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Coca-Cola India, alongside its foundation Anandana, has partnered with the PHD Rural Development Foundation (PHDRDF) and Prayagraj Mela Authority (PMA) to lead sustainability initiatives at the Maha Kumbh 2025. This collaboration is focused on creating a social and environmental impact through innovative waste management solutions and promoting recycling awareness during one of India’s largest events.
As part of the Maidaan Saaf campaign, Coca-Cola India has produced and distributed 21,500 recycled PET jackets for sanitation workers, boatmen, and waste management volunteers. The jackets include 10,000 for sanitation workers involved in the SwachhKumbh initiative, 10,000 life jackets for boatmen across 4,000 boats, and 1,500 jackets for volunteers working on waste management. These jackets, which promote both safety and visibility, also highlight the transformative potential of recycled plastic, encouraging attendees to rethink waste and its potential uses.
Additionally, Coca-Cola India has installed 1,000 changing rooms for women, made entirely from recycled multi-layered plastic waste. These rooms, placed along the 12-kilometre stretch of river ghats, provide a private, ventilated space for female visitors to change. The rooms feature artwork from leading Indian illustrators such as Aravani Art Project, Gaysi Family, and Priyankar Gupta, turning waste segregation and recycling into an engaging, visual experience.
"The Mahakumbh Mela is a sacred confluence of faith, culture, and tradition, attracting millions globally. This partnership with Coca-Cola India is a vital step toward embedding sustainable practices into this historic event. By introducing recycled plastic initiatives like changing rooms, life jackets, and hydration kiosks, we are setting a benchmark for a cleaner, safer, and eco-conscious Kumbh. These efforts resonate deeply with our vision of a Swachh (Clean) and Surakshit (Safe) Kumbh, where modern solutions meet traditional values to create a meaningful and lasting impact for generations to come," said Vivek Vyas, CEO of the PHD Rural Development Foundation (PHDRDF).
Devyani Rana, Vice President of Coca-Cola India, added, "At Coca-Cola India, we believe in the power of innovation to drive meaningful change. These initiatives showcase how recycling can help transform discarded items into valuable resources. Through Maidaan Saaf, we aim to unite millions of visitors in collective action to help reduce waste, reinforcing our commitment to supporting waste management systems that help ensure product packaging has a second life."
In addition to the innovative products, Coca-Cola India has deployed Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs) at key locations such as railway stations and food courts in Prayagraj to collect and recycle PET waste. Hydration carts, placed every 400 metres, also feature waste collection bins and display creative artwork encouraging visitors to engage in waste segregation, helping turn waste into a valuable resource.
These initiatives, led by Coca-Cola India, PHDRDF, and PMA, aim to position the Maha Kumbh 2025 as a shining example of how sustainable practices can make a meaningful difference at large-scale events.
