SEREMBAN, 26 November 2024

The GREAT KITARecycle Challenge 2024 (GKC2024), organised by Great Eastern Takaful Berhad (GETB) and SWM Environment Sdn Bhd, managed to collect 107,239 kilogrammes (kg) of recyclable materials from July to November.

GETB chief executive officer (CEO) Shahrul Azlan Shahriman said the programme, which involved over 60 primary and secondary schools in Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, had not only was a competition for gathering recyclable materials, but also for had contests involving making 3R sculptures, essay writing, producing short videos and storytelling, all revolving around the concept of recycling and environmental conservation.

"Going beyond family takaful business operations, we are greatly concerned about the worrying environmental issues. Corporate networking is part of our efforts to play a role in raising awareness about solid waste management among students and teachers.

"Besides this, we also have donated recycling facilities to schools that manage to gather more than 5,000 kgs of recyclables throughout the GKC2024 period,” he said in a statement today.

Contests, he noted, was not only to nurture students’ creativity but to instil a sense of environmental sustainability in their innovative works and to raise awareness about the importance of recycling among youth.

Shahrul said they also introduced upcycling initiatives as a proactive measure to conserve the environment through a series of talks and demonstrations and we have reached over 12,000 individuals about upcycling practices so far.

"It produces products with new functions made from used plastic given by students and teachers. Through this initiative, students can identify upcycling activities that can be adopted at home and in school and encourage a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.