India’s health and consumer products company, Dabur has set the ambitious goal to become a plastic waste free company by the end of March 2021.
According to an ET Retail report, the company is working with nearly 5,000 ragpickers across six states to collect, process and recycle 20 million kgs of post-consumer plastic waste from across the country.
The maker of Hommade, Lemoneez, Capsico, Real Activ and other food labels the move will enable it collect back 100% of the plastic waste that it generates through its product packaging.
“It’s an ambitious target, but we have already started working towards it. We rolled out this pilot plastic recycling initiative last year in six states,” said Dabur India CEO Mohit Malhotra.
“Fiscal year 2018-19 was the first full year of its roll-out and we have collected, processed and recycled nearly 4,000 MT or four million Kgs of post-consumer plastic waste from these six states.”
The initiative initially targets six states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
This will then be extended to 25 states in the 2019-20 fiscal and collect 12,400 MT or 124 lakh kg plastic waste and send them for recycling/processing.
In 2020-21, this would be further hiked to 20,000 MT or 200 lakh kgs.
The plastic waste collected under the Plastic Waste Management initiative will be sent to different Recyclers, Waste-to-Energy & Cement Plants through various agencies registered with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
To cement these sustainability efforts, Dabur is working with school children and carrying out education and awareness programmes on plastic waste management and recycling.
It has also put in place initiatives to improve the livelihood and health of local ragpickers and waste collectors.
The strategy reinforces Dabur’s commitment to implementing the new Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules 2016, which requires manufacturers to create an effective waste collection system based on the Extended Producers Responsibility (EPR) principle.
“We take seriously our impact on the natural resources in the communities where we operate and have put in place measures to not merely comply with regulations but to responsibly take care of the Planet, preserve its beauty and resources for future generation,” added Dabur India Ltd Corporate Head-Environment, Health & Safety Dr. Priyank Arya.
Source: foodbusinessafrica.com
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