Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu): Bisleri International, India’s leading packaged drinking water company, has etched its name in the Guinness Book of World Records by collecting an astounding 79,738.60 kgs of plastic bottles within a remarkable timeframe of 12 hours. This extraordinary achievement underscores Bisleri’s commitment to environmental sustainability, through its impactful initiative, the Bisleri Greener Promise.
Mega Collection Drive in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Bisleri International along with PSG College of Arts & Science, Coimbatore orchestrated the mega collection drive in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, and surpassed the previous record set by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2018, collecting 33,355.55 kgs of used plastic bottles. The collection effort witnessed enthusiastic participation from PSG college students, staff, the Bisleri ‘Bottles for Change’ team, other educational institutions, residents in housing colonies, corporate houses, and collection from public spaces throughout Coimbatore.
Reflections on the Milestone
Ganesh, Senior General Manager, Corporate Affairs & Chief Sustainability Officer at Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, expressed his reflections on this milestone, stating, “Through the Bottles for Change program under Bisleri Greener Promise, we have not only set a new Guinness World Record but have also ignited widespread awareness about plastic recycling. The success of this initiative is a testament to our commitment to raising awareness and contributing to the circular economy. Our ambition is to extend this impactful initiative to other cities, involving more people in building a Greener India.”
‘Bottles for Change’ Program and Circular Economy Commitment
The ‘Bottles for Change’ program by Bisleri stands as a testament to the commitment to a circular economy, focusing on raising awareness about the value of used plastic and its potential for recycling and repurposing. It instills behavior change towards responsible disposal of plastic after cleaning and sorting. The program encourages active community participation involving all stakeholders – students, households, corporates, and the recycling industry. Bisleri also facilitates sending materials directly for recycling, preventing them from ending up in landfills. And we work with recyclers for value-added repurposing of used plastic into items of utility for society.
Upcycling PET Bottles and Tangible Examples
PET, used in beverage bottles, can be effectively upcycled into various items such as apparel, bags, shoes, and T-shirts. Bisleri has demonstrated this through tangible examples, including corporate uniforms made from recycled PET bottles and the ‘Bench of Dreams’ initiative, crafting benches from recycled plastic for public spaces, prominently placed in Bandra, Mumbai, under the Bandra Sustainable Beautification Drive.
