MILO, a leading global chocolate malt beverage, continues its “CARETON Project” for the fifth consecutive year. This initiative aims to raise awareness and deepen understanding of waste management—particularly for UHT cartons—while cultivating responsible environmental habits among Thai children. A key highlight of this year’s campaign is the “CARETON SPEEDY FOLD CHALLENGE,” an engaging activity for students from schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Education Department, which promotes proper UHT carton recycling in a fun and interactive way. Beyond building sustainability awareness, participating schools can also earn income from the cartons collected. By turning sustainability into a simple and enjoyable daily habit—starting with folding milk cartons before disposal—MILO encourages children to see waste as a valuable resource, supporting long-term sustainable development.
Participation in the MILO CARETON Project has grown significantly—from 67 to 445 schools—across both the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Ministry of Education, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Education Department. The program now reaches over 227,000 students and has collected more than 89 tons of used beverage cartons this year alone. This achievement translates into a reduction of approximately 240,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide, equivalent to planting nearly 20,000 trees. The top four schools that collect the highest volume of cartons will be rewarded with upcycled ping pong tables made from recycled materials. In partnership with Wastebuy Delivery Co., Ltd., the project also provides direct financial benefits to schools, as collected cartons are purchased for efficient recycling and waste management.
Mr. Chadchart Sittipunt, Governor of Bangkok, said, “The MILO CARETON Project is an excellent example of cooperation among the government, private sector, and education sector in shaping responsible environmental behavior. When children learn to seperate waste for recycling at school, they grow into responsible citizens who will play a crucial role in making Bangkok a more livable and sustainable city. I am pleased to see the project’s continued success and its expansion to cover all schools under the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration in line with our policy direction.”
Ms. Naritta Vipulyasekha, Business Executive Officer – Dairy & Adult Nutrition, Nestlé (Thai) Ltd. said, “MILO believes that good behavior must start from a young age. The CARETON Project is one of the initiatives that reflects Nestlé’s commitment to building sustainable habits, in line with our ‘Good for You and Good for the Planet’ strategy. Beyond providing age-appropriate nutrition, we educate Thai children about the value of used packaging. Folding and sorting milk cartons is the crucial starting point to proper recycling, preventing them from being mixed with other waste and helping to build long-term behavioral change. We believe that inspiring children, youth, and people nationwide is essential. This year, for the first time in Thailand, the project organized the ‘CARETON SPEEDY FOLD CHALLENGE,’ attracting interest and participation from 321 schools under the concept that caring for our world can be fun and sustainable. The activity combines environmental learning with inspiration, empowering young people to become a force for positive change. Winning schools received scholarships and table tennis tables made from used UHT cartons, showing children how waste from their schools can be transformed into valuable and usable sports equipment.”
The MILO CARETON Project continues to collaborate with key partners, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), Tetra Pak (Thailand) Co., Ltd., the Packaging and Recycling Management for Environment Institute (PRE), Eco Friendly Thai, and its latest partner, Wastebuy Delivery. Together, they are advancing the Eco-Friendly Milk Carton Project toward greater sustainability and helping Thai society move toward a circular economy. With strong cooperation among all partners, the project is confident in driving continued progress in its fifth year.
The CARETON Project demonstrates the power of collaboration in driving meaningful environmental and social impacts. It builds on environmental responsibility among Thai children in a way that is lasting and tangible, reinforcing Nestlé’s commitment to helping solve environmental challenges while protecting the planet for future generations.
