Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens Celebrates Young Environmental Champions Through School Sustainability Programme
YB Datuk Amar Dr. Sim, Ezmir, Stephen and the rest of the distinguished guests with winners of the used beverage carton upcycling competition.
YB Datuk Amar Dr. Sim seated with (from left) Chela, Ezmir, Stephen and Dato Peter and the rest of the winners and guests at the prize presentation ceremony.
Students and teachers from SJK Chung Hua Batu 10 receiving their champion’s trophy and cash prize from YB Datu Amar Dr. Sim, witnessed by Ezmir, Stephen and distinguished guests.
KUCHING: Eighteen primary schools across Padawan, Serian and Siburan were recently recognised for their environmental achievements at the Closing and Prize-Giving Ceremony of Program Kelestarian Alam Sekitar 2026, a joint initiative by Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, held in conjunction with World Sustainability Day.
Participating schools successfully collected a combined total of 236kg of used milk cartons, turning everyday packaging into an opportunity for practical environmental learning.
A key component of the programme, the Inter-School Dutch Lady Used Beverage Carton (UBC) Collection and Upcycling Competition, encouraged students to collect used cartons and transform them into creative upcycled products.
Through teamwork, innovation and hands-on learning, students put sustainability principles into practice while learning to recognise used packaging as a recoverable resource.
Launched in September, the competition comprised two stages: carton collection, followed by an upcycling challenge for the finalists. SJK Chung Hua Batu 10 emerged as champion, taking home the champion’s trophy and a cash prize of RM3,000. SK St Elizabeth secured second place, while SK RPR Batu Kawa finished third, receiving cash prizes of RM2,500 and RM2,000 respectively, along with certificates and trophies.
The closing ceremony was graced by Sarawak Deputy Premier and Minister for Public Health, Housing and Local Government, YB Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, and attended by 170 students and teachers from the Padawan, Siburan and Serian District.
Also present were Dutch Lady Malaysia Corporate Affairs Director Ezmir Hazizi bin Azhar; Trienekens Group Chief Executive Officer Stephen Chin; and Kuching District Education Office representative, Chela Chin, Serian District Council Chairman, Dato Peter Minos, Padawan Municipal Council, Tan Kai and Siburan District Council Secretary, Hui Kee Sing.
YB Datuk Amar Dr. Sim Kui Hian said that the collaboration between Trienekens and Dutch Lady Malaysia demonstrates how companies from different industries can bring together their respective strengths and expertise to promote responsible consumption, waste separation and recycling, while creating meaningful environmental and educational impact.
“When the public and private sectors work together towards common sustainability agenda, we can achieve far greater impact than any organization working independently. I hope this partnership will continue to grow and inspire more businesses to play an active role in advancing Sarawak’s sustainable agenda,” he said.
The partnership combines Dutch Lady Malaysia’s engagement with participating schools and Trienekens’ experience in waste management and environmental education. By connecting milk consumption with the responsible collection and recovery of used packaging, the initiative demonstrates how collaboration can improve resource efficiency and support the transition towards a circular economy. The collected used milk cartons were distributed by Dutch Lady Malaysia under the Ministry of Education Malaysia’s School Milk Programme.
“The choices children make today will shape the communities we build tomorrow. Every carton collected matters, but the greater impact comes when environmental knowledge becomes a lifelong habit. By helping students see used packaging as a recoverable resource, we help equip them to make responsible choices at school, at home and as they grow,” said Ezmir Hazizi bin Azhar, Corporate Affairs Director of Dutch Lady Malaysia.
The programme marks the second year of collaboration between Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens. Following a pilot project involving eight schools in Kuching and Padawan last year, the initiative has now been expanded to 18 schools in Serian and Siburan.
For Dutch Lady Malaysia, the programme forms part of its broader ecosystem of support for students under the School Milk Programme. This encompasses three areas: nutrition and well-being; human development and education; and community and sustainability. Through collaboration with teachers, schools and partners, the company seeks to complement access to nutrition with learning opportunities that support personal development and encourage responsible attitudes towards society and the environment.
“We are pleased to collaborate once again with Dutch Lady Malaysia this year. This programme complements our Wise Up to Waste environmental education programme by taking a holistic approach to cultivating responsible waste management habits among the younger generation. In the long term, we hope to nurture and equip these young people to become environmental stewards who will carry these practices throughout their lives,” said Trienekens Group Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Chin.
Earlier on, each participating school received a starter kit comprising a collection box, recycling bin, plastic bags, educational materials, posters and an educational video explaining how to prepare used beverage cartons for recycling.
Building on the participation and achievements of this year’s schools, Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens hope to expand the programme throughout Sarawak, benefiting more teachers, students, families and communities.