INDIA – The Coca-Cola India Foundation – ‘Anandana’, in partnership with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and United Way of Mumbai, has initiated and delivered a project focused on waste management during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023.
This initiative falls in line with Anandana’s mission to support sustainability endeavors in sporting events across the nation.
Under this program, Coca-Cola India installed reverse vending machines (RVMs) at various points within the stadiums, allowing fans to dispose of their polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.
The collected PET bottles are recycled by Go-Revise, a brand under Ganesha Ecosphere, and transformed into yarn, which is then used to craft national flags and ICC unity flags.
Coca-Cola India has mentioned that these flags are showcased during the country’s national anthem ceremony at each ICC match.
Moreover, the recycled PET bottles are repurposed into safety jackets worn by over 1,000 volunteers stationed across the ten participating stadiums.
These volunteers play a crucial role in spreading awareness about proper waste segregation within the stadiums themselves.
Devyani Rajya Laxmi Rana, the Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability for Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, expressed, “During this ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, The Coca-Cola India Foundation – ‘Anandana’, is overseeing waste management across all 48 matches in the ten host cities, with the help of on-ground housekeeping volunteers.
“These volunteers are sporting safety jackets made from recycled PET bottles. Additionally, we’ve introduced national flags crafted from recycled PET during the national anthem ceremonies in partnership with ICC.
“This initiative is in sync with our global strategy called World Without Waste, aimed at driving systemic change through a circular economy for packaging.”
The waste management drive is in line with Coca-Cola’s global commitment to fostering a World Without Waste.
The foundation’s sustainable packaging platform has set ambitious goals: ensuring 100% global recyclability of packaging by 2025, using at least 50% recycled material in packaging by 2030 (Design); pledging to collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one sold by 2030 (Collect); and promoting community engagement to foster a cleaner, debris-free environment (Partner).
Just last month, Coca-Cola India unveiled the introduction of bottles made entirely from 100% recycled PET in the carbonated beverage sector.
