2025 Presidential Gold Award: Billion-Dollar Breakthrough from Waste Coconut Oil

Dr Sameera D. Mendis, a veteran researcher with over 23 years of experience in Sri Lanka’s paint industry, is pictured with President Anura Kumara Dissanayake

By Sugathpriya Kulathunga Arachchi

A pioneering Sri Lankan scientist has transformed the negative image of repeatedly heated coconut oil—once deemed unsuitable for human consumption—into a billion-dollar opportunity through an eco-friendly innovation that recently earned him the prestigious 2025 Presidential Gold Award for Environmental Excellence.
Dr Sameera D. Mendis, a veteran researcher with over 23 years of experience in Sri Lanka’s paint industry, has introduced a revolutionary green chemistry-based process that converts discarded coconut oil into a high-performance raw material for industrial coatings. His work, published in the January 2025 issue of the International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS), has drawn global attention for its contribution to the emerging field of green chemistry.
Green chemistry focuses on designing products and processes that minimise or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. Dr. Mendis’s research exemplifies this by demonstrating how waste coconut oil—often discarded after multiple frying cycles—can be purified and repurposed to synthesise bio-based polyurethane (PU), a key polymer in durable, weather-resistant paints.
PU coatings are widely used for their superior adhesion, fast drying, and resistance to environmental stress. Traditionally, PU is derived from petrochemical sources, which are non-renewable and contribute significantly to carbon emissions and global warming. Dr Mendis’s method replaces these with plant-based alternatives, reducing the carbon footprint and offering a sustainable solution for the coatings industry.
His innovation not only addresses environmental concerns but also presents a lucrative economic model. By utilising waste coconut oil, which is abundantly available in Sri Lanka (an estimated 40,000 metric tons annually), the production cost of industrial paints can be reduced by up to 50%, making it competitive with leading international brands. Moreover, the process creates a new market for used cooking oil, turning a public health hazard into a valuable resource.
Dr Mendis’s academic journey began at St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa, followed by a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Kelaniya and a postgraduate degree in polymer chemistry from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. He later served as a research chemist at Paints & General Ltd. and pursued advanced studies in resin technology at Rovira i Virgili University in Spain. Despite international offers, he chose to remain in Sri Lanka, contributing to national development through science.
His research also underscores the health risks of repeatedly heated vegetable oils, which generate free radicals linked to oxidative stress and potential damage to organs such as the liver and colon. Studies have shown increased risks of hypertension and cancers in the prostate, breast, oesophagus, and larynx. By diverting such oils from the food chain and repurposing them industrially, Dr Mendis’s work serves both environmental and public health goals.
The purification process he developed uses natural fibrous materials like coconut husks and banana stems, further enhancing its eco-friendly profile. The resulting bio-based PU meets international standards and can be used to produce primers, direct-to-metal coatings, and topcoats that rival global brands in performance.
This innovation offers Sri Lanka a strategic path to reduce dependency on imported petrochemicals, lower production costs, and boost exports of high-quality paints. More importantly, it provides a scientific solution to real-world environmental challenges, aligning with global efforts to promote sustainable industrial practices.