Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages (HCCB) collected over 850,000 used PET bottles, weighing more than 17,000 kgs, at the Puri Ratha Yatra 2024. This initiative, in partnership with the Anandana Coca-Cola India Foundation, State Pollution Control Board, Odisha, and Y4D Foundation, was supported by the Foundation for Climate Protection (FCP), Odisha Development Management Programme (ODMP), and Puri Municipality.
During the 12-day festival, HCCB set up dedicated zones for bottle collection and recycling awareness campaigns, led by trained volunteers called ‘Safai Sathis’. The Deputy Chief Minister of Odisha, Sh. Pravati Parida, inaugurated the main collection stall, highlighting the collaboration between the government and HCCB for sustainability.
“Our mission to celebrate Puri’s Heritage with a ‘Used PET Bottle-Free Ratha Yatra’ has once again been vividly brought to life through this initiative,” said Himanshu Priyadarshi, Chief Public Affairs, Communications, and Sustainability Officer at HCCB. “We are delighted to see the tangible impact of our collective efforts in Puri.”
HCCB strategically placed collection bins and awareness stalls, engaging festival attendees and locals in recycling efforts. This approach not only collected extensive waste but also educated the public on the importance of recycling.
“We are thrilled with the results of this year’s Rath Yatra waste management drive,” said Mr. Priyadarshi. “The collection reflects the robustness of our strategy and the hard work of everyone involved. It’s a proud moment for us at HCCB and a step forward in our journey towards a cleaner planet.”
HCCB, founded on February 14, 1997, serves over 23 lakh retailers, around 2,300 distributors, and employs over 5,000 people. Headquartered in Bangalore, its operations span 12 states and 236 districts in South and West India. With 13 factories across India, HCCB manufactures and sells 37 different products, including popular beverages like Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, and Minute Maid.
