[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 Malaysia’s coastal and marine ecosystems through its Coastal and Underwater Clean-Up initiative, which has evolved from a beach clean-up programme into a broader environmental conservation and community engagement effort. Now in its seventh year, the initiative brings together Nestlé employees, local communities, non-governmental organisations and public sector partners to address marine pollution while promoting greater awareness of responsible environmental practices. [Back row, fourth from right] Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé Malaysia, alongside Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteers driving coastal conservation efforts, reflecting the Company’s long-term commitment to protecting Malaysia’s natural environments. Since its launch in 2019, the programme has expanded beyond the removal of beach waste to include underwater conservation, marine debris and ghost net recovery, coral reef protection and environmental education. The initiative has also provided Nestlé Malaysia and its partners with an opportunity to observe changes at clean-up locations over time, with lower waste volumes recorded at several sites during comparable periods. While factors such as tides, seasons and visitor activity can influence waste levels, the trend is viewed as an encouraging indication of growing environmental awareness and more responsible waste disposal practices. In 2026, the programme placed greater emphasis on empowering communities to become active stewards of their surrounding environment. At Pantai Kelanang, Selangor, clean-up and restoration activities were accompanied by Sustainability Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) sessions for Orang Asli communities from Teluk Tongkah and Permatang Buah Kelanang. The sessions provided practical guidance on waste segregation, recycling and responsible disposal, with the aim of encouraging long-term behavioural change. Nestlé Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Juan Aranols highlighted the importance of sustained action and community participation in protecting natural ecosystems. He noted that Malaysia’s coastlines and marine environments play an important role in supporting livelihoods, food security and biodiversity. Through the involvement of Nestlé’s employee diving community, the initiative has also enabled volunteers to participate directly in underwater conservation activities, including the removal of crown-of-thorns starfish that threaten coral reefs and the recovery of ghost nets left behind by fishing activities. Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteers spearhead coastal clean-up efforts, helping to keep Malaysia’s shorelines cleaner through sustained employee-led action. The programme’s environmental partner, Impact Revolution Enterprise, also observed that the initiative has grown from a waste removal exercise into a wider platform for environmental education and community action. According to the organisation, consistently conducted clean-ups at several locations have recorded lower volumes of waste during comparable periods, providing an encouraging indication that awareness and responsible waste disposal behaviours may be improving. The 2026 initiative extended its reach beyond Selangor to communities in Kedah, Kelantan, Johor, Sabah and Pahang. In Pulau Tioman, Nestlé Malaysia worked with the Department of Fisheries Malaysia and Reef Check Malaysia on efforts to remove crown-of-thorns starfish as part of ongoing coral reef conservation. Across all participating locations, nearly 400 volunteers collected 1,259.51 kilogrammes of waste in 2026, bringing the total amount of waste collected through the initiative since 2019 to almost 18 tonnes. Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteers remove crown-of-thorns starfish as part of ongoing efforts to protect and conserve fragile underwater ecosystems. The Coastal and Underwater Clean-Up programme forms part of Nestlé Malaysia’s Nestlé Sayang Komuniti volunteer platform, which enables employees to contribute to environmental and community causes. By combining volunteer action, conservation efforts, environmental education and collaboration with local communities, NGOs and government agencies, the initiative aims to create a longer-term impact beyond individual clean-up activities. As Malaysia continues to face challenges related to marine pollution and coastal ecosystem protection, initiatives that combine practical conservation with education and community ownership can play an important role in encouraging sustainable environmental practices. Nestlé Malaysia’s continued efforts demonstrate how sustained partnerships and volunteer participation can contribute to protecting the country’s coastlines while encouraging communities to take a more active role in safeguarding the natural environments they depend on. Post navigation ONE TAIWAN, A MILLION EXPERIENCES NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks Forge Global Strategic Partnership to Advance Secure AI Transformation