The collaborative effort aims to reinforce commitment towards sustainability and create a circular economy for plastic
Coca-Cola India and Zepto have announced the expansion of their successful collaboration in India, aimed at promoting plastic circularity and effective waste management.
The company in a statement said that the ‘Return and Recycle’ initiative, initially launched as a pilot project in select locations of Mumbai in November 2022, has received overwhelming consumer response and is now set to scale across multiple cities.
The initiative, which established an organized process of collecting PET bottles with 100% traceability, has collected over 100 kilograms of PET bottles during the 60-day pilot phase. Encouraged by this success, Coca-Cola India and Zepto are now driving the digitization of their collection strategy by leveraging e-commerce platforms, making the process more efficient and raising consumer awareness about sustainable collection models.
Under the expanded initiative, collection bins will be deployed across hundreds of Zepto delivery hubs in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, and Kolkata. This move aims to connect all participants in the PET recycling value chain and create a self-sustainable ecosystem for plastic waste management.
Abhishek Gupta, Chief Customer Officer of Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, expressed his delight at extending the partnership, stating, “The success of Coca-Cola’s partnership with Zepto has been characterized by strong synergies in sustainability and social responsibility. With the ‘return and recycle’ initiative across India, we are furthering the company’s global goal of creating a world without waste.”
The collaboration between Coca-Cola India and Zepto not only supports the Government of India’s Swachh Bharat Mission, which emphasizes recycling but also aims to encourage consumers to recycle PET bottles by raising awareness of its positive environmental impact.
Vinay Dhanani, Chief Operations Officer at Zepto, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability, saying, “Our aim is to constantly innovate and embed sustainable practices in all areas of operations at Zepto. Be it route optimization, EV or bicycle-led deliveries, sustainable packaging, or reducing waste, we are committed to reducing our footprint and sharing our vision with brands and the Government of India.”
Through their ‘Return and Recycle’ initiative, Coca-Cola India and Zepto seek to promote lasting sustainable behavior and reduce the environmental impact of plastic waste.
The partnership serves as a testimony to the power of joint brand collaborations in creating a culture of sustainability and responsible consumption.
As these two industry leaders join forces to reinforce their commitment towards plastic circularity, their collective efforts provide hope for a greener and more sustainable future in India.