FMCG companies announce sustainable milestones, targets on Environment Day

Leading consumer goods companies — including ITC, Dabur, Coca-Cola and DS Group — on Monday announced new sustainable milestones and goals for World Environment Day.

Companies are setting goals such as being carbon neutral, scaling up investments in sustainable packaging, reducing the use of plastic in packaging and harnessing green energy.

Domestic consumer goods manufacturer and maker of Ayurvedic products Dabur India declared it a plastic waste positive by collecting, processing and recycling more plastic waste than was sold in the packaging of its products in FY23.

The International Trade Center has expanded its sustainable packaging offering to replace plastic and announced several measures to reduce plastic use across products and businesses – from packaging and food to the hotel business.

Major beverage company Coca-Cola India on Monday announced the launch of new bottles made from fully recycled plastic material (rPET) in Andhra Pradesh.

“This is the first time in India that any bottle made of 100 percent rPET has been used for food/beverage,” Coca-Cola India said in a statement.

Main Beverage said rPET bottles are made of food-grade recycled PET. It has set a goal of using at least 50 percent recycled content in its packaging by 2030.

On World Environment Day 2023, ITC reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the issue of plastic waste management through its multidimensional initiatives.

The company is increasing its investment in developing innovative and environmentally friendly packaging solutions that can replace single-use plastics.

ITC maintained its plastic neutral status for the second consecutive year by sustainably managing 60,000 metric tons of plastic waste in FY23, which is more than the amount of packaging used.

B Sumant, Executive Director, ITC, said: “At ITC, we have put in place comprehensive waste management interventions with a focus on plastics. Our pallet, paper and packaging business continues to lead in sustainable packaging solutions that can replace single-use plastics.” .

He said that many ITC brands and companies have also innovated to reduce the use of plastic in line with our commitment to creating a positive environmental footprint.

ITC’s cardboard, paper and packaging business is at the forefront of innovation in packaging solutions, which replace the use of single-use plastics. And it has expanded its sustainable packaging initiatives to its personal care products as well.

“Many ITC personal care brands are gradually embracing recyclable options. For example, Fiama shower gel bottles now include 50 percent post-consumer recycled materials, while Savlon Glycerine Soap Wrapper uses 70% recycled materials. 100% post-consumer recycled plastic in PET film. In the case of Engage and Cologne perfume bottles, the brand has switched to 100-percent recyclable paper boxes.”

ITC business hotels have replaced plastic water bottles with eco-friendly glass bottles.

Dabur India has declared becoming a ‘waste plastics positive’ company after it collected, processed and recycled 35,000 metric tons of post-consumer plastic waste from across India in 2022-23.

“With this, Dabur became the first Indian FMCG company to achieve this milestone,” the company said in a statement.

Now, Dabur collects, treats and recycles more plastic waste than it sells in the packaging of its products in a year, said Dabur India Chief Operating Officer, Rahul Awasthi.

“It is a matter of pride for the entire Dabur family, who have worked not only to collect plastic waste from our cities, towns and villages across the country, but also to prevent waste from reaching landfills and oceans. This includes all types of plastic waste, from PET and HDPE bottles and caps and PP labels to multilayer plastics and beverage cans.”

DS Group, which owns FMCG brands such as Catch, Pass Pass and others, said it has taken various sustainability initiatives in the areas of energy management, water management, material conservation, recycling, waste management and promotion of green footprint.

“Our sustainability initiatives are spread across the country and in the field of energy management, water management, material conservation, recycling and waste management. This aligns with our commercial, social and environmental goals to make a significant contribution to society and the country,” he said. DS Group Vice Chairman Rajeev Kumar.

Saint-Gobain Glass, a leading glass manufacturer, announced the launch of new glass with a low carbon footprint. The product should have an estimated carbon footprint reduction of around 40 percent compared to existing Saint-Gobain Glass India products.

“Such environmental performance can be achieved thanks to the use of two thirds of recycled content as raw materials, natural gas and electricity from renewable energy sources,” said a statement from Saint-Gobain India.

“It is no coincidence that the product launch of India’s first low-carbon glass took place on World Environment Day. It is a concerted effort by Saint-Gobain to continue contributing sustainably to the Indian construction industry,” said India – Glass Managing Director Business AR Unnikrishnan.