SriLankan Airlines Redefines Sustainable Luxury With ‘Mathaka’ At Sri Lanka Design Festival

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

SriLankan Airlines, the official airline partner of the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), showcased its latest collection of products from its award-winning upcycle brand, ‘Mathaka,’ at the event held from November 6 to 11, 2024, at Cinnamon Life. Launched in 2021, the ‘Mathaka’ brand transforms retired materials from the airline’s operations into stylish lifestyle products and collectibles, reinforcing SriLankan Airlines’ position as one of South Asia’s most sustainable airlines.

Like many organizations worldwide, SriLankan Airlines has faced the challenge of ethically disposing of retired materials such as old aircraft seat covers, blankets, curtains, uniforms, wooden cargo pallets, and other items. The solution was found in Mathaka, a brand dedicated to turning these materials into new consumer products, preserving both the environment and the memories associated with air travel.

The latest Mathaka collection includes an exciting array of items, such as travel bags, tote bags, peg dolls, table runners, mats, and more. This new range also marks a fresh phase for Mathaka, with SriLankan Airlines partnering with three women-led sustainable businesses in Sri Lanka to co-create these products. The brands include House of Lonali, founded by Lonali Rodrigo; SO4 by Ruth Weerasinghe; and Pom’s Island by Shamin Abideen. Beyond its environmental impact, the Mathaka project also empowers women from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them opportunities to contribute to the production of these eco-friendly items.

Richard Nuttall, Chief Executive Officer at SriLankan Airlines, stated, “Since our earliest
days, SriLankan Airlines has championed environmental causes, backing our commitment
with action. We are proud to collaborate with these outstanding individuals, with whom
we share a deep commitment to sustainable practices, to create our latest range of
Mathaka products. We are also grateful to everyone who explored the Mathaka collection
at SLDF; your enthusiasm for sustainability inspires us to keep pushing the green envelope,
and we look forward to bringing these items to the marketplace very soon.”

Saminda Perera, Head of Marketing, Environmental Affairs, and Sustainability at SriLankan
Airlines, added, “As we continue to evolve in a world that demands more sustainable
practices, we are excited to introduce the next phase of Mathaka. This initiative aligns with
our sustainability goals and offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact
through innovation, women’s empowerment and community-driven enterprise. It’s a reminder that sustainability is a shared responsibility – one that we proudly uphold as a
company and as global citizens.”

The Mathaka collection was recently launched at SriLankan Airlines’ booth at the Sri Lanka Design Festival (SLDF), where the airline also highlighted its ongoing sustainability efforts. In addition, SriLankan hosted a workshop led by Shamin Abideen, the founder of Pom’s Island, which focused on the art of upcycling and repurposing pallet wood.

Project Mathaka is part of a broader initiative by the airline’s Marketing and Environmental Affairs and Sustainability teams, aimed at making a positive environmental impact through thoughtful and strategic actions. SriLankan Airlines was a pioneer in eco-friendly aviation, being the first Asian airline to introduce “Planet Friendly Flights” in 2009. In 2016, Business Traveller recognized the airline as the second-lowest carbon-emitting carrier in the Asia-Pacific region.

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Tags: Airline News, event news, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Design Festival, Sri Lanka Tourism, Srilankan airlines, sustainable tourism, Travel News