Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens Empower Students Through Expanded School Sustainability Programme

Trienekens Group Chief Executive Officer Stephen Chin (fourth from right), Assistant Director and Head of the Welfare and Health Unit, Student Development Sector, Sarawak State Education Department (centre) Ismail Haji Yunus and Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ezmir Hazizi Azhar (third from left) during the symbolic launch of the Program Kelestarian Alam Sekitar 2026, witnessed by representatives from Padawan Municipal Council, Siburan District Council and Serian District Council.

The exchange of the Memorandum of Collaboration between Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn. Bhd. and Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad witnessed by Head of the Welfare and Health Unit, Student Development Sector, Sarawak State Education Department, Ismail Haji Yunus.

Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad (Dutch Lady Malaysia) and Trienekens (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd have launched Program Kelestarian Alam Sekitar 2026, a joint environmental education initiative involving 18 schools across Kuching, Padawan and Serian.

The programme aims to foster greater environmental awareness among students by promoting responsible consumption, proper waste separation, and the recovery and recycling of used beverage cartons (UBCs). Through practical, school-based activities, students will learn how eligible used beverage cartons should be prepared for collection and channelled for recycling. The programme aims to support the diversion of eligible cartons from general waste while encouraging students to view used packaging as a recoverable resource.

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, with Serian included as an additional district.

The expansion will enable more teachers and students to participate in the programme. It will also encourage students to share the knowledge and good practices they acquire with their families and communities.

Under the programme, students will be taught how to properly prepare their used milk packs for recycling by emptying, lightly rinsing, drying and flattening the cartons before collection. Nearly 3,000 students from the participating schools currently receive Dutch Lady milk packs under the School Milk Programme implemented by the Ministry of Education Malaysia.

The sustainability programme with Trienekens complements the School Milk Programme by providing participating schools with practical guidance and facilities for the responsible collection of eligible used beverage cartons.

The collection is not limited to milk packs distributed under the School Milk Programme. Other Dutch Lady beverage carton and formats may also be collected for recycling, allowing more members of the school community to participate.

The collaboration brings together Dutch Lady Malaysia’s engagement with participating schools and Trienekens’ experience in waste management and environmental education. Through this partnership, both organisations aim to promote responsible carton collection, improve environmental awareness and encourage more sustainable habits among students.

By connecting milk consumption with the responsible collection and recovery of used packaging, the initiative demonstrates how different organisations can work together to improve resource efficiency and support the transition towards a circular economy.

The programme also forms part of Dutch Lady Malaysia’s broader ecosystem support for students under under the School Milk Programme. This approach encompasses three key areas: nutrition and well-being, human development and education, as well as community and sustainability.

Through this ecosystem approach, Dutch Lady Malaysia seeks to support students not only through access to nutrition, but also through learning opportunities, personal development and the cultivation of responsible attitudes towards society and the environment. By working with teachers, schools and other partners, Dutch Lady Malaysia aims to contribute to a supportive environment for students, their families and surrounding communities.

Dutch Lady Malaysia’s Corporate Affairs Director Ezmir Hazizi bin Azhar said the initiative complements the company’s commitment to supporting students’ nutritional needs while encouraging responsible management of the packaging generated.

“Supporting students goes beyond providing access to milk products. We also have a responsibility to help participating schools manage the packaging generated in a more responsible way.

“Through this collaboration, students will learn how used beverage cartons should be prepared for collection and recycling. More importantly, we hope these practical habits will be carried from the classroom into their homes and communities.

“Teachers are central to this effort. By reinforcing good practices consistently, they can help turn a simple school activity into lasting awareness of responsible consumption and waste management,” he said.

Trienekens Group Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Chin said the programme aligns with the company’s holistic approach to cultivating lifelong responsible waste management practices and positive environmental behaviour among schoolchildren.

“We have long been actively involved in environmental and waste education programmes in schools as part of our mission to raise environmental awareness and nurture the younger generation to become responsible stewards of the environment.

“Our collaboration with Dutch Lady Malaysia is a natural extension of this commitment, and we are pleased to work together to advance this meaningful initiative,” he said.

A key component of the programme is the Inter-School Dutch Lady UBC Collection and Upcycling Competition. Participating schools will collect used beverage cartons and transform them into creative upcycled products, encouraging students to apply sustainability principles through teamwork, innovation and hands-on learning.

Each school will receive a starter kit comprising a collection box, recycling bin, plastic bags, educational materials and posters explaining how used beverage cartons should be prepared for recycling. An educational video will also be provided to reinforce the correct collection and preparation methods.

Competition winners will receive cash prizes totalling more than RM12,000, together with trophies and certificates.

The launching event also included a technical briefing to the teachers and an exchange of memorandum of collaboration (MOC) between the two parties.

Dutch Lady Malaysia and Trienekens hope the programme will continue to grow and eventually be implemented throughout Sarawak, benefiting more teachers, students, families and communities.