Nestlé Malaysia has formalized a strategic partnership with the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp) to systematically upgrade the plastic waste recycling ecosystem across Kedah. The joint initiative focuses on expanding Nestlé's flagship voluntary Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme, Project SAVE (Segregate, Avoid, Value, Educate), creating a highly organized blueprint for community-led waste management. The collaborative model was officially launched at the Karnival Kitar event at SMK Taman Selasih through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange witnessed by Tunku Temenggong Kedah, YTM Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz binti Almarhum Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

Originally introduced in 2020, Project SAVE has evolved into the largest voluntary EPR initiative in Malaysia by operationalizing household Separation-at-Source frameworks. By deploying weekly, door-to-door collection routes for dry mixed recyclables, the programme connects local households directly with municipal councils, waste concessionaires, and private sector recyclers. Now scaled across nine major cities, the initiative currently reaches approximately 260,000 households nationwide. Operational data from 2025 alone reveals the scale of the infrastructure, which successfully diverted an estimated 15,000 tonnes of solid waste from landfills and marine environments, including 10,000 tonnes of post-consumer plastic.

The strategic push into Kedah builds upon a successful regional pilot launched in Kulim in 2025 alongside SWCorp, E-Idaman, and ESH Resource. This initial regional footprint has already yielded tangible environmental data, recovering roughly 100,000 kilograms of total recyclable materials, of which 28,000 kilograms consisted strictly of plastics. By establishing reliable collection frequency and structured infrastructure, the project establishes a scalable foundation aimed at bringing the total nationwide reach of the recycling network to 300,000 households by the close of 2026.

Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Malaysia, noted that establishing consistent physical collection systems on the ground is the first step toward true resource circularity. He explained that corporate infrastructure must be matched by a behavioral shift within individual households, urging citizens to integrate waste separation into their daily lives to translate localized adjustments into a broader national impact. This focus on operational integration was mirrored by SWCorp Chief Executive Officer, Tuan Khalid Bin Mohammed, who stated that tight logistical coordination between local authorities, corporate stakeholders, and the public is crucial for ensuring system efficiency and keeping public participation steady over the long term.