GRI steps up ‘green manufacturing’ efforts

Colombo, Sri Lanka – Global Rubber Industries (GRI) has stepped up its sustainability efforts with a series of initiatives aimed at making manufacturing processes ‘green’ and promoting the use of recycled materials.

The measures include biomass boilers for the generation of thermal energy and steam needed to cure tires, explained Ananda Caldera, executive director of GRI in a 14 Sept statement. 

For the biomass boilers, Caldera said, GRI uses “environmentally friendly alternatives” such as the waste material generated by the sawmilling industry called outer planks. 

More recently, GRI started to use oat husks, which is a waste material from a neighbouring and newly opened oats manufacturing plant.

In addition, GRI is continuously investing in increasing its solar power generation capacity.

The Sri Lankan off-road tire manufacturer currently generates 1.2MW of energy through the solar panels installed on the roofs of the factories.

The company, said Calder, plans to increase the capacity to 2.5MW as it completes the second phase of its $100-millilon expansion project in Badalgama, Sri Lanka.

Furthermore, water is recycled at GRI facilities and the water that was used for washing is treated and reused for the maintenance of the landscape and the factory.

“We have a 24-hour water treatment plant that recycles the water," Caldera said. 

Other measures, Caldera said, include the plantation of trees, use of reclaimed rubber and improving energy efficiency.

“GRI is in constant pursuit of seeking sustainable alternatives to be used in our products and manufacturing processes,” said Dr Mahesha Ranasoma, CEO of GRI. 

Our goal, he said, is to “build tires sustainably” and to make a positive impact on the planet. 

GRI operates a production plant in Badalgama, where it produces material handling solid tires, radial agriculture tires, and construction tires.