Around 1000 MT of post-consumer plastic waste recycled in Maharashtra till May 2019.Company aims to recycle additional 832 MT of plastic waste by March 2020 across 25 states
Following plastic free India movement of central government, Mother Dairy, country’s leading milk and milk products, has declared its plan-of-action for collection and recycling of post-consumer plastic waste across the country.
Company has pioneered the automated bulk milk vending machines, popularly known as Token Milk, more than 4 decades ago that offers quality milk through an efficient cold chain, right from manufacturing to consumer, and free form any form of plastic packaging material.
This unique system has not only helped the Company and but also its consumers to prevent the use of plastic which resulted in the generation of approx. 900 MT of plastic waste in Delhi/NCR annually. Mother Dairy operates around 3000 bulk milk vending units installed at its consumer touch-points which includes milk booths, franchise shops, kiosks, mini shops, insulated containers, Kamdhenu mobile units, Container-On-Wheels (COW), etc. thereby offering convenience and plastic-packaging free milk to a larger set of consumers in the region.
Debut of plastic collection and Recycling initiative
In order to tackle the burgeoning menace of post-consumer plastic waste, company has started its plastic waste collection and recycling initiative in Maharashtra in June 2018 by initiating the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme. Under this initiative, company with the help of a Producer Responsibility Organisation (PRO), has collected and recycled around 1073 MT of plastic waste till May 2019 which includes around 183 MT of Multi-Layered Packaging (MLP) and 890MT of Non-Multi-Layered Packaging.
Company has informed that it is implementing 100% EPR in Maharashtra and scaling-up the initiative across the country. With the help of leading PRO’s, company will collect and recycle plastic waste across 25 key states of its operations and is targeting to recycle around 60% of the total MLP used, which is approx. 832 MT by March 2020. This recycling effort has already been initiated in the 7 regions of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar.
Sangram Chaudhary, Managing Director, Mother Dairy Fruit & Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. said, “Consumers opting for our alternative options are leaving a green footprint every day! However, some of the products from our Company’s portfolio involves recyclable plastic packaging of both forms – MLP & Non-MLP and being a responsible organization, Mother Dairy has acquired central registration for Brand Owner under Central Pollution (CPCB).
Mother Dairy is the first amongst dairy co-operatives for acquiring registration under CPCB as well as implementing EPR and is committed for 100% EPR implementation of post-consumer used plastic waste generated in a timeframe of 3 years. Our aim is of on-ground actions for collection, segregation and recycling of plastic waste.”
He also added that, “Mother Dairy has entered into contractual engagement with leading PROs and with their help, we will be able to network with waste picker communities, recyclers and also liaison with urban local bodies for collection and recycling post-consumer plastic waste.”
