ITC has pledged to strengthen Sustainable Circular Economy Initiatives on the upcoming Swachhata Diwas. This year’s theme is ‘Garbage Free India’ and ITC’s flagship ‘Wellbeing out of Waste’ programme has been promoting awareness, segregation, collection and management as well as reuse or recycling of solid waste.

ITC has been solid waste recycling positive for 16 consecutive years and plastic neutral for 2 years in a row. It has covered around 2.2 crore Indians and aims to use 100% recyclable packaging for its products.

ITC WOW has also promoted sustainable livelihood for waste collectors by facilitating an effective collection system in collaboration with Urban Local Bodies (Municipal Corporations). The intervention has also created several social entrepreneurs who are involved in maximising value capture from the collected dry waste.

In support of the prime minister’s call to citizens for ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’, a nationwide programme has been launched by the Company, which entails mobilisation of ITC employees across its factory, hotels and office to create and enhance awareness regarding best waste management practices. As a part of this initiative, ITC’s employees are taking a pledge on the occasion of Swachhata Diwas for a cleaner and greener India.

ITC’s bold Sustainability 2.0 agenda envisages 100 per cent of packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable/ bio-degradable by 2028. Through its 360-degree interventions, ITC achieved and went beyond plastic neutrality in 2021-22. In 2022-23, it continued to remain plastic neutral having sustainably managed more than 60,000 tons of plastic waste across 36 states and Union Territories in India. 

ITC is also working towards sustainable alternatives to plastic and optimising packaging to reduce the environmental impact of post-consumer packaging waste without affecting product integrity by leveraging synergies between its ITC Life Sciences and Technology Centre (LSTC), Paperboards & Packaging and FMCG businesses for sustainable packaging solutions.