On June 18, 2026, at St Josephs Girls School, Nugegoda, four volunteers from the ZeroPlastic Colombo Community led an awareness session that engaged more than 50 students and resulted in the official launch of a school based ZeroPlastic Community and the appointment of a student Board of Directors.

The session opened with a clear statement of purpose against a global backdrop where over 220 million tons of plastic become waste annually. Volunteers explained the urgent need to eliminate plastic and polythene pollution and set out practical steps students can take every day.

Activities included the formal establishment of the school ZeroPlastic Community, selection of a student Board of Directors to steer the group, and the introduction of a Pen Bin to encourage recycling habits. The programme focused on simple, repeatable actions, such as reducing use of lunch sheets, PET bottles, and polythene bags, to build long term behaviour change.

School based action can create next generation environmental leaders

The project links directly to global goals on responsible production and learning. It supports SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production through waste reduction and recycling education and SDG 4: Quality Education by empowering students with knowledge and leadership roles.

By placing practical tools and student leadership at the centre, the initiative aims to turn awareness into habit. The volunteers and students agreed that small daily choices at school can scale into lasting community change, showing that sustainable solutions can begin at the school level.