The “PLASTICS” project, officially titled “Promoting Long-term Approaches for a Sustainable, Transformative, and Inclusive Circular Economy in Sri Lanka,” is a four-year initiative led by ACTED in collaboration with a consortium comprising ACTED, ISB, BSL, STENUM Asia, and TERI. This project is funded by the EU-SWITCH Asia grant program and strategically aligns with the National Action Plan on Plastic Waste Management 2021–2030, reflecting its commitment to reducing plastic waste in packaging, promoting circular economy practices, and significantly increasing plastic waste recycling rates.

Focusing primarily on the Western Province, the project seeks to integrate Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) into environmentally conscious value and supply chains. This approach aims to drive economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability. By fostering resource efficiency, circular innovation, green finance, and sustainable waste management (SWM) practices, the initiative aspires to create a transformative impact on the plastic value chain.

The project’s overarching goal is to facilitate sustainable and innovative practices for plastic minimization and management in Sri Lanka, contributing to both economic prosperity and environmental preservation. The efforts target improving economic development within the plastic value and supply chain by empowering SMEs and enabling greener business practices.

By the end of 2023, ISB had successfully completed several key milestones, including:

• Conducting plastic value chain assessments.
• Enterprise capacity assessments of the MSMEs.
• Training the MSMEs in business planning, expansion, and entrepreneurship development.
• Preparing detailed business plans for approximately MSMEs.
• Performing in-depth RECP assessments for more than SMEs.
• Conducting a national-level green finance awareness program.

Additionally, ISB contributed to other activities led by consortium partners during this period. The project remains steadfast in its commitment to sustainable plastic waste management in Sri Lanka and will continue until January 2026, aiming to create long-term benefits for both the economy and the environment.

In 2018, the Industrial Services Bureau conducted a comprehensive study on the PET plastic recycling industry in Sri Lanka, funded by The Asia Foundation Sri Lanka and Coca-Cola Sri Lanka. The report highlights the increasing burden of plastic waste, particularly PET, due to inadequate management practices. Its primary objectives were to establish baseline data for PET recycling and identify key performance indicators to enhance recycling strategies. Methodologically, the study involved a literature review of existing data on PET usage, importation, and recycling, alongside field research that included focus group discussions and interviews with stakeholders such as collectors, government officials, and community members.

The findings reveal that while PET is widely used for packaging, it presents significant environmental challenges due to low recycling rates. The accumulation of PET waste contributes to pollution and health hazards, including mosquito breeding and exposure to toxic chemicals. Public awareness regarding the hazards of PET is generally low, although there is an acknowledgment of its environmental impact. The study identifies several challenges to effective recycling, including inefficient collection systems and economic constraints, while also emphasizing the potential roles of women and school children in PET waste management.

To address these issues, the report recommends initiating public awareness campaigns to educate citizens about proper PET usage and disposal, establishing collection networks involving women’s groups and schools, and providing resources and training to local collectors to enhance recycling efficiency. Ultimately, the report underscores the necessity for coordinated efforts among local authorities, NGOs, and communities to improve PET recycling practices and mitigate environmental impacts, supported by a comprehensive list of references related to plastic waste management and environmental policies.

In 2022, the Industrial Services Bureau (ISB) conducted a comprehensive study on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Sri Lanka, funded by The Asia Foundation Sri Lanka through a grant from the US Department of State. This research revealed Sri Lanka’s significant climate vulnerability, ranking 100th out of 181 countries, with a staggering 336% increase in GHG emissions from 1960 to 2018. Despite contributing less than 0.1% to global CO2 emissions, these emissions pose serious health and environmental challenges, obstructing progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The study focused on three key sectors: Transport, Industries & SMEs, and Domestic. It aimed to analyze regulatory mechanisms, identify bottlenecks in emission control, and assess public awareness regarding emissions. Utilizing both secondary and primary research methods—including surveys and focus group discussions across eight districts—the study targeted vehicle operators, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and households. Additionally, three policy dialogues were conducted at the national level to facilitate discussions on the findings and recommendations.

Key findings highlighted a lack of awareness and understanding of GHG emissions among the public and industry operators, with only 3% of industrial respondents being well-informed about emission control measures. The research also identified significant problems, such as inadequate regulatory frameworks and limited public engagement in emission reduction efforts.

Overall, the study underscores the urgent need for effective emission control strategies, actionable policy recommendations, and collaborative action among government bodies, NGOs, and communities to effectively tackle GHG emissions and contribute to global climate objectives.

The main objective of this component is to empower war widows in Kilinochchi District, Military widows in Kurunegala and Anuradhapura Districts focusing sustainable livelihoods/enterprises though enterprise development, marketing and technical trainings as well as providing in-kind grant supports.

ISB is one of the pioneers in conducting value chain assignments for various development agencies, bilateral and multilateral agencies, donors, NGOs/INGOs in Sri Lanka. Since 2010, we have experienced in undertaking over 20 assignments covering more than 50 sub sectors in every part of the country.

These sector includes; palmyrah, potato, cinnamon, dairy, cocoa, groundnut, maize, cashew, organic vegetable, sea bass, maize, pepper, ginger, groundnut, passion fruit, coconut, crabs, prawns and sea cucumber, agriculture and livestock sector, dairy and paddy, spice sector coconut, maize, pepper and ginger, dairy, goat, cowpea, paddy and inland fisheries, paddy sectors, pineapple, mango, big onion seeds, chilli, guava, bitter gourd, papaya.

JICA conducts Ex-post evaluations for the projects financed by them, after two years of completion to assess the impact and sustainability of the projects. OECD/DAC criteria used to assess the project. As per the resilience links established with leading Japanese Consultancy firms on Ex-post evaluations, ISB worked as the local consultant to conduct this study.

The general objective of this program was to support women and youth-led CBOs/CSOs and individuals (i.e. leaders and individual members of CBOs/CSOs) to strengthen their capacity in selected areas, which makes them institutionally, economically, and socially viable and able to advocate for the rights of youth and women including other vulnerable groups.

The purpose of this project was to support 39 POs on business planning, management and advisory support and market linkage support in order to develop viable business plans based on market demand, strengthening their business models and management capacities and tap new high-value markets thereby expanding and diversifying their productive and profit-making capacities. This was implemented in Vavuniya, Mannar, Puttalam, Batticaola, Ampara and Moneragala Districts.

This was conducted to empower more than 1300 youths through enterprise development trainings, counselling trainings, exposure visits, trade fairs as well as grants covering selected divisions in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullathivu, Vavuniya, Mannar, Anuradhapura, Puttalam, Batticaloa, Ampara and Moneragala Districts.