PUNE: Tata BlueScope Steel, one of India’s leading producers of color-coated steel and building solutions, launched a sustainability initiative, in Rajasthan, aimed at collecting and recycling plastic waste, specifically the plastic guard film used with its flagship retail brand DURASHINE®.

DURASHINE® is a premium steel roofing product offering durable and aesthetically superior solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

These sheets are protected by a thin plastic guard film that prevents abrasion and scratches during transportation and storage, preserving their coating and paint finish. Tata BlueScope Steel encourages the immediate removal of this guard film after installation to ensure proper disposal and recycling.

As part of this initiative, Tata BlueScope Steel aims to reduce the environmental footprint of its products by creating a collection-and-recycling ecosystem of plastic guard films through fabricators.

This approach not only promotes sustainable practices within the industry but also provides an additional income stream for fabricators who participate by depositing collected guard films at designated dealer locations in Rajasthan’s Pali, Udaipur, and Degana, where the pilot project was initiated.

“Tata BlueScope Steel is committed to driving sustainability across our operations. By partnering with local fabricators and a government-approved recycler, we aim to tackle plastic waste while also supporting the community and have received positive feedback. This initiative reflects our dedication to responsible business practices,” said Ajay Rattan, Vice President of Building Products – Infra, Safety, Sustainability & Corporate Communication), at Tata BlueScope Steel.

To facilitate this process, the company has partnered with a government-approved recycler and has also launched training programs under its Saksham initiative to enhance fabricators’ skills in handling DURASHINE® sheets.

Fabricators are incentivized to collect and return the guard films, making the initiative both environmentally beneficial and economically rewarding for those involved.

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• Finalization of a shared investment plan for the construction of the first end-of-life tire recycling plant in Uddevalla, Sweden.
• The project will be based on Enviro’s unique pyrolysis technology with the ability to extract raw materials from multi-component products. 
• The joint venture has secured a series of multi-year contracts for the supply of used tires and the upcycling of recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil. This first plant will have the capacity to recycle approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually and to create up to 40 green jobs in the local community.

SWEDEN: This joint venture announces the final investment decision for the construction of its first used tire recycling plant. Antin and Enviro entered into the joint venture in March of 2023 to build a series of plants in chosen European geographies.

Antin is a majority shareholder of the JV, Michelin is a minority shareholder and Enviro has an option to become a significant minority shareholder.

The first factory, based in Uddevalla, Sweden, has obtained all the necessary environmental and building permits and authorizations. Construction has already begun, and the plant is expected to be operational during 2025.

With an initial aim to process approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually, the plant should create up to 40 green jobs in the local community during its first phase.

Multi-year supply contracts    

In addition to obtaining financing for the construction of the industrial plant, the joint venture signed a series of multi-year contracts regarding the supply of end-of-life-cycle tires as well as recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

In this context, Michelin continues its approach of proactively supporting the development of used tire recycling ecosystems and is committed to collaborating on the future developments of this joint venture. As an example, Michelin has signed a multi-year supply agreement regarding carbon black and pyrolysis oil. 

One million tons

As previously announced, the joint venture plans on building factories throughout Europe targeting a total annual recycling capacity of one million tons of used tires. Once the Uddevalla plant begins operating, the joint venture will undertake the construction of additional factories in other European countries to ensure a rapid rollout of this technology. Antin and Enviro have already agreed to a financing plan for the construction of these factories.

The volume of tires that reach the end of their life cycle and are then discarded has continued to rise, now annually amounting to 3.5 million tons within Europe alone. This joint venture was established to develop used tire recycling throughout Europe, producing sustainable raw materials. Foremost among these materials produced are recovered carbon black and oils that may then be used in the manufacturing tires and in the petrochemical industry. By replacing virgin carbon black with the joint venture’s recovered material, it is possible to reduce the emissions arising from the use of conventional carbon black by more than 90%.

“Michelin has strongly supported the creation of this joint venture between Enviro and Antin. The undertaking began in 2020 when Michelin became a shareholder in Enviro to support the maturation of this technology. Today, we are moving on to a new step with the finalization of the investment for the construction of this first factory in Sweden. The launch of this ambitious industrial program, which is expected to be developed on a European scale, perfectly echoes the strategic objectives of the Michelin Group to reach 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2050, reducing the overall environmental impact of its tires,” states Maude Portigliatti, High-tech Materials Business Director – Member of the Michelin Group Executive Committee.

“Antin is delighted to join Enviro and Michelin to announce approval for the construction of the first of several plants planned by the joint venture. We are excited to help create a fully circular platform that will restore end-of-life tires to their constituent raw materials that will be sustainably used over and over again. This is part of Antin NextGen’s strategy to focus on proven technologies that require substantial capital to scale.” adds Anand Jagannathan, Antin’s Senior Partner.

“The plant in Uddevalla will be the joint venture’s first full-scale tire recycling plant and the first important step in our joint effort to create the world’s first large-scale tire recycling group. Together we will play a crucial role in the industrial transformation needed for a more sustainable future”, says Alf Blomqvist, Chairman of Scandinavian Enviro Systems. 

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NEW DELHI: Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, India’s leading mineral water company, has strengthened its sustainability strategy by launching ‘Bisleri Greener Promise.’ The sustainability philosophy focuses on creating a greener future by reinforcing and implementing programs in recycling, water conservation, and sustainability. 

Under the aegis of this philosophy, Bisleri International has become one of the first consumer goods companies to be plastic-neutral and water positive. It further emphasizes its promise to the sustainable development of the country by announcing bold initiatives under plastic recycling and water conservation.

The company has outlined its vision to connect with 20 major cities to collect and recycle 12,500 tonnes of plastic by 2025 through its Bottles for the Change initiative. Additionally, it has also announced the restoration or building of 350 dams in Maharashtra and Gujarat to provide water security and enhance crop production. Under the initiative, Project Nayi Umeed, more than 35,000 million liters of water will be harvested, and it will help irrigate more than 23,000 acres of land. The company aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% and lower the use of virgin plastic by over 7%.

Furthermore, Bisleri International released its sustainability report defining its progress in environment, social, and governance (ESG) practices. The report has been developed by the TERI School of Advanced Studies. It highlights Bisleri International’s efforts in building a circular economy, utilizing resources efficiently, reducing GHG emissions, replenishing water, and recollecting packaging material. 

Speaking about the organization’s commitment towards sustainability and Bisleri Greener Promise, Angelo George, CEO, of Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, said, “At Bisleri International, we develop solutions that fuel business growth and, at the same time, address environmental challenges. We are in constant pursuit of creating a positive impact and continue to integrate our business strategy with sustainability goals. Thus, ensuring that we operate purposefully and responsibly. Innovations in packaging will continue to be our focus for the next three years and we aim to be ready for the guidelines on reuse targets stipulated by the Government.” 

As part of its commitment to protect the environment and mitigate the effects of irresponsible disposal of used plastic, Bisleri International’s Bottle For Change initiative works towards bringing behavioral change and raising awareness about the importance of post-consumer plastic. Through the program, Bisleri International has brought behavioral change amongst 600,000 citizens by organizing sensitization workshops and collection drives. These workshops and drives were conducted at over 3500 housing societies, 680 educational institutions, 790 corporates, and 600 hotels & restaurants across seven cities. The efforts have resulted in collecting and recycling over 4000MT of used plastic. 

For Project Nayi Umeed, Bisleri International focuses on building or restoring Check Dams, rainwater harvesting, and empowering communities. It provides access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, benefiting farmers and their families. Through the program, it has built or restored over 200 Check Dams in Gujarat and Maharashtra. These Check Dams have helped harvest approximately 22Bn liters of water, covering more than 124 villages and benefiting almost 40,000 family members of farmers. Over 13,000 acres of land have been irrigated through the project, turning barren lands into fertile farms. Also, for every liter of water drawn, eight liters of water is replenished from the ground.

“We at TERI School of Advanced Studies believe that resource efficiency and waste management are the keys to smart, sustainable, and inclusive development.  We work together internally and externally to maximize shared knowledge and impact. Bisleri International Private Limited has been practicing a triple bottom line as an approach.  We are happy to partner with them to develop their first Sustainability report. Hope this aligns all their stakeholders to their work towards sustainable development.” said Dr. Shruti Sharma, Assistant Professor, TERI, SAS

The initiatives and priorities cited in the report are aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Further, Bisleri International aims to set ambitious sustainability goals based on innovative business models. These goals will strengthen Bisleri International’s efforts to tackle climate change, ensure safe and healthy water for all, build behavioral changes, and create an effective circular economy for post-use packaging.

Access the company’s full sustainability report here: https://www.bisleri.com/greener-promise/sustainability-report-2021-22.pdf

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