Turning Used Drink Packs Into Tools That Benefit Students And The Environment

The MILO Energy For Good award recognition ceremony celebrates schools and students for their commitment to using beverage cartons
(UBCs) recycling effort.

For many Malaysians, MILO has always been part of our growing years. It is the drink we take before school, the boost we reach for during sports day and the familiar taste that follows us into adulthood.

In 2025, this long-standing connection has taken on a new purpose through the MILO Energy For Good programme, a nationwide initiative that combines sustainability and youth development in a meaningful way.

This initiative shows how something as simple as a used drink pack can become a tool for learning, sports and community building. In just one year, the programme has already made a difference in classrooms and school fields across the country.

Reaching 200 schools and 250,000 students across Malaysia

Launched in April 2025, the MILO Energy For Good programme is a collaboration between Nestlé Malaysia, MILO, the Ministry of Education, Tetra Pak Malaysia and strategic partners such as KPT Recycle and AFN Sports.

Through a simple collect-and-redeem system, schools gather Used Beverage Cartons, also known as UBCs, and exchange them for sports equipment or classroom furniture made from recycled materials.

The first year of the programme has recorded encouraging results.

• 8 states involved.
• 200 participating schools.
• 250,000 students engaged.
• 4,237 kilograms of UBCs collected, equal to about 300,000 used drink packs.

These UBCs are then transformed into practical items such as ping pong tables, chairs, classroom tables, ball trolleys and even basketball towers. What was once waste is now helping students learn, play and stay active.

A student’s achievement that reflects the power of opportunity

Beyond numbers, the programme is creating real stories with real impact. One example comes from the CEO of Nestlé Malaysia, Juan Aranols, who shared the journey of Puteri Marsya from SK Durian Burung in Terengganu. With access to the eco-friendly sports equipment provided through the programme, she excelled in athletics and secured multiple medals, including her school’s first-ever gold medal.

Her success shows what can happen when students are given the support and facilities they need. A small contribution becomes a catalyst for confidence, progress and achievement.

Celebrating top-performing schools nationwide

To recognise the schools that have gone above and beyond, MILO hosted an appreciation ceremony to honour their commitment to sustainability and sports development. Among the top collectors were SK Panggong in Kelantan, SJKC La Salle in Kuala Lumpur and SK Putrajaya Presint 18(1), which won the overall trophy for the highest UBC collection.

Students from these schools shared how the programme made them more aware of how small actions can create meaningful change. For them, recycling is no longer a task but a habit that benefits both the school and the planet.

A movement built on more than a decade of recycling efforts

MILO’s commitment to sustainability did not start this year. Since 2012, MILO and Tetra Pak Malaysia have been driving recycling awareness through Project CAREton. Over 6,500 tonnes of used beverage cartons have been collected since then, amounting to 500 million UBCs.

These materials have been turned into roofing tiles, school furniture and now sports equipment through Energy For Good. What was once discarded is now finding new life in spaces where students learn and grow.

A partnership built on community and shared values

What makes the programme meaningful is how it unites educators, students and partners under a shared mission. The Ministry of Education provides guidance, teachers motivate their students and partners such as Tetra Pak, KPT Recycle, and AFN Sports ensure that every collected carton is transformed into something useful.

Juan Aranols highlighted that this effort is part of MILO’s 75-year journey in Malaysia, and a reflection of the brand’s commitment to supporting healthier and more active lifestyles.

He also expressed the intention to scale the programme nationwide, ensuring that even more schools benefit from this circular approach to sustainability.

Building a greener and more active future, starting in schools

When students see how their collected drink packs become tables, chairs or sports equipment, sustainability becomes real. It is no longer something distant but a lesson they can touch and experience every day. The programme teaches them that every action carries weight. Every pack they recycle contributes to a cleaner environment and a better learning space.

The journey of MILO Energy For Good has only begun, yet it has already created ripples of change in schools across Malaysia. It is a reminder that young people are capable of leading positive change when given the right tools, encouragement and a sense of purpose.

From classrooms to sports courts, the energy for good continues to grow.