The Coca-Cola India Foundation, Anandana, unveiled a new video spotlighting its recent Used PET Bottle-Free initiative. This initiative was part of the ‘Maidaan Saaf’ campaign, which promotes responsible plastic waste collection, segregation, and recycling at various events. The effort was carried out in collaboration with Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Puri Municipality, District Administration Puri, the Odisha Development Management Programme (ODMP), and the Y4D Foundation.
The newly released video highlights the on-ground activation that mobilized nearly 200 volunteers, deployed 200 dustbins, and installed 10 collection kiosks along the Yatra route. Featuring voices from Coca-Cola India, ODMP, and the Y4D Foundation, along with a Safai Saathi, the video underscores the importance of collective action in driving meaningful change.
Watch the video here:
“The recent Puri event brought with it immense scale, and the responsibility to manage its impact with care,” said Saloni Goel, Senior Director – ESG Value Creation & Commercialization, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia. “Every element of this initiative was designed in alignment with the city’s needs and built on the principle of collective action. This was an opportunity to contribute to the larger purpose, and to do it with intent.”
Pradeep Kumar, Vice-Chairman, Odisha Development Management Programme (ODMP) added, “This year, just like the last, we witnessed even better cooperation from the government and the municipality. The Safai Sathis we engaged experienced economic development, having gained employment during the Puri event.”
“This kind of awareness initiative went beyond just speeches or pamphlets, we implemented a mechanism on the ground,” said Dr. Praful Nikam, President, Y4D Foundation. “With dedicated cleanliness drives, daily waste collection, and motivating engaging the public and managing waste, we were able to create a system that was both sustainable and impactful.”
“When we cleaned up the waste, others noticed and followed,” said Shantilika Pradhan, a Safai Saathi engaged in the initiative. “People saw us using the dustbins which motivated them to do the same. That’s how change began, by setting an example.”
These collective efforts reflect a shared responsibility to environmental stewardship and demonstrate how collaboration between civic bodies, corporate partners, and local communities can drive meaningful change.
