PEPSICO INDIA LAUNCHES #WHYWASTE

In association with United Way Delhi, the global food and beverages major has launched an upcycling campaign in line with the Government of India’s ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’. Drawing on the Government of India’s ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ programme, PepsiCo India has launched the #Why Waste campaign, an attempt to create awareness about “upcycling plastic waste”.

As part of this project, school and college students, Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), and members of the general public are being encouraged to spread the message of reusing and upcycling plastic waste generated at homes and in communities.

To help execute the initiative, PepsiCo has tied up United Way Delhi, a non-profit whose mission is “to improve lives in a measurable, scalable and sustainable way by mobilizing the caring power of Delhi-NCR”. Speaking about the campaign, Sachin S. Golwalkar, CEO, United Way Delhi, said, “As we contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, it is important to find newer and creative solutions. The #WhyWaste campaign has been one such opportunity wherein communities came together to take a conscious step towards upcycling plastic generated at home.”

Referring to the key elements of the programme, Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India, said, “Aligned with its philosophy of Winning with Purpose, PepsiCo India is always on the lookout for opportunities to create awareness around sustainably managing plastics. Our intent clearly is to make sure that plastics never become waste. Our latest programme, #WhyWaste is a unique community driven initiative where change makers and sustainability champions have all come together to do their bit in creating a better environment. We are happy to collaborate with a partner like United Way to massify the sustainability message within schools, colleges, and RWAs. It is amazing to see the response received in spite of the current operating environment.”

To help drive the campaign, PepsiCo has created a website www.whywaste.co.in inviting entries in the form of ‘DIYvideos/pic’, slogans, posters, and one-minute pitch videos on the idea of plastic waste management. The campaign has received over 2000 entries from schools and colleges so far. In order to popularise the idea of recycling waste, RWAs across Delhi-NRC are being encouraged to make eco-bricks that would be collected and recycled.

All submitted entries will be judged by a jury including Namrata Rana, Director, Strategy and Brand, Futurescape, Ripu Daman, Founder, Ploggers India, Tamanna Sharma, Founder, Earthling First, and Capt. Manju Minhas, Founding Director, Sifar Ziya, and a senior journalist.

All plastic waste from participating RWAs will be collected by GEM Enviro. Winners and the RWAs will be rewarded with exciting prizes, recycled furniture, and will be honoured as ‘Sustainable Warriors’, representing the idea of sustainability. Every participant will be given an e-certificate for their contribution towards environmental sustainability.

At the launch of ‘Swachhta Hi Seva’ initiative in 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said, “I urge every self-help group working in villages, from civil society, from social organisations, from youth clubs, from women’s clubs, from schools and colleges, from government and private institutions, to every individual organisation to join the campaign. We have to make our country free from plastic. We have to do this for our future generation, for our children.”