How Brands Are Acting on Plastic and Sustainability This World Environment Day
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Indian businesses are stepping up their game this World Environment Day by reducing plastic use, slashing carbon emissions, and championing circularity.
As the world unites under the 2025 World Environment Day theme of #BeatPlasticPollution, India Inc. is responding with urgency and innovation. From global fast-food giants to e-commerce powerhouses and sporting goods retailers, a common thread ties them all together: sustainability is no longer a side note, it's at the heart of business transformation.
'At KFC India, sustainability is always on our bucket list," the brand states with confidence. With a legacy dating back to 1995, KFC has transitioned to 100% responsibly sourced packaging. In the past year alone, the brand has eliminated 3500 MT of plastic and converted 80% of its packaging to recyclable and compostable formats.
KFC's efforts extend beyond packaging. Their restaurant designs align with global green standards and feature 11 'Green Building Must Haves." In a landmark achievement, two of its restaurants have been awarded by the Indian Green Building Council: Bhawarkua, Indore (Gold rating) and Rayya, Punjab (Platinum rating) — the latter being the highest possible certification. From maximizing natural daylight to implementing water-saving fixtures and energy-efficient systems, KFC is cooking up a greener QSR future.
Pure Storage: Slimmer Systems, Lighter Footprint
'Sustainability is integral to our innovation strategy," says Ramanujam Komanduri, Country Manager, Pure Storage India. By engineering storage solutions that consume up to 85% less energy and 77% less space than legacy systems, Pure Storage is significantly reducing data center footprints. Their Evergreen model—which extends hardware life via modular upgrades—also cuts down e-waste. This World Environment Day, the company is doubling down on reducing reliance on plastic-intensive components and championing energy efficiency.
Flipkart is embracing a low-carbon, circular economy model. Since 2021, it has reduced packaging weight, transitioned away from single-use plastics, and now sources recycled materials for cartons. With a fleet of over 13,000 EVs and green warehouses aligned with IGBC standards, Flipkart is driving toward a cleaner last mile.
Their innovations include replacing bubble wrap with shredded waste, enabling the reuse of 6 million cartons monthly, and slashing plastic mailer content from 40% in 2021 to 7-8% in 2025. More than 26,000 tons of paper have been diverted from landfills, and biofuel use has dropped by over 30%. 'Sustainability is embedded in how we build, operate, and grow," notes Nishant Gupta, Head of Sustainability.
Decathlon: The Future of Sports is Circular
Decathlon India is pioneering circular retail. 'We are rethinking how sport is consumed in a world that demands more responsible choices," says Annie George, Leader, Sustainable Development. The brand aims to triple its circular business impact by 2027 by keeping over 300,000 products in use and out of landfills.
Their new initiative, Second Life Bazaar, launched on World Environment Day, empowers customers to repair, reuse, or trade sports gear, thereby cultivating a culture of conscious consumption. Whether it's refurbishing a bicycle or reusing a tennis racket, every action helps build a future rooted in longevity and access.
Green Goals, Real Results
These brands are not just making sustainability pledges—they're delivering measurable outcomes. As the world focuses on beating plastic pollution, these industry leaders are proving that bold environmental action is good for the planet and business. From compostable containers to electric fleets and circular commerce, India's corporate sector is taking decisive steps towards a sustainable future.
First Published:
June 05, 2025, 07:33 IST
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