[Far left] Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Malaysia, joins Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteers and members of Reef Check Malaysia in a marine conservation effort, highlighting the importance of collective action, environmental stewardship and community partnerships in protecting Malaysia’s coastal and marine ecosystems.

Nestlé Malaysia is strengthening its commitment to protecting the country’s coastal and marine ecosystems through its Coastal and Underwater Clean-Up initiative, which has evolved significantly since it was first introduced as a beach clean-up programme in 2019. Now in its seventh year, the initiative brings together Nestlé employees, local communities and partners across Malaysia to support environmental conservation through activities such as marine debris collection, ghost net recovery, coral reef protection and environmental education.

The programme reflects Nestlé Malaysia’s growing focus on creating long-term environmental impact rather than simply addressing waste at individual clean-up locations. Based on observations gathered over several years, Nestlé Malaysia and its partners have noted encouraging signs of reduced waste volumes at several recurring sites. While factors such as tides, seasons and visitor activity can affect the amount of waste found, the trend suggests that greater environmental awareness and more responsible waste disposal practices may be emerging within some local communities.

For 2026, the initiative has placed greater emphasis on community education and environmental stewardship. At Pantai Kelanang in Selangor, conservation and restoration activities were complemented by Sustainability Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) sessions involving Orang Asli residents from Teluk Tongkah and Permatang Buah Kelanang. The sessions provided practical knowledge on waste segregation, recycling and responsible disposal, with the aim of empowering communities to play a more active role in safeguarding their surroundings.

Nestlé Malaysia CEO Juan Aranols highlighted the importance of sustained community participation in protecting natural ecosystems. According to him, Malaysia’s coastlines and marine environments are valuable assets that support livelihoods, food security and biodiversity, making long-term conservation efforts essential. His own involvement in underwater conservation activities, including removing crown-of-thorns starfish that threaten coral reefs and recovering ghost nets from the sea, has also provided first-hand insight into the beauty and vulnerability of Malaysia’s marine ecosystems.

Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteers spearhead coastal clean-up efforts, helping to keep Malaysia’s shorelines cleaner through sustained employee-led action.

The initiative’s environmental partner, Impact Revolution Enterprise, has likewise observed the programme’s transformation from a waste removal exercise into a broader platform for environmental awareness and community involvement. Consistent clean-up activities at selected locations have shown lower waste volumes during comparable periods, providing an encouraging indication that awareness and responsible disposal habits could be improving. At the same time, the organisation emphasised that continued education and community ownership remain important to sustaining these positive developments.

The 2026 programme extended beyond Selangor to communities in Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Sabah and Pahang, combining coastal clean-ups with various underwater conservation activities. In Pulau Tioman, Nestlé Malaysia worked together with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia and Reef Check Malaysia to remove crown-of-thorns starfish as part of efforts to protect coral reefs and maintain the health of marine ecosystems.

Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteers remove crown-of-thorns starfish as part of ongoing efforts to protect and conserve fragile underwater ecosystems.

Across all participating locations this year, almost 400 volunteers collected 1,259.51 kilogrammes of waste from coastal areas. Since the initiative began in 2019, the programme has accumulated nearly 18 tonnes of waste, highlighting the scale of the collective effort by employees, communities and environmental partners over the years.

The Coastal and Underwater Clean-Up initiative forms part of Nestlé Sayang Komuniti, the company’s employee volunteer platform that encourages staff to participate directly in community and environmental causes. Through continued collaboration with local communities, non-governmental organisations and public sector stakeholders, Nestlé Malaysia aims to strengthen environmental awareness while encouraging communities to become long-term stewards of the coastal and marine environments they depend on.

By combining hands-on conservation with education and community engagement, Nestlé Malaysia’s initiative demonstrates how sustained collective action can contribute to healthier coastlines and marine ecosystems. As the programme enters its seventh year, its evolving focus on stewardship and environmental education signals a continued effort to create meaningful and lasting benefits for both people and the planet.