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Putting an End to Plastic Pollution – Protect the Planet and Its Inhabitants

World Environment Day 2025 shines a crucial light on the urgent need to address the escalating plastic pollution crisis. This year, the commitment to challenge and transform our relationship with plastics takes centre stage, echoing the global pledge established in 2022 to eliminate plastic pollution through a comprehensive treaty. With the rallying theme “Putting an End to Plastic Pollution”, the campaign aspires to inspire worldwide action against the detrimental effects of plastic waste on our ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. 
 
Vasudha Madavan, Founder and CEO, Ostara Advisors
 
“On this World Environment Day, we reaffirm our commitment to driving sustainable change by supporting innovative climate-tech companies.  Our mission is to connect visionary entrepreneurs with the capital they need to build a greener, cleaner future for India and beyond, helping accelerate the journey to net zero. Together, through collaboration and conscious investment, we can speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy and create a lasting environmental impact. Let’s use this day to inspire action and embrace sustainability in the small day-to-day choices we make in our lives.”
 
Julie Kae, VP Sustainability and Impact, Executive Director of Qlik.org
 
“At Qlik, we see plastic pollution not just as an environmental issue, but as a solvable data challenge. Across our global offices, we’ve eliminated single-use plastics and adopted eco-friendly practices across events, sourcing, and operations. But our greater impact lies in helping others act. Through partnerships with C40 Cities, UNFCCC, and Van Oord, we support real-world, data-driven solutions – from tracking plastic use to identifying smarter ways to reduce waste and build climate resilience. We’re proud to work with nonprofits and public sector organisations that turn data into impact, whether it’s supporting climate dashboards, open-access tools, or smarter recycling systems. These are more than pilot projects – they demonstrate what’s possible when insight drives action.
 
As we continue this journey, our commitment to achieving net zero by 2030 remains central to how we innovate, operate, and empower others.”
 
Neeti Mehta Shukla, Co-founder and Chief Social Impact Officer, Automation Anywhere
 
“At Automation Anywhere, we believe technology must be a force for good – not only in transforming how work gets done, but in protecting the planet we all share.
 
Over the past year, in collaboration with WWF-India, we have been leveraging automation to enhance marine litter monitoring and accelerate environmental impact. Our solutions have enabled the identification of over 4,400 plastic pollution hotspots along Odisha’s coastline, empowering conservation teams to collect, analyse, and act on data more efficiently than ever. We plan to expand these efforts in the coming months to further amplify impact and scalability. This work builds on our broader commitment to purpose-driven innovation, as reflected in our 2025 Impact Report, which highlights thousands of volunteer hours and growing employee participation in global sustainability initiatives.
 
Every organisation has a role to play. By embedding sustainability into the heart of innovation, we can solve some of our planet’s most urgent challenges.”
 
Vishnu Rajasekharan Nair, Director, Sustainability and Culture, UST
 
“Over the years at UST, sustainability has shifted from being just a strategic focus to something that quietly influences how we work, how we build teams, and how we make decisions. What has moved it forward is the steady effort of many people choosing to act together in ways that make sense for their teams, their roles, and the communities around them.
 
We’ve seen this take shape through everyday actions like the zero-waste hackathons, afforestation drives, and paperless workstreams. Not because they were mandated, but they happened because people cared and felt trusted to take the lead.
 
One example is our Colors platform. Built on behavioural science, it gives our associates the space to lead projects around sustainability, wellbeing, and community. Over the past year, that’s meant transforming unused spaces into herb gardens, switching to reusables in cafeterias, and helping local women to launch sustainable micro-businesses. Taken together, these grassroots efforts, alongside broader systemic changes, contributed to a 20 per cent reduction in our Scope 1 and 2 emissions, while our facilities reached 50 per cent renewable electricity usage by the end of 2024.
 
Across the organisation, we also saw more than 16,300 volunteering hours logged through over 170 community-based projects, with initiatives that impacted 127,000 lives globally, a reflection of what happens when sustainability becomes part of the culture, not just the strategy.
 
This World Environment Day is a moment to pause and notice the quiet efforts happening all around us. It’s in the way people choose to act sometimes in small, simple ways that add up to something meaningful over time. That’s how a culture shifts. Not all at once, but together.”
 
Deepa Nagraj, Head of ESG and CSR, Mphasis        
 
“At Mphasis, we firmly believe that long-term progress must be ethical, inclusive and sustainable. Environmental considerations are an essential part of how we grow as a business and engage with the communities around us. Organisations today have a responsibility to move beyond short-term metrics and invest in building long-term ecological and social value.
 
Our collaboration with United Way of Bengaluru reflects this commitment. Since 2022, we have constructed over 1,300 percolation wells across Bengaluru. Each well conserves more than 1.28 lakh litres of rainwater annually, contributing to over 171 million litres of groundwater recharge every year. This initiative is helping restore the city’s water resilience while strengthening urban sustainability.
 
Equally significant is our ‘Mangrove Matters’ initiative in Pulicat, where we are restoring 70 acres of mangrove forest while creating sustainable livelihoods for the Irular tribe through their involvement in sapling care and ecosystem maintenance. The project not only improves biodiversity and climate resilience but also supports community upliftment through nature-positive action. These efforts reflect our belief that sustainability must be rooted in both environmental responsibility and inclusive development.”
 
Manasi Patil, Lead for Sustainability Initiatives, KPIT
 
“At KPIT, sustainability is deeply embedded in our vision to Reimagine mobility with you, for the creation of a cleaner, smarter, safer world. The mobility ecosystem is evolving rapidly, with software and electronics redefining vehicle architecture, and in this shift, sustainability must be foundational, not reactive. As we enable global OEMs to develop software-defined, electric, and intelligent vehicles, we also believe our responsibility lies in ensuring that the way we work, grow, and contribute mirrors the future we’re helping to build.
 
Our social responsibility is driven by Education, Environment, and Energy, with Employee Engagement as the core of all focus areas. This organisation-wide commitment is backed by measurable action. Under our sustainability roadmap, EcoVoyage 2030, we are progressing toward net-zero emissions, and our campuses are steadily transitioning to renewable energy sources. At our Pune campus alone, over 2,800 indigenous trees have been planted across the green belt and hill slopes, supporting soil retention and ecological balance, leading to an increase in biodiversity, including renewed migratory birds.
 
We want to make sure we all leave a positive legacy through our work and have some wonderful stories of impact to share with our families. In FY25, KPITians collectively undertook more than 15,000 actions, including planting trees, carpooling, eating less meat, and more. This number being higher than our headcount, it averages at least one action per person. Moreover, when tracked at an individual level, 40 per cent of employees reported undertaking at least one sustainability initiative last year, with this percentage rising further when factoring in all our CSR activities.
 
Our environmental initiatives also extend into communities. Through afforestation and water conservation work in rural areas, over 61,000 trees have been planted with a survival rate exceeding 95 per cent, and nearly 44 million litres of water have been conserved, directly benefiting more than 46,000 individuals.”
 
Anuj Khurana, Co-founder & CEO, Anaptyss
 
“With aggressive technology transformation efforts in the BFSI industry over the past few years, the need for sustainable operations has become even more pertinent. There is an urgent call for organisations to not just focus on digitisation, but approach their tech integration journeys in a way that reduces the environmental footprint and builds long-term resilience. There is a critical need to rethink how everyday operations impact the planet, including the rising concerns around plastic-heavy, paper-dependent legacy systems or energy-intensive cloud and automation deployment. Organisations across the sector are adopting measures that are helping them embed sustainability within the fabric of digital transformation.
 
In tandem, there is an increased focus on green job profiles within the sector, with companies hiring specialists to enable their sustainable development journeys. The BFSI sector by itself is expected to add close to 0.7 million green jobs over the next 5 years, fundamentally fast-tracking responsible innovation in the ecosystem.”
 
Sunil Kumar Dhareshwar, Executive Vice President, Infosys
 
“As a global leader in sustainability, Infosys is committed to environmental stewardship with an ambitious ESG Vision 2030. Achieving carbon neutrality in 2020 was a defining moment for us, but we’re not stopping there. Our vision is to go beyond carbon neutral and become climate positive in 2030. This means restoring more than we consume. We are working towards ambitious targets, including cutting Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 90 per cent and Scope 3 by 40 per cent. With 77.7 per cent of our energy in India already from renewables, 100 per cent of wastewater recycled, and zero waste sent to landfills, we are making every action count.
 
Infosys has extended its sustainability initiatives beyond operational boundaries through several impactful programs and collaborations, such as building a sector decarbonisation initiative, community-based carbon offset projects and hosting the Solar Decathlon India student competition. This demonstrates that Infosys’ commitment transcends its immediate operations, contributing to broader long-term environmental sustainability and community development goals – fostering a healthier planet for all.”
 
Rajesh Khosla, CEO, AGI Glaspac
 
“The imperative to build a sustainable future is an immediate global necessity. The way we design, use, and manage packaging materials profoundly impacts our planet. Today, global material production, including plastic, exceeds 430 million tonnes annually, presents significant waste challenges, with only a small fraction effectively recycled. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions and a global shift towards circularity.
 
As a leading glass packaging products company, we recognise our responsibility and also see an opportunity to drive meaningful change. Glass, with its inherent circularity and infinite recyclability, stands as a cornerstone of sustainable packaging. We are deeply committed to advancing sustainable packaging solutions by leveraging glass’s intrinsic advantages, strengthening circular economy systems, and improving waste management infrastructure. This means continuously innovating to enhance the efficiency and light weighting of our glass packaging, while championing its unparalleled recyclability and supporting the broader shift towards genuinely circular material choices.
 
The most significant transformation needed is in our collective mindset, moving from convenience to conscious consumption and responsible material stewardship. On this World Environment Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding the planet by driving measurable action across every aspect of the packaging value chain and promoting truly sustainable alternatives across every sector.”
 
Sooraj Balakrishnan, Associate Director & Head of Marketing, Acer India
 
“Plastic pollution, the focus of this year’s World Environment Day, is a pressing global challenge that calls for a fundamental rethink of how materials are produced, used, and discarded. At Acer, this urgency has shaped our approach to sustainability through initiatives like Earthion, where we are actively working to reduce plastic use by eliminating single-use plastics in packaging and incorporating post-consumer recycled materials in products such as the Acer Vero series. Beyond product design, we are transitioning to fully recyclable, paper-based packaging and partnering across our supply chain to embed sustainable practices. These efforts are part of our commitment to minimising environmental impact and moving towards 100 per cent renewable energy by 2035. World Environment Day reminds us of the responsibility to innovate thoughtfully and act decisively to create a more sustainable future.” 
 
Amit Bajoria, Chief Financial Officer, Virtusa Corporation
 
“At Virtusa, engineering goes beyond technology; it’s about shaping a more sustainable world. This World Environment Day 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to Engineering with Purpose and our focus on ending plastic pollution. Through our Global Plastics Policy, we have taken meaningful steps to reduce plastic waste. These efforts are part of our broader sustainability agenda, which is centred on creating a measurable environmental impact. Whether it’s restoring mangroves and forest ecosystems or helping communities thrive, we are dedicated to making a positive difference. Sustainability is embedded in the way we engineer solutions, and we remain devoted to driving significant impact for a better tomorrow. Let’s continue to work together towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future.” 
 

Krishnamurthy Bettan, Director Workplace Experience, NetApp India

“At NetApp, sustainability is at the core of our operations, technology offerings, and campus initiatives. In line with this year’s Environment Day theme, we are committed to combating plastic pollution through various proactive measures. We’ve replaced plastic water bottles with refillable glass ones, introduced ceramic mugs instead of plastic-coated paper cups, and transitioned from plastic stirrers to wooden alternatives. Additionally, we repurpose milk packets as sapling bags for our in-house nursery and have eliminated plastic bags for parcelling, opting for eco-friendly alternatives. We believe that innovation and sustainability must go hand in hand, and these small steps significantly contribute to making our campus fully sustainable.”  

Dr. AS Prasad – VP, Product Management & Engineering, Vertiv India 

“Plastic pollution symbolises a broader environmental crisis that demands urgent and united action. At Vertiv, we view sustainability as central to our innovation. As we help power the world’s digital future, we’re equally committed to protecting the planet on which the future depends. Our approach to sustainability goes beyond energy efficiency to challenge every aspect of how infrastructure is built and managed, including how materials like plastic are sourced, used, and disposed of. We recognise the imperative to reduce waste across our operations, supply chain, and packaging. From optimising thermal and power solutions to advancing circular economy practices, we are committed to building a digital infrastructure that respects planetary boundaries. As stewards of critical infrastructure, it’s our responsibility to lead with purpose, designing solutions that serve not only the data-driven world, but also the environment we all depend on.”

Smita Jatia, Vice Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld
 
“Environmental consciousness stands as a cornerstone of Westlife Foodworld’s business philosophy. Our sustainability journey began with purpose and conviction, embedding eco-friendly practices such as eliminating single-use plastic from all customer touchpoints throughout our operations as part of our fundamental values. On World Environment Day, we reflect on how responsible corporate citizenship must balance innovation with the preservation of our planet’s precious resources. Businesses today have both the opportunity and obligation to reimagine traditional models, creating frameworks where economic growth and ecological harmony coexist. At Westlife, our environmental initiatives form an integral part of our corporate DNA that influences every decision we make. We aim to inspire our entire ecosystem of stakeholders to join us in safeguarding our planet while envisioning and building a more sustainable, regenerative future for generations to come.”
 
Summit Salunke, Vice Chairman, Sumeet Group Enterprises
 
“This World Environment Day, let us renew our commitment to a cleaner, greener planet. At Sumeet Group Enterprises, we believe that ending plastic pollution is not just an environmental challenge; it is a moral responsibility.
 
Plastic may offer convenience, but its consequences are enduring. It’s time we rethink our choices, reduce our dependence, and reinvent sustainable alternatives. Let us lead by example, embracing eco-conscious practices, empowering communities, and driving innovation that supports a circular economy.
 
Equally important is how we manage waste. Recycling, recovery, and responsible disposal must become second nature in our industries, our homes, and our daily lives. A clean environment begins with clean habits.
 
The legacy we leave will be shaped by the actions we take today. Let’s choose wisely for our planet, our people, and generations to come.”
 
Cassio Simões, Managing Director, Tetra Pak South Asia
 
“On World Environment Day, we are reminded that sustainable progress is only possible when innovation is matched by intent. At Tetra Pak, our commitment to sustainability goes beyond recycling, it’s about rethinking the entire lifecycle of the package, reducing our environmental footprint, and driving systemic change. Through groundbreaking technologies like fibre-based barriers and plant-based polymers, we are accelerating the shift toward fully renewable and recyclable packaging. From supporting voluntary Extended Producer Responsibility initiatives to co-creating robust collection and recycling ecosystems with partners, recyclers, and communities, we are focused on delivering long-term, inclusive impact. As we work toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by 2050, we remain committed to protecting what’s good for food, people and the planet.”
 
Dr. Vivek Tandon, Founder – revalyu Group
 
“Companies are increasingly recognising plastic as a valuable resource with immense untapped potential. India has emerged as a global leader, recycling over 95 per cent of all PET bottles, driven by stringent EPR regulations and growing demand for sustainable materials. At the forefront is revalyu, pioneering a first-of-its-kind glycolysis-based chemical recycling technology that transforms post-consumer PET waste into high-quality rPET chips. Used across textiles, packaging, and bottling, this low-energy, low-water, zero-liquid-discharge process supports circular economy goals. It also helps industries significantly reduce their environmental impact while ensuring compliance and long-term sustainability. Such innovations are turning plastic waste from an environmental challenge into a valuable and scalable resource.”
 
Smitha Shetty, Regional Director, APAC – Achilles Information Limited
 
“On World Environment Day, we are reminded that the responsibility to protect our planet rests with all of us. At Achilles, we believe in harnessing the collective power of industry, data, and responsible procurement to drive the transition toward clean energy and low-impact supply chains. By enabling businesses to work with verified, ethical, and environmentally aligned suppliers, we not only reduce risk but actively contribute to the global push for a just energy transition. A sustainable future is not a distant goal. It is a shared commitment that begins with everyday decisions.”
 
Dr. Bijal Sanghvi, Managing Director – Axis Solutions Limited
 
“Sustainability is the foundation of Axis Solutions Limited’s engineering, manufacturing, and innovation processes. In every aspect of our business, we employ precision-led design, ethically sourced materials, and ecologically friendly manufacturing techniques. Our long-term objective is to reduce factory carbon emissions and eliminate environmentally harmful waste. We are dedicated to reducing the amount of plastic in our packaging, converting to recyclable materials, and promoting circular economy principles across our value chain. Axis is constantly striving for a more sustainable and clean industrial future where developing new technologies and protecting the environment go hand in hand.”
 
Shubham Choudhari, Chief Technology Officer, SBL Energy Ltd.
 
“Sustainability is fast becoming the foundation of industrial decision-making, and the explosives sector is no exception. Traditionally associated with environmental disruption, the industry is now evolving with a clear focus on reducing its ecological impact through innovation and responsibility. Electronic detonators, designed for precision blasting, are reducing over-break, ground vibration, and dust generation, making operations safer and more environmentally conscious. Nitrate-free explosives, such as hydrogen peroxide emulsion formulations, are emerging as viable alternatives that help cut carbon emissions and eliminate nitrate contamination. At SBL Energy, we believe this is the direction the industry must move in. By investing in sustainable explosive technologies, cleaner manufacturing, and responsible supply chains, we are committed to enabling growth that respects both productivity and the planet.”
 
Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS International
 
“World Environment Day on June 5 is a global call to action, urging us all to embrace sustainable choices in every part of life, including travel. Sustainability is no longer an afterthought in tourism; it’s becoming the core. Today’s travellers, especially millennials and Gen Z, are driven by purpose. They seek destinations untouched by industrialisation, where nature and culture thrive in harmony.
 
Countries like Spain and Slovakia are leading by example, promoting responsible tourism through eco-certified stays, green trails, and low-impact travel initiatives that protect their stunning natural heritage. This shift is reshaping tourism into a powerful catalyst for environmental care, delivering meaningful experiences while preserving the planet. From reducing paper use to cutting carbon emissions, the travel industry is embracing its role in building a greener future.”
 
Sumit Barat, Chief Sustainability Officer at BluPine Energy
 
“Climate action, community upliftment, and meaningful progress define the core of our focused efforts to create economic value. The world’s challenges aren’t confined to sovereign borders, and India’s decarbonisation journey shall be a major tailwind in the global fight against climate change.
 
In FY2024, we avoided over 670,000 tonnes of CO₂e emissions and generated more than 740,000 MWh of renewable energy, advancing our Net Zero 2040 and Water Neutrality 2027 goals. Our social infrastructure and community empowerment efforts focus on building real capabilities—whether it’s training young women and men in maintaining new energy systems, upgrading rural classrooms, or embedding sustainability into daily operations across all our sites. Sustainability for us isn’t an initiative—it’s the lens through which we see growth, resilience, and the kind of legacy we want to leave behind.”
 
Sunil Dhawan, Director, Corporate Property Services – India, Fidelity International
 
“At Fidelity International, we understand that the future of finance is intertwined with the future of our planet. Our goal is to create a sustainable future, not just for our clients but also for our colleagues, our industry, the communities we’re in, and the world we’re part of. A notable achievement is that our offices in India operate using 100 per cent renewable energy. This milestone underscores our commitment to clean energy and a healthier planet. We are implementing significant operational changes, investing in energy efficiency and renewable energy to promote sustainable outcomes for our clients, people, and communities worldwide.
 
Furthermore, we have introduced various energy-saving measures across our offices in India to optimise electricity consumption. For example, our Building Management System utilises over 1,000 IoT sensors for smart control of lighting and HVAC; we have reduced our water usage by 48 per cent over the past 4 years, and 15 per cent of our transport fleet is electric.
 
On this World Environment Day, we are eliminating single-use stirrers in our facilities. This initiative reinforces our commitment to systemic environmental progress, fostering a resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon economy through sustainable practices.”
 
Sriram Kannan, Founder & CEO, Routematic
 
“This World Environment Day, as the global focus sharpens on curbing pollution, we’re reminded that sustainability must be embedded in every layer of business operations, including how we move people. With ESG goals reshaping corporate strategies, businesses are rethinking employee transport, and Routematic is proud to lead this shift. As India’s leading AI-driven Corporate Transport-as-a-Service provider, we combine AI-powered route optimisation, shared mobility, and EV integration to reduce emissions and resource use. Serving 300,000+ users across 23 cities, and targeting 30 per cent EV fleet adoption, we’re building a corporate mobility ecosystem that’s smart, responsible, and truly sustainable.”  
 
Kavita Kerawalla, Vice Chairperson, VIBGYOR Group of Schools
 
“This World Environment Day, we at VIBGYOR Group of Schools remain dedicated to empowering our students with climate literacy, a deep sense of ecological responsibility, and sustainable habits. Through our partnership with The Climate Academy – Asia’s first, VIBGYOR’s very own—and active participation in global fora like COP29, our students engage directly with experts on climate law, the Paris Agreement, and sustainability. This inspires them to become compassionate leaders and proactive global citizens, ready to champion a greener, more resilient future. Environmental awareness is not just a topic to study, it’s a mindset.”
 
Jay Deepak Shah, CEO & MD of M/s Jay Wood Industry
 
“At Jay Wood Industry, sustainability isn’t just a practice—it is our core purpose. As India’s first PEFC-certified wooden pallet manufacturer, we take pride in sourcing wood from responsibly managed forests that uphold the highest international standard for environmental and social stewardship. This commitment supports forest conservation, protects biodiversity, and contributes to global climate action. Our operations are designed with the planet in mind—from using solar panels at our manufacturing plant to helping our partners reduce their carbon footprint and meet their ESG objectives through sustainable packaging solutions. Guided by these principles, we’re working toward a climate-resilient, low-carbon future—one pallet at a time. This Environment Day, we reaffirm our promise to lead sustainable transformation across the supply chains of diverse industries, demonstrating that doing good for the planet can also mean doing great business.” 
 
S.T. Ravishankar, Vice President, Environment and Sustainability, Rodic Consultants
 
World Environment Day reminds us about the roles and responsibilities of each one of us and the corporations to protect the ‘one and only habitat’. The first World Environment Day (WED) celebrations took place in 1973 with the theme “Only One Earth”. Since then, it has become a global platform for raising awareness and encouraging action to protect the environment.
 
At Rodic, we take pride in being environmentally conscious in our designs and operations. We understand the nexus between the resources (water, energy, materials), nature and society at large. At every stage, we evaluate and review the footprint of our actions to create a net positive impact. We truly understand the importance of our planet and the people for our existence, and value ESG in all our operations. 
 
We consider ourselves fortunate to be in the infrastructure domain as we are contributing to the country’s robust GDP sustainably and inclusively by aligning with SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), Visit Bharat 2047, and the net-zero commitment of the GOI. Sustainability thinking is impregnated in all our designs, operations and allied activities.  
 
The theme for World Environment Day 2025, “Beat Plastic Pollution”, could not have been more apt. Though plastic was once considered a “wonder material” due to its durability, stability, affordability and versatility, its perception has changed due to severe environmental pollution being caused by its use. We all know about its carbon footprint, non-biodegradable nature and microplastic pollution, which are threatening the fragile ecosystem.
 
We at Rodic take pride in following the “zero noncompliance” policy in all the projects we design, supervise and operate. We, at our corporate office, regional and site offices, have voluntarily banned single-use plastic and resorted to more sustainable materials.
 
On this day, we pledge to raise awareness about the pervasive impact of plastic waste on the environment, encourage solutions to reduce its use and promote sustainable practices.”
 
Apurva Rathod, Company Secretary and Chief Sustainability Officer, L&T Finance Ltd.
 

“As sustainability leaders, we carry the responsibility to move beyond awareness to urgent action against many sustainability topics/aspects, including plastic pollution. The use of single-use plastic has resulted in an environmental crisis that is now impacting human health, biodiversity, and the overall well-being of our planet. From clogging waterways and choking marine life to microplastics entering our food chain, the impact is far-reaching and deeply concerning.

If we do not act now, the damage could soon become irreversible. It is not just an environmental challenge, it is also a social, economic, and public health issue. While policy changes and innovations in sustainable packaging are critical, real change will begin with accountability, adaptability, and collective commitment.

‘The time to act is now’ Whether it’s through reducing plastic use, supporting circular economy models, or driving behavioural change, every step counts. The future demands leadership and decisive steps for a cleaner, healthier tomorrow.”

Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head, PepsiCo India and South Asia

“At PepsiCo India, sustainability isn’t just a commitment—it’s action. Through our ‘Partnership of Progress’ philosophy, we’re driving circular ecosystems, transforming plastic waste into community assets, and empowering waste workers on the ground.

Project Purna in Mathura-Vrindavan has helped divert over 3,200 metric tons of waste while enabling women to increase their incomes through recycling. Our flagship program ‘Tidy Trails’ has already steered 68,000 kg of plastic waste into recycling across Agra and Guwahati—and we’re expanding to New Delhi and Pune. 

We’re the first in the industry to introduce 100% recycled plastic (rPET) bottles in the carbonated beverage category, with Pepsi Black and now Sting. And through partnerships like CII India Plastic Pact, we’re actively contributing to solutions that scale impact. 

These initiatives are a testament to driving sustainable change at the grassroots level, where real impact begins. Together, we can turn everyday actions into lasting change for a cleaner, greener planet.”

Suresh Kumar R., Managing Director, Allcargo Terminals Limited and ESG Head – Allcargo Group

”World Environment Day serves as one more reminder of the interdependence between humankind and the environment. While raising awareness and offering a platform for collaboration to address environmental concerns, it also reiterates the importance of making conscious choices while keeping environmental sustainability at the core.

At Allcargo Group, we remain committed to our mission to chart sustainable pathways and our vision to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2040. As a part of that goal, we are working on multiple fronts across the Group – adoption of renewable energy and alternative fuels and greener logistics practices. For instance, Allcargo Terminals’ (ATL) Chennai facility already runs on 70 per cent renewable energy through solar rooftops and open access. Five of our seven ATL sites are solar energy-equipped, with capacity expansion underway. ATL has increased its fleet of electric forklifts from 10 to 25 per cent, and ASCPL (Allcargo Supply Chain Private Limited) has transitioned to 100 per cent electric material handling equipment across all warehouse facilities. Additionally, ASCPL has deployed sensor-based genset IoT systems to track and improve fuel efficiency.

 As a part of our community upliftment and environmental stewardship initiative, we recently completed a rainwater harvesting, storage and groundwater recharge project at Sawangi Tehsil in Nagpur to address the issue of water scarcity in that area, revitalise agricultural activities and the rural economy. The project has positively impacted the livelihood of over four thousand people. This initiative is the latest in a series of long-term community development programs we are committed to.

This year’s theme, ‘Putting an End to Plastic Pollution’, resonates with us as we are working towards reducing environmental impact by adopting sustainable alternatives. In June 2023, we declared our Mumbai headquarters, Allcargo House, completely plastic-free. Single-use plastic items are now barred at Allcargo House, and reusable cloth bags are made available on the premises. We also undertake beach clean-up drives as part of our efforts to raise awareness on the adverse impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems.

Our efforts extend globally as well. The Allcargo Group’s global subsidiary ECU Worldwide has introduced Greenwayz, a sustainable shipping solution powered by biofuel in the Nordic region. We have plans to expand this initiative in a phased manner across key trade lanes. The ECU Worldwide office in Antwerp has been regularly participating in the Annual Port Clean-Up to remove plastics, discarded fishing nets and other debris that could endanger the marine environment.

Environmental sustainability is a collective effort in which every supply chain stakeholder has a role to play. Going forward, we will sharpen our focus on integrating circular economy principles into our operations.”

Dr. Ashish Agarwal, Co-Founder & CTO, WRMS Global

“Winning the battle against plastic pollution is not just about eliminating waste—it’s about rebuilding the balance between people, planet, and progress. At WRMS, we see firsthand how plastic pollution exacerbates climate hazards, upends ecosystems, and jeopardises exposure for the rural communities we are trying to protect. This World Environment Day, as India strengthens its commitment through the Aravalli Green Wall (AGW) initiative, it is a good time to remember that reclaiming our natural landscapes is imperative while also ending human-made pollutants to ensure we build true climate adaptation. Let’s plant trees, ban plastics, and build green corridors that serve as nature’s risk buffers. A sustainable future will take collective action—based on science, facilitated by communities, and oriented towards scaling, and innovation.”

Bala Ramajeyam, Founder and Managing Director, G Square Group

“This World Environment Day, we acknowledge that the planet’s health is paramount and reaffirm our commitment to responsible development. The real estate sector is resource-intensive, apart from being a huge energy consumer. We therefore believe that it is important to encourage environmentally-conscious construction practices. In this context, the theme of World Environment Day, “Ending Global Plastic Pollution,” is pertinent. The theme is a reminder that environmental health and human well-being are interlinked. Plastics are non-biodegradable and take decades to decompose. They enter the food chain and harm marine and human life.

As real estate developers, we must play our part in combating plastic pollution by ensuring that we source sustainable construction materials. Materials such as bamboo and reclaimed wood are durable and leave a lower environmental footprint. Minimising packaging on-site and promoting recycling and composting will also prove beneficial. At G Square, we are committed to integrating these sustainable practices into our ongoing and future projects, working toward construction methods that prioritise both quality and environmental stewardship. A holistic approach will go a long way in mitigating plastic pollution and shaping a healthier, greener planet for future generations. As part of our green initiatives, we have planted 6.36 lakh plants across our projects, and plan to plant an additional 50,000 saplings at our flagship Seven Hills project in Coimbatore to mark this Environment Day.”

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