SUSTAINABILITY
z The main idea is to promote single-use plastic substitution
ITC collaborates with Invest India to launch Sustainability Innovation Challenge
ITC Paperboards and Specialty Papers Division ( PSPD ), a manufacturer of paper , paperboards , and specialty paper in the country , has collaborated with Invest India to launch the ‘ ITC Sustainability Innovation Challenge ,’ which would support innovative startup ideas on sustainable packaging and smart waste management solutions . This win-win partnership will enable ITC-PSPD to leverage India ’ s rich startup repertoire while also supporting the country ’ s startup ecosystem .
ITC PSPD , through the Startup India portal , is inviting responses from startups towards challenges laid out by the company to find sustainable and smart technologybased solutions that can substitute single-use plastics and automate the waste segregation process with smart technology-based solutions to improve efficiency and speed .
The startups selected for the ‘ ITC Sustainability Innovation Challenge ’ will be offered incentives at various stages of the program . This includes expert mentorship , paid pilot opportunity , and assistance in testing and certification at the ‘ Development Stage .’ This will be followed by support to enable market expansion and capacity building through funding opportunities in the ‘ Early Market Play Stage .’ Additionally , startups at the ‘ Late Stage ’ will get procurement opportunities and could be evaluated , on a case-to-case basis , for funding and acquisition opportunities as well . The deadline to submit proof of concept is 28 February 2022 .
z ITC PSPD will automate waste segregation
Commenting on the initiative , Vadiraj Kulkarni , chief executive officer of ITC PSPD , said , “ Disposal of plastic and non-biodegradable waste continues to pose the biggest challenge in solid waste management in India . The problem is further aggravated due to inefficient segregation of post-consumer waste at the source , which leads to a lot of waste ending up in landfills which are highly polluting .”
“ We , at ITC , believe that businesses , both big and small , with their immense managerial and innovative capacity , can come together to contribute significantly towards finding innovative and sustainable packaging and waste management solutions leading to transformative changes in the society . This philosophy manifests in the new ‘ ITC Sustainability Innovation Challenge ’ which underlines our ongoing engagements with the startup ecosystem through collaboration with Invest India to crowdsource out-of-the-box ideas for phasing out single-use plastics by 2022 .”
Deepak Bagla , managing director and chief executive officer , Invest India , said , “ We look forward to accelerating efforts towards a more sustainable economic growth through the ITC Innovative Sustainability Challenge . Innovative startups will showcase Made-in-India solutions that propel India towards a circular economy . On behalf of Invest India , I invite startups to be part of India ’ s growth journey .” z
ITC , believe that businesses , both big and small , with their immense managerial and innovative capacity , can come together to contribute significantly towards finding innovative and sustainable packaging and waste management solutions leading to transformative changes in the society .
12 Packaging South Asia 5 February 2022