Report

ITC, the food and FMCG major, has been working to integrate food safety and sustainability through its packaging practices and waste management programmes. Under its ‘No Plastic, Better Plastic, and Less Plastic’ framework, the company aims to maintain product quality and freshness while reducing environmental impact. Across its FMCG brands, the company continues to improve the safety and recyclability of its packaging. It also develops biodegradable and recyclable alternatives for other industries to replace conventional plastic packaging, while meeting food safety requirements.

Waste Management Initiatives

ITC, the food and FMCG major, has remained plastic neutral for four consecutive years and reported the collection and responsible processing of 76,000 tonnes of plastic waste in FY 2024–25. The company has been a solid waste recycling positive for 18 years. As part of its Sustainability 2.0 Vision, it aims to make all its packaging recyclable, reusable, compostable, or biodegradable by 2028. This goal supports safer packaging, cleaner surroundings, and a stronger circular economy.

Approach and Focus Areas

According to S. Sivakumar, Group Head – Agri and IT Businesses and Sustainability at ITC Ltd., the company follows a 360-degree strategy under its ‘Responsible Competitiveness’ principle. This includes implementing community-led waste management programmes and investing in packaging solutions designed to ensure food safety and promote sustainability.

The framework focuses on three main areas:

• No Plastic: Developing packaging alternatives that avoid plastic entirely while ensuring food safety.
• Better Plastic: Using recyclable plastics and designing packaging for improved circularity.
• Less Plastic: Reducing plastic use through efficient design and material optimisation without compromising safety.

Examples include the Aashirvaad Khapli Atta pack, which uses a dual-layer ‘bag-in-bag’ design with a paper outer bag and a recyclable inner pouch, replacing traditional laminated packaging. The Sunfeast Farmlite Core Digestive large pack now uses a fully paper-based outer bag, highlighting ITC’s move towards safer and more sustainable packaging solutions. By prioritising food safety along with sustainability, ITC contributes to raising industry standards and supports wider adoption of eco-friendly packaging and responsible waste management practices.

Source: FoodBeverage News