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KUCHING: A total of 18 schools across Kuching, Padawan and Serian are taking part in a joint environmental education initiative by Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd.
The Program Kelestarian Alam Sekitar 2026 event is now in its second year, has expanded from eight schools involved in last year’s pilot project to 18 schools currently, with Serian included for the first time.
Nearly 3,000 students from the participating schools are receiving Dutch Lady milk packs under the Ministry of Education’s School Milk Programme.
Dutch Lady Malaysia Corporate Affairs’ Director, Ezmir Hazizi Azhar, said the initiative was designed to complement students’ nutritional support with practical lessons on responsibly managing used packaging.
“Supporting students goes beyond providing access to milk products. We also have a responsibility to help participating schools manage the packaging generated in a more responsible way,” he said.
Under the programme, students will be taught to empty, lightly rinse, dry and flatten used beverage cartons before collection for recycling.
The collection is not limited to milk packs distributed under the School Milk Programme, as other eligible Dutch Lady beverage cartons may also be contributed.
Ezmir said the initiative was intended to build habits that could extend beyond the classroom.
“More importantly, we hope these practical habits will be carried from the classroom into their homes and communities,” he said.
He added that teachers played an important role in reinforcing responsible consumption and waste management practices among students.
Trienekens Group’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stephen Chin, cited the collaboration was in line with the company’s long-standing environmental and waste education efforts in schools.
“We have long been actively involved in environmental and waste education programmes in schools as part of our mission to raise environmental awareness and nurture the younger generation to become responsible stewards of the environment,” he said.
A key component of the programme is the Inter-School Dutch Lady UBC Collection and Upcycling Competition, where students will collect used beverage cartons and transform them into creative upcycled products.
Cash prizes totalling more than RM12,000, together with trophies and certificates, will be awarded to competition winners.
Each participating school will also receive a starter kit comprising a collection box, a recycling bin, plastic bags, educational materials, and posters, and an educational video will be provided to reinforce proper recycling practices.
The launch also included a technical briefing for teachers and an exchange of a memorandum of collaboration between Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens.
Both organisations said they hoped the programme could eventually be expanded throughout Sarawak.
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