KUALA LUMPUR: Nestlé Malaysia collected about 1.26 tonnes of waste from coastal sites nationwide this year as it expanded its long-running clean-up programme to include more community education and underwater conservation activities.
In a statement, the group said almost 400 volunteers took part in the 2026 Coastal and Underwater Clean-Up initiative across Selangor, Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Sabah and Pahang.
The programme, which began as a beach clean-up initiative in 2019, now covers marine debris and ghost net removal, coral reef conservation and environmental education. Nearly 18 tonnes of waste have been collected since its launch.
At Pantai Kelanang in Selangor, clean-up activities were combined with environmental awareness sessions for Orang Asli communities from Teluk Tongkah and Permatang Buah Kelanang, covering waste segregation, recycling and responsible disposal.
Nestlé Malaysia CEO Juan Aranols said protecting coastal and marine ecosystems required sustained conservation efforts as well as greater community participation.
“Our coastlines and marine ecosystems are precious natural assets that support livelihoods, food security and biodiversity, and protecting them requires sustained action, education and a shared commitment to stewardship of natural ecosystems.
“With my fellow community of Nestlé divers, I have seen first-hand both the beauty and fragility of our marine environment. From removing crown-of-thorns starfish that threaten coral reefs to recovering ghost nets left behind from fishing activities, our underwater conservation efforts have reinforced the importance of protecting these ecosystems for the long term.
“As the programme evolves, we are placing greater emphasis on education and community engagement, because lasting change happens when people are empowered to become active stewards of the environments they depend on,” he said in the statement.
Meanwhile, in Pulau Tioman, Nestlé Malaysia partnered with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia and Reef Check Malaysia to remove crown-of-thorns starfish as part of coral reef conservation efforts.
Impact Revolution Enterprise co-founder and programme director Mohd Faisal Abdur Rani said lower waste volumes had been observed at several locations where clean-ups had been conducted consistently.
He said this could indicate improving awareness and waste disposal practices, although tides, seasons and visitor activity could also affect the amount of waste recorded.
The initiative is carried out under the Nestlé Sayang Komuniti employee volunteer platform in collaboration with local communities, NGOs and government agencies.
