The 3Zero House is Acted Sri Lanka’s hub for learning, innovation, and empowerment, championing the belief that youth should lead the way as agents of economic and social transformation. By uniting NGOs, government bodies, CBOs, SMEs, and most importantly, young changemakers, the 3Zero House is creating a collaborative movement rooted in its three core pillars: Zero Poverty, Zero Exclusion, and Zero Carbon.
First 3Zero House launching in Colombo
Launching of first 3Zero House Campus at the DS Office Vellawavelly. Batticaloa
Second 3Zero House launching in Vavuniya
Incubating Solutions for a Circular Economy
As part of the PLASTICS project, the 3Zero House launched a call for innovative enterprises in May 2024 to tackle the gaps in the plastics value chain. The mission? To find scalable, locally-led solutions in areas like alternative packaging, plastic reuse, and strengthening the 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) approach.
From dozens of inspiring ideas, 8 groundbreaking businesses were selected for a 4-month hybrid incubation programme designed in partnership with top ecosystem players like RTI International, AOD Design Academy, NIA, LIIN, GLX, Yarl IT, and more to foster the connection and the expertise sharing. The programme empowers these businesses through capacity-building and tailored training to match their specific needs.
Interesting Facts
- 💡 None of these businesses are directly in the plastics value chain—but they are tackling the challenges creatively!
- 💪 6 of them are women-led companies.
- 🧪 2 projects in alternative packaging are in the prototype stage.
- 👗 3 projects are shaping a sustainable future in the fashion industry.
- 🏗 1 project is rethinking materials in the building industry.
- 🛋 1 project is innovating in the furniture and supply industry.
Meet the Cohort
This initiative proves that young entrepreneurs have the power to reshape industries and create sustainable change.
- ALKE is set on a mission to reduce waste one item at a time with beautifully crafted pieces of art jewellery. The studio processes household waste such as single-use PET bottles, polythene bags, and soda cans, collected directly from our communities intercepted before they are sentenced to landfills.
- Ample is a sustainable fashion brand catering to women’s clothing, In the age range of 18-55. Exclusively unique designs in the categories of formal, casual and party wear for a very affordable price range and quality materials, which is trending in the modern world of fashion. Specifically capturing the plus size requirements as well.
- Solocycle is committed to reducing plastic waste from shoe soles by recycling them into high-quality, affordable slippers, thereby tackling the plastic pollution generated by fast fashion.
- Invent of Minds is a company that has developed a business focused on providing office supplies made from bamboo as an alternative to single-use plastic items.
- Star Mushrooms is a pioneering women-led family business dedicated to the cultivation, sourcing, and distribution of mushrooms. Currently, they are advancing research on mycelium packaging— made of the root structure of mushrooms and sandusts.
- Teshvo is currently developing a biodegradable thin film made of seaweed and plant starch to replace single-use plastic thin film.
- Shells Ceylon is an eco-friendly cutlery & waffle cones production company that aims at reducing single-used and plastic cutlery, cups and bowls by using edible products.
- AGC Innovate is a company that produces “Plastic Modified Asphalt Concrete (PMAC),” which converts non-recyclable waste plastic (such as shopping bags, biscuit wrappers, and chocolate wrappers that are often neglected by public and private sectors) into an industrial raw material for use in asphalt paving for roads, highways, car parks, and yards.
Stay tuned for more updates as we take steps toward a plastic-free, sustainable future!
