The launch in New Delhi was attended by senior representatives from three Central Government Ministries critical to Waste to Wealth value chain in India – Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEFCC), Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), and Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) along with leaders from HUL, UNDP India and Xynteo.
The toolkit will help enable replicability by offering actionable insights from HUL’s on-ground circular models operational across India with 20+ implementation partners. It also compiles innovative solutions and tested knowledge products that reimagine waste as a resource, reshape behaviours, and build systemic change across the ecosystem.
At the event, it was inspiring to witness the shared commitment to accelerate circularity solutions in India. The message was clear: accelerating circularity requires convergence through stronger partnerships, unified vision and urgent action.
At HUL, we're driving transformative change across the waste value chain. Our industry-first, collaborative toolkit reinforces our ethos - What’s good for India is good for HUL and we remain committed to amplifying innovative solutions through strategic collaborations with ministries such as MoEFCC, MoHUA, MoSJE and purpose-led organisations to drive systemic change towards a Circular India.
Sashidhar Vempala, Chief Sustainability Officer, Hindustan Unilever Limited
Rooted in thoughtful design, testing on-ground, stakeholder consultations, the toolkit focuses on five key elements critical for a successful waste management initiative:
Multistakeholder partnerships
Across the waste value chain with a clear value proposition
Robust infrastructure
To effectively collect, handle and manage waste coming out of households
Behaviour-science led communication
Based on Unilever’s 5 Levers of Change principles and in sync with real understanding of people, their habits and motivations.
Inclusion of Safai Mitras
Integrating the informal waste workers into the value chain to ensure social inclusion and dignified livelihoods
Citizen action
Encouraging individual and community involvement for sustained impact
Waste segregation is the first domino in waste management. Thousands of Indians are aware, but action lags. We're bridging this gap by democratising our tested behaviour-science led communication strategies and creatives. Equally crucial is inclusion of Safai Mitras, the invisible superheroes, to create a truly circular economy.
Prashanth Venkatesh, Marketing & Sustainability Director, HUL
Partner quotes
The Circular India Toolkit developed in collaboration with HUL and other partners unites governments, businesses, civil society, and communities to share insights and strategies that drive impactful behaviour change and inclusive sustainable waste management practices. It serves as both a practical resource and a rallying call for collective action in waste management.
Angela Lusigi Resident Representative, UNDP India
Through partnerships with purpose-driven organisations and through scaling up by replicating proven models, we’re fostering an ecosystem poised to deliver lasting, systemic impact.
Vipul Kumar, Senior Partner, Xynteo