PepsiCo India and The Social Lab successfully expand eco-friendly waste management strategies in four urban areas using the 'Tidy Trails' project.
Go Green, the Community Way: A Collaborative Approach to Plastic Waste Management
Volunteers, unite! PepsiCo India has rolled out an exciting venture, Tidy Trails, a community-led initiative to combat plastic waste. This project, in collaboration with The Social Lab (TSL), focuses on collection, segregation, and recycling of plastic waste with the intention of keeping our cities clean and sustainable.
City by city, the Earth wins: This eco-friendly program has already made its mark in bustling locations like New Delhi's Chandni Chowk and Pune's FC College Road. The journey doesn't stop there; Agra and Guwahati are soon to join this mission to foster a cleaner, more eco-conscious urban environment [1][2][3]. This strategic expansion showcases PepsiCo India's unwavering dedication towards creating greener cityscapes.
Together, we redefine waste: Guided by its progressive Partnership of Progress philosophy, Tidy Trails brings together local administrations, market associations, shopkeepers, and consumers to drive positive change in our attitudes towards plastic waste management. By collaborating and educating each other, we aim to create a recycling ecosystem at the community level [2].
Hop on the mobile van: A special mobile van is deployed to collect post-consumer plastic waste from local establishments, inciting citizens to take responsibility for maintaining cleaner surroundings. By encouraging a culture of tidiness, we are setting examples and inspiring other communities to adopt responsible waste practices [2].
Waste, meet purpose: The discarded plastic is transformed into practical items like benches and chairs and installed in parks, community centers, and marketplaces. These landscaping features add functionality and aesthetics to our surroundings while serving as daily reminders of the importance of sustainable living [2].
Change your ways: Through on-ground campaigns, informative signage, and community engagement, Tidy Trails aims to instill responsible behaviors regarding plastic waste management, ensuring that discarded plastic is reimagined, rather than discarded [2].
Leading the charge: Addressing the expansion, Yashika Singh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer and Sustainability Head at PepsiCo India and South Asia, stated, "Tidy Trails' expansion into Delhi and Pune, with further development in Agra and Guwahati, reinforces our commitment to fostering sustainable, community-led solutions for post-consumer plastic waste management. Our mission is to bring about real, impactful change through collective action. The success of Tidy Trails in Agra and Guwahati, sustained by strong community engagement and support from local administrations, sets the tone for this next phase." [4]
Partnering for progress: Sahil Arora, Chief Executive Officer of The Social Lab (TSL), mentioned, "We are elated to join hands with PepsiCo India for this noble initiative. At TSL, our commitment lies in protecting the environment and supporting circular economy initiatives like Tidy Trails. Plastic waste is one of our most pressing environmental challenges, and when reused and recycled, it offers viable solutions. With Tidy Trails, we aim to unite communities, businesses, and policymakers to champion the responsible use, recycling, and reuse of plastic." [4]
Since it began, Tidy Trails has collected over 68,000 kg of plastic waste, thanks to active participation from local store owners and communities [5]. The initiative currently gathers around 274 kg daily in Agra and 386 kg daily in Guwahati, proving its consistent, grassroots-level impact [5].
With an audience outreach of over 1.9 million individuals, Tidy Trails is working tirelessly to promote responsible plastic waste management through prolonged community involvement and awareness campaigns [5].
A brighter future: Tidy Trails' expansion serves as a shining example of how community engagement, local governments, and responsible businesses can work together to expedite our transition towards a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future [4].
About PepsiCo India: PepsiCo products are loved by consumers over a billion times daily, in more than 200 countries. In 2024, the company generated nearly $92 billion in net revenue, due to a complementary beverage and snack portfolio that includes popular brands such as Lay's, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo's product range encompasses a multitude of delightful foods and beverages, including various iconic brands generating over $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales [6].
Central to PepsiCo's vision is its mission to be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ outlines its comprehensive end-to-end transformation strategy, placing sustainability and human capital at the foundation of its growth and value creation [6]. To learn more, visit www.pepsico.com and follow PepsiCo on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo [6].
References:[1] BusinessWire (2021). PepsiCo India Launches Tidy Trails in New Delhi and Pune to Drive Plastic Circularity Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211007005802/en/PepsiCo-India-Launch-Tidy-Trails-in-New-Delhi-and-Pune-to-Drive-Plastic-Circularity-Initiative[2] PepsiCo (2022). Transforming Plastic Waste into Purpose with Tidy Trails. Retrieved from https://www.pepsico.com/transforming-plastic-waste-into-purpose-with-tidy-trails/[3] The Hindu (2021). PepsiCo India Expands Plastic Waste Management Initiative, Tidy Trails, to Guwahati and Agra. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Bengaluru/pepsico-india-expands-plastic-waste-management-initiative-tidy-trails-to-guwahati-and-agra/article36609976.ece[4] PepsiCo India (2021). PepsiCo India Expands Tidy Trails Plastic Waste Management Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.pepsico.com/Newsroom/pressreleases/pepsico-india-expands-tidy-trails-plastic-waste-management-initiative/[5] The Times of India (2021). PepsiCo's Tidy Trails Initiative has Collected Over 68,000 Kg of Plastic Waste so Far. Retrieved fromhttps://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/tidy-trails-initiative-collected-over-68000-kg-of-plastic-waste-so-far/articleshow/88482849.cms[6] PepsiCo (2022). About PepsiCo. Retrieved fromhttps://www.pepsico.com/about-pepsico/
- The Tidy Trails initiative by PepsiCo India, in collaboration with The Social Lab (TSL), aims to create a recycling ecosystem at the community level, educating each other and driving positive change in our attitudes towards plastic waste management.
- Guided by its Partnership of Progress philosophy, Tidy Trails works with local administrations, market associations, shopkeepers, and consumers to unite communities, businesses, and policymakers, championing the responsible use, recycling, and reuse of plastic.
- Through on-ground campaigns, informative signage, and community engagement, Tidy Trails aims to instill responsible behaviors regarding plastic waste management, ensuring that discarded plastic is reimagined, rather than discarded.
- By encouraging a culture of tidiness, Tidy Trails deploys a special mobile van to collect post-consumer plastic waste from local establishments, setting examples and inspiring other communities to adopt responsible waste practices.
- The discarded plastic is transformed into practical items like benches and chairs and installed in parks, community centers, and marketplaces, adding functionality and aesthetics to our surroundings while serving as daily reminders of the importance of sustainable living.
