MetLife Foundation and OneStage have launched ‘Plastic-Free Gurugram,’ a sustainability programme aiming to reach over 100,000 residents by cutting single-use plastic use and improving waste management.
Unveiled during PNB MetLife’s 25th anniversary, it engages RWAs, institutions, and malls.
A baseline survey of 228 respondents found 84.4% segregate waste at home, but 77.8% still use disposables at gatherings.
Renvion Solutions Private Limited said on Thursday it had begun operations on an integrated South Delhi waste collection and transportation project, deploying the city’s first large-scale zero-emission collection fleet under a public-private concession with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).
The project, run through special-purpose vehicle South Delhi MSW Solutions Private Limited, was awarded via a three-stage Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) tender. It covers 23 wards across roughly 190 square kilometres and is designed to process about 1,400 tonnes of waste daily.
The South Delhi waste collection network will consolidate door-to-door collection from households, businesses and institutions with street sweeping, drain silt, horticulture and domestic hazardous waste, including sanitary waste, company officials said.
Renvion said the initiative marks a transformative shift for the capital’s sanitation infrastructure, introducing an all-electric, BS-VI-compliant primary and secondary collection fleet aimed at cutting emissions and noise in dense residential areas. The company added the project would create more than 2,000 jobs in the zone.
Operations will be backed by a Command & Control Centre using GPS tracking, RFID-tagged vehicles and containers, and weighbridge systems with geofencing and infrared monitoring. Sixty Fixed Compactor Transfer Stations will anchor secondary waste transport.
Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi, speaking at the launch event, said 176 new vehicles were being inducted and that five wards — Green Park, Greater Kailash, Vasant Vihar, Vasant Kunj and Chittaranjan Park — had been prioritized for improved sanitation services. He said source segregation remained essential to the project’s success.
Ishaan Alla, Chief Executive Officer of Renvion Solutions Private Limited, said the project reflected a shift toward integrated, technology-enabled environmental infrastructure and demonstrated the company’s commitment to building systems that recover value for growing cities.
Renvion operates in seven countries, processing more than 6 million tonnes of waste annually across over 30 facilities and generating more than 750 million units of green electricity each year through its Waste-to-Energy operations, the company said.
State Bank of India (SBI), the country’s largest lender, has signed a Letter of Association with Bisleri International to boost plastic waste management across its branches and offices nationwide.
Under the agreement, Bisleri will conduct training and awareness sessions for SBI employees and housekeeping staff, and will collect used plastic waste from SBI premises for recycling, the companies said in a joint statement.
The tie-up falls under Bisleri’s “Bottles for Change” programme, through which the packaged water maker works with institutions, housing societies, corporates and communities to encourage responsible plastic waste management.
The companies said the partnership is intended to support India’s shift toward a circular economy and aid the country’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
Ravi Ranjan, SBI’s Managing Director for Risk, Compliance and Stressed Assets Resolution, said the collaboration was a step toward embedding sustainable practices into the bank’s workplace culture.
“We believe that when employees are empowered to make responsible choices, that awareness extends well beyond our offices and into the communities that we serve and are a part of,” Ranjan said, adding that such partnerships support India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.
Bisleri International Chief Executive Angelo George said the partnership combines SBI’s institutional reach with Bisleri’s experience in plastic waste management.
“By engaging employees across SBI offices, we aim to build responsible practices at the workplace that can extend into homes and communities,” George said, describing the initiative as a potential model for corporate participation in the circular economy.
SBI said the collaboration reinforces its broader commitment to environmental stewardship as it works toward a Scope 1, 2 and 3 net-zero target by 2055, the year the bank marks its centenary.
AWL Agri Business Ltd, formerly Adani Wilmar Limited, has adopted and revamped a public park opposite ICB Flora Apartment in Gota, Ahmedabad, under a five-year maintenance agreement with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
As part of the initiative, the company transforms 1,100 kg of recycled plastic from Fortune packaging into 43 benches installed across the park, in a move it says reflects its focus on circularity and responsible resource utilisation.
Senior leaders from AWL Agri Business, along with AMC officials and local corporators, conducted a “Green Walk” through the park, planting trees and distributing saplings to visitors to encourage community participation in sustainability efforts.
“We, at AWL Agri Business, believe that sustainability is not limited to our operations and products. It is also about creating meaningful impact in the communities where we operate,” said Shrikant Kanhere, Managing Director and CEO, AWL Agri Business Ltd.
“The benches, made using recycled Fortune packaging material, further reflect our commitment to circularity and responsible resource utilisation.”
Spread across 19,000 square metres, the park has been developed as a recreational space featuring green landscaping, a children’s play area, a jogging track, gazebos and drinking water facilities, while contributing to local biodiversity.
The company said the initiative demonstrates how recycled plastic and packaging waste can be given a second life within everyday community infrastructure, forming part of its broader corporate social responsibility strategy in urban environments.
AWL Agri Business, whose flagship brand is Fortune, operates more than 80 manufacturing facilities across 11 states, including India’s largest single-location refinery in Mundra with a capacity of 5,000 tonnes per day. The company serves more than 135 million households through a network of over 10,000 distributors and 2.6 million retail outlets.
HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of HCLTech in India, said on Tuesday it marked the 50th anniversary of HCL Group with a landmark environmental drive, planting 50,000 native saplings and organizing clean-up campaigns at 50 beaches nationwide.
The initiatives, spread across 10 states, brought together HCLTech employees and their families, nonprofit partners, women’s collectives, youth groups and community members, HCLFoundation said in a statement.
The drives form part of HCLFoundation’s broader sustainability push to strengthen ecosystems, conserve natural resources and encourage community participation in environmental stewardship, the organization said.
HCLFoundation said it has greened 74,000 acres of land to date, bringing the area under community management, while more than 155 billion liters of water have been harvested, supporting biodiversity and bolstering water security in some of India’s most water-stressed communities.
As part of its coastal conservation work, the Foundation said it has planted more than 181,000 saplings of terrestrial, mangrove and shelter belt species and collected over 120,800 kg of ghost nets and marine debris to date.
“As we celebrate 50 remarkable years of HCL Group, we are reminded every day that growth and progress are not separable from a deep commitment to a sustainable planet and resilient communities,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCLFoundation.
“We believe that meaningful change is achieved when communities come together with a shared purpose, and we are grateful to our employees, families, partners and volunteers for joining us in contributing to a greener, cleaner and more sustainable future.”
HCLFoundation delivers HCLTech’s corporate social responsibility agenda in India, investing in long-term programs focused on education, grassroots sports, health and sanitation, skill development and livelihood, environment, and disaster risk reduction. The Foundation said it has positively impacted more than 8.5 million lives to date.
HCLTech is a global technology company with more than 223,000 employees across 60 countries, offering services in AI, digital, engineering, cloud and software. The company reported consolidated revenues of $14.8 billion for the 12 months ended June 2026.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday stressed the critical importance of tree plantation, warning that indiscriminate felling could trigger water shortages and food grain crises.
“A single tree absorbs and retains thousands of litres of water. Rivers remain perennial only where there are forests or a large number of trees,” Adityanath said after planting a Maulsari sapling along the Tal Ring Road near RKBK as part of the Paudharopan Mahayagya 2026 campaign themed ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.
He noted that environmental imbalance disrupts rainfall patterns, harming farmers, and called on every citizen to not only plant but also protect saplings to restore ecological balance.
The state government has set an ambitious target of planting 35 crore saplings in a single day, supported by over 57 lakh nurseries. Adityanath said robust protection measures have already led to visible increases in forest cover.
“Expressing gratitude is a hallmark of Indian culture. Through large-scale tree plantation, we can secure a brighter future for generations to come,” he added.
Adityanath also admired the scenic beauty of Ramgarh Tal and took a selfie at the site.
Present on the occasion were MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, Mayor Dr. Manglesh Srivastava, MLC Dr. Dharmendra Singh, and other BJP leaders and councillors.
Uttar Pradesh will launch a massive plantation drive on July 12, aiming to plant 35 crore saplings in a single day as part of the state’s Vriksharopan Mahabhiyan 2026 campaign, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday.
Reviewing preparations via video conference, the CM said the Uttar Pradesh plantation drive was intended to function as a public movement rather than a routine government exercise, with success measured by sapling survival rather than volume planted alone, an official statement said.
The state has set a target of raising green cover to 15% by 2030 and 20% by 2047, the statement said. To meet that goal, authorities plan to plant 35 crore saplings annually over the next five years, a pace they say could help absorb nearly 72 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The CM directed departments to complete verification of plantation sites, ensure sapling availability, carry out geo-tagging and arrange irrigation ahead of the drive. He called for participation from citizens, students, farmers, elected representatives and voluntary organisations.
Officials from the departments of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Rural Development, Agriculture, Horticulture, Panchayati Raj, Revenue and Urban Development presented their action plans during the review.
The CM also directed that beneficiaries of the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme be linked to the campaign, and said a mix of fruit-bearing, shade-giving, medicinal and timber species should be planted.
State data show Uttar Pradesh added about 3.38 lakh acres of forest and tree cover between 2017 and 2023, with total cover rising to 9.96% from 9.18% over that period. The state has planted 242 crore saplings since 2017, compared with 51.48 crore between 2009 and 2016, according to the review.
The campaign also includes several themed initiatives — Mission Chhaya, Samaras Van, Samriddhi Van, City Van, Kapi Van, Maharshi Charak Aushadhi Van, Urja Van, Pauranik Van and Aviral Dhara Van — designed to support biodiversity, reduce heat stress and promote agroforestry across the state.
HCLFoundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Urban Development Department of Uttar Pradesh to advance sustainable waste management practices in Hardoi, Prayagraj, and Agra under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The partnership will focus on strategic planning, pilot projects, policy reforms, and IT-enabled solutions to strengthen urban sanitation across the three cities.
As part of the My Clean City initiative, HCLFoundation flagged off 10 E-drain carts and 10 E-garbage loaders donated to Hardoi Nagar Palika Parishad and unveiled three reverse vending machines.
The Foundation is also undertaking city beautification through wall art and developing model markets and wards in Hardoi.
“My Clean City is a citizen-led program aimed at reclaiming urban spaces with technology inclusion and innovative solutions. This partnership will strengthen efforts in Agra, Hardoi, and Prayagraj—our three new expansion cities in FY26,” said Alok Varma, Project Director, Samuday and My Clean City, HCLFoundation.
Anuj Kumar Jha, Secretary, Urban Development Department and State Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Government of Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the collaboration, saying it will accelerate urban sanitation, strengthen waste management practices, and create replicable models for city transformation.
Launched in 2018, My Clean City has sensitized nearly 750,000 citizens, trained over 100,000 stakeholders, managed 22,000 plus tons of waste, and engaged more than 3,500 school students through its Waste Champions Club in Noida and Greater Noida.
One of India’s most iconic monuments became a canvas for conservation on World Environment Day as the story of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, known locally as Godawan, was projected onto Delhi’s Qutub Minar. The large-scale installation highlighted the bird’s gradual revival amid decades of decline.
Once a contender for India’s national bird, the Godawan had faded from public consciousness as its numbers dwindled across the country’s grasslands. Recent developments, however, signal growing recognition and renewed hope for the species’ survival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighted the Godawan in the 133rd episode of Mann Ki Baat, praising India’s wildlife conservation efforts. In May, Rajasthan observed its first state-level Godawan Day on May 21 to boost awareness.
A public tribute supported by Godawan Estuary Premium Water aimed to enhance ecological literacy around one of the world’s rarest birds and its revival. The event brought together conservationists, local communities, private partners and government agencies.
“What makes this effort encouraging is the coming together of multiple stakeholders with a shared commitment towards conservation,” said Kedar Shrimal, president of Gramodaya Samajik Sansthan in a statement.
“This growing spirit of collaboration is helping build greater awareness, stronger ecosystems, and renewed hope for the future of the species.”
Conservation efforts have intensified through scientific intervention and community participation. Initiatives include restoring native grasslands, fencing nesting sites, improving water availability, captive breeding programmes and predator management. Local Bishnoi community members have played a key role in monitoring and protecting breeding grounds.
Encouraging signs emerged in May with new hatchlings from breeding and hatchery programmes in Rajasthan, supported by specialised transport for relocating eggs and chicks when needed.
Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) formally launched Bioyug Green Command 2026 on Friday, marking World Environment Day with a first-of-its-kind platform aimed at accelerating India’s bioplastics revolution and reducing the nation’s dependence on conventional petroleum-based plastics.
The launch, held in collaboration with the Lucknow Cantonment Board, was presided over by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as chief guest, signalling growing government support for bio-based indigenous manufacturing as a strategic national priority.
The event formalised a landmark collaboration between Balrampur Bioyug and the Lucknow Cantonment Board following an earlier memorandum of understanding and BCML’s first institutional order for compostable polylactic acid (PLA)-based products. PLA, derived from sugarcane, is a fully organic bioplastic that breaks down within 180 days and converts into compost rather than waste.
Speaking at the launch, BCML Chairman and Managing Director Vivek Saraogi said India stood at a defining moment where economic growth and environmental responsibility must advance together.
“Through Bioyug Green Command 2026, we are bringing together government, industry, institutions and communities to accelerate this transition and demonstrate how innovation-led solutions can contribute meaningfully to a cleaner, greener and more self-reliant India,” Saraogi said.
Executive Director Avantika Saraogi framed the shift to biomaterials as an economic opportunity as much as an environmental necessity.
“The last century belonged to oil and petrochemicals; the next can belong to farmers and fields,” she said. “The materials of the future will not only be mined from beneath the earth but cultivated above it, through the power of agriculture.”
Addressing the gathering, Defence Minister Singh drew attention to the accelerating public health toll of microplastics, citing scientific research indicating that approximately 350,000 people die globally each year due to microplastic exposure, with plastic particles now detectable in the blood of newborns.
Singh highlighted the national security dimension of the transition to bioplastics, noting that India’s existing 20% ethanol blending programme had shielded the domestic economy from supply chain disruptions triggered by recent West Asian geopolitical turbulence.
“By generating resources from our sugarcane, rice, and organic waste, we will strengthen our security framework,” Singh said. “While fulfilling our environmental obligations, we can become a self-reliant, bio-based economy.”
Two high-level panel discussions formed a centrepiece of the programme. The first, titled “Mandate to Market: Unlocking the Bioplastics Value Chain in Uttar Pradesh,” examined policy support and market opportunities required to scale bioplastics adoption. The second, “From Mess to Mission: Bioplastics for Defence,” explored sustainable material integration within defence establishments.
A parallel highlight was the felicitation of meritorious ITI girl students from Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, participating in the “Building Skills. Transforming Futures” initiative — a women-focused 3D printing training programme using Bioyug PLA, run by Balrampur Foundation in partnership with ITI Mohammadi.
BCML, one of India’s largest integrated sugar companies, is currently developing the country’s first PLA plant with a capacity of 80,000 tonnes per annum. The company operates ten sugar factories across Uttar Pradesh with an aggregate crushing capacity of 80,000 TCD.
The event drew participation from over 2,000 stakeholders spanning government, industry, academia, defence, and civil society.
Bioyug Green Command 2026 is anchored in the proposition that “the future of materials is grown, not drilled,” positioning India’s agricultural base as the foundation of its emerging circular bioeconomy.