On World Environment Day, rePurpose Global is celebrating the impact of its inaugural clean-up initiative across waste hotspots in the Himalayan region of India. In collaboration with nearly 48 brand partners, rePurpose Global spearheaded efforts to remove over 10,000 pounds of waste across eight natural sites, including a national park with an endangered elephant population.
The Himalayan region of India, home to peaks, biodiversity, and the origins of the most important rivers in India, the Ganga and Yamuna rivers, faces a waste crisis. According to a World Bank report, tourism in the Indian Himalayas generates over five million metric tons of waste annually, a figure expected to rise with the ongoing tourism boom. Due to inadequate collection and processing systems, over 60 percent of this waste is estimated to be openly dumped or burnt. In response, brands are taking collective action against the growing waste problem.
On the ground, rePurpose Global's impact partner, Waste Warriors mobilized over 500 community volunteers to support the waste clean-up. They ensured that the waste was ethically processed and disposed of following environmental regulations. This initiative helped communities clear waste hotspots as part of a one-off effort.
"This achievement underscores the importance of collective action in addressing the urgent issue of plastic pollution," said Peter Wang Hjemdahl, co-founder and chief innovation officer at rePurpose Global. "We are immensely grateful to our brand partners, community volunteers, and supporters who made this impact possible."
This initiative builds on the ongoing impact of brands partnered with rePurpose Global. By financing the recovery of critical plastic waste in Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, and India – countries with some of the highest rates of plastic leakage into nature – these brands are addressing an environmental challenge. These partnerships have facilitated the recovery of 28,697 tons of plastic waste from nature, equivalent to 1.5 billion plastic bottles or 5.7 billion plastic bags in weight. Additionally, they have created positive social impacts by expanding waste collection infrastructure and generating additional income for 2,371 waste workers.
