Coca-Cola India and The Circulate Initiative collaborate to improve the lives of informal waste workers in India
The two organizations will partner as part of the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in India, working with Srichakra Polyplast to improve the lives of informal waste sector workers
The Circulate Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the ocean plastic pollution challenge in emerging markets, has announced that Coca-Cola India will join as a partner in the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in India.
The Responsible Sourcing Initiative is a multi-year program that brings together brands, investors, recyclers, and waste worker organizations to address the most pressing human rights issues in plastics recycling value chains. As a partner, Coca-Cola India will work with Srichakra Polyplast and The Circulate Initiative to improve the lives of informal waste sector workers in the recycling company’s value chain, while increasing plastic collection and recycling.
In partnership with First Mile and the Alliance of Indian Wastepickers, represented by Hasiru Dala, the project will implement solutions aligned with the Harmonized Responsible Sourcing Framework for Recycled Plastics – the first global effort to establish a harmonized and actionable framework to implement responsible sourcing practices in the plastics recycling industry.
India generates approximately 9.3 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with an estimated 4 million informal waste sector workers playing a crucial role in waste collection and recycling. However, these individuals face persistent marginalization, inadequate pay, child labor, and health risks.
The partnership was announced as stakeholders gathered in Hyderabad on February 27 and 28 to share early assessment results of the project. The assessment identified several opportunities for improvement for waste pickers, including enhancing income, access to social security, healthcare, and financial services. It also pointed to the potential for stronger collective organization among informal waste workers and the need for further resources to support workplace compliance. Importantly, the assessment also recognized several positive aspects of the value chain, such as adherence to minimum wage standards and businesses’ support for the health and financial needs of informal workers.
Annerieke Douma, Senior Director of Programs at The Circulate Initiative, said: “Reaching this milestone for the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in India is a critical step toward deepening our understanding of the needs of informal waste sector workers. By leveraging local insights, we can work with our partners to develop the right solutions to improve livelihoods and conditions for workers. These findings will not only shape solutions in India but also inform our responsible sourcing efforts globally. ”
Ravindra Paruchuri, Co-Founder & CEO, Srichakra Polyplast (I) Pvt. Ltd., said: “The plastics recycling industry in India depends on the contributions of informal waste sector workers. Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen the supply chain, improve working conditions, and set a new benchmark for responsible sourcing in India.”
The recent event in Hyderabad gathered industry stakeholders, including representatives from waste worker organizations, recyclers, aggregators, brands, and civil society groups, to identify potential solutions that will be implemented as part of the project.
India is one of four implementation markets for the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, alongside Indonesia, Kenya, and Viet Nam. With insights from these projects, The Circulate Initiative will refine the Harmonized Framework and scale its adoption globally, with the goal of improving the livelihoods of over 50,000 waste workers and responsibly sourcing over 100,000 tons of plastic waste by 2026.