainstream of business and we were also able to provide thousands of job opportunities across Sri Lanka
As the pioneer in recycling and circular solutions since 1994, we mark 30 years of excellence this year. Specializing in wastepaper, fabric waste and plastics, we have exported more than 600,000 metric tons of wastepaper alone, injecting over $170 million into the economy—a true testament to our impact both on the environment and the country as a whole.
As a pioneer in the circular economy, how has sustainable waste processing driven business growth and supplier loyalty?
A circular economy prioritizes reusing, refurbishing, repairing, or recycling materials to extend their lifespan, minimizing waste and conserving resources. When the product reaches the end of its life, ways and means are found to keep the material within the economy by reusing it again and again. For instance, reusing a product three times instead of once, straightaway reduces waste by two-thirds, showcasing significant environmental benefits.
As a leader in circular solutions, Neptune Recyclers is dedicated to minimizing landfill and incineration waste by continuously reusing materials until they no longer meet quality standards. This reflects our broader goal of fostering a sustainable economy and reducing environmental impact, supported by our valued long-term partnerships with suppliers. With over 30 years of collaboration, we offer cost-efficient waste management solutions, ensuring mutual growth and success while promoting sustainability.
With the economic downturn and escalation of transportation costs, waste management itself has become a very costly affair for those who generate waste. Thus, this is where Neptune Recyclers come into play, where the company offers the most cost-efficient ways of managing waste with its expertise, logistics and infrastructure. This commitment is further reflected in Neptune Recyclers receiving global recognition for sustainable waste management from Intertek’s Zero Waste to Landfill certification, a first in the world for an environment management company.
How do your employee engagement and outreach programmes contribute to operational efficiency and positive corporate culture at Neptune Recyclers?
Neptune Recyclers recently achieved the esteemed “Great Place to Work” certification in Sri Lanka, affirming the success of our employee engagement initiatives and their positive impact on operational efficiency and corporate culture.
We prioritize our employees as our most valuable assets, recognizing their exceptional dedication and passion, consistently at all times. During our journey, the company has encountered multiple challenges and setbacks. However, despite these negativities, our employees have stood together, as one spirited team and bounced back on every single occasion. It is this spirit, attitude, and fighting instinct, coupled with visionary, tactical and people-driven leadership, that have brought the company to these heights.
The company practices a beautiful model where part of the employees’ earnings is linked with the company’s financial performance. Apart from the general welfare fund, the company maintains a fund called Neptune Cares, which supports employees with critical illnesses, education, and relief from natural disasters. Further, initiatives like our free meals, stationery and book donation programme and employees’ family visits to the company demonstrate our commitment to supporting our employees at every milestone.
Transparency is fundamental to our culture. By bridging the gap between management and employees, we ensure everyone is well-informed about the company’s strategies and goals, empowering each team member to be fully aware of their roles and to contribute effectively to our collective success. Employee empowerment is part of our DNA and employee innovation and new ideas are not only encouraged but also implemented. Some of the employees have been with the company from inception and it is a clear testimony of their loyalty and job satisfaction which leads to Neptune Recyclers being a Great Place to Work.