Bengaluru, November 29, 2023: Flipkart Group has successfully diverted approximately 3000 tonnes of non-hazardous solid waste from landfills within one year, marking significant progress in its sustainability initiatives.
Four Flipkart facilities, located in Farrukhnagar (Haryana), Uluberia (West Bengal), Malur (Karnataka), and Renaissance (Maharashtra), achieved Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) Gold certification for their zero waste efforts.TRUE certification demands facilities to divert at least 90% of waste from landfills, incineration, and the environment. Flipkart exceeded this requirement, achieving over 97% waste diversion across all certified sites. The company's commitment to a circular economy and Zero Waste policy emphasizes responsible consumption, reuse, and recovery while minimizing incineration and landfill.
The company actively promotes a circular economy, utilizing the 'Clean Campus movement' for employee education and implementing a balanced approach to packaging consumption and scrap disposal. By using scrap as raw material for production, Flipkart aims to reduce natural resource usage and greenhouse gas emissions.
With a proactive stance towards sustainability, Flipkart's transition to 100% paper-based packaging and other initiatives, such as electrification of the logistics fleet, energy efficiency practices, and increased use of renewable energy, align with its broader sustainability vision.
Key initiatives contributing to TRUE Gold certification include sustainable waste management practices, enhanced waste collection efficiency, careful waste sorting, prioritized data collection on low-value waste, and comprehensive employee training.
Speaking on its Zero Waste policy and subsequent TRUE Gold Certification, Hemant Badri, Senior Vice President and Head of Supply Chain, Customer Experience and ReCommerce, Flipkart Group, “Our progress towards achieving our sustainability goals has been transformative, marked by relentless innovation, and a shared sense of responsibility. In this journey, our four TRUE Gold certifications for zero waste awarded by Green Business Certification Inc. is another important step as we continue to set a resolute benchmark for sustainable e-commerce that redefines the industry. By embracing resource efficiency and minimizing waste, we at Flipkart believe that e-commerce can be both environment-friendly and maximize value at the same time. These certifications validate our promise to continue pioneering eco-conscious commerce, impacting our business and the world we share.”
Sharing his views about this milestone, Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group said, “In today’s world, every organization must consciously work towards addressing the current climate crises and that can only happen when bold actions are taken towards it. Building a sustainable future for all and also contributing to India’s commitment on Climate goals is a responsibility we take seriously at the Flipkart Group and the TRUE Gold certifications for our zero waste initiative stand testimony to our focus on this mission.”
Peter Templeton, President and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and GBCI noted, “Businesses must go beyond our current wasteful practices and think critically about how to redesign processes so that less waste is produced in the first place. Implementing zero waste business practices requires rethinking, retraining, new tools and strong leadership to change current waste systems. With Flipkart’s leadership in this endeavor, they are making great strides for their employees, community and consumers at large.”
This zero waste program positions Flipkart at the forefront of responsible corporate practices, setting benchmarks for environmental impact reduction and resource efficiency. The TRUE rating system validates Flipkart's commitment to its decarbonization pathway, showcasing its dedication to cost savings, social benefits, and environmental protection.
