PepsiCo launches' Tidy Trails' for plastic waste management in UP

Aligned with the Government of India's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' initiative, PepsiCo India, in partnership with United Way Delhi, has launched 'Tidy Trails' – a unique initiative to create awareness for plastic waste management Mathura- Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, on World Environment Day. As part of the initiative, a unique mobile van will be deployed to visit over 200 establishments across Mathura-Vrindavan to collect post-consumer plastic waste. According to the press release, the initiative aims to encourage people to keep their local environment clean and foster 'tidy'ness, thereby setting good examples and inspiring other communities to follow.

Through this initiative, PepsiCo India and United Way Delhi will engage with the shopkeeper community to bring about a behavioral change towards the responsible disposal of plastic waste. To drive mass awareness, activities such as on-ground events, online educational workshops, distribution of informative material will be organized for the shopkeeper community and the general public around plastic waste management. Further, the post-consumer plastic waste collected will be segregated. Some parts of it will be recycled into utility products like chairs and tables, which will be later installed at various public places.

Speaking about the initiative, Sachin Golwalkar, chief executive officer, United Way Delhi, said, "United Way Delhi is committed to contributing to the Swachh Bharat Mission and Tidy Trails initiative, with support from corporate partner PepsiCo India, aligns with Sustainability Development Goal (SDG) 11 to make sustainable cities and communities. While the campaign focuses on efficient management of plastic, on the one hand, it also aims at building ambassadors and leaders within the local community for a long and sustained impact. We are thankful to PepsiCo India for this partnership."

Elaborating on PepsiCo India's commitment towards sustainable management of plastic, Ahmed ElSheikh, president, PepsiCo India, said, "To address the challenge of Plastic Waste Management, it's important to foster partnerships and create awareness which leads to behavioral change. On World Environment Day and aligned with India's 'Swachhata Hi Seva' initiative, we are delighted to launch Tidy Trails, a unique initiative in partnership with United Way Delhi in Uttar Pradesh. At PepsiCo India, we are striving to build a world where plastics need not become waste, and initiatives such as these will go a long way in creating a sustainable ecosystem on plastic waste disposal."

ElSheikh further added, "PepsiCo India understands the significance of educating children on recycling and effective plastic waste management. The "Tidy Trials" initiative will also focus on engaging with local schools and students through online competitions to share creative ideas to reuse and upcycle plastic waste generated both at home and within the communities."

Tidy Trails implies collectively driving change in the community by adopting responsible methods to manage and dispose of plastic. As part of the initiative, mass awareness drives will also be conducted through public events, online workshops, and community competitions during the year.

PepsiCo India has been actively working across multiple states to collect, segregate and sustainably manage the equivalent of 100% of its plastic packaging by 2021. Working towards the same goal, PepsiCo India is activating Tidy Trails from Mathura- Vrindavan and would soon take it to other states.