Leading corporations have joined hands to form the Action Alliance for Recycling Beverage Cartons (AARC) – a first-of-its-kind initiative to further strengthen the end-to-end waste management ecosystem by engaging with all stakeholders across the value chain.
The alliance aims to increase recycling of used cartons from approximately 30% today to 60% by 2025. To begin with, 10 industry leaders in the field of juices, dairy, pharma, liquor and packaging have come together to kick start the alliance and many more are expected to join along the way.
Commenting on the genesis of AARC, Kandarp Singh, Managing Director, Tetra Pak and Chairman of AARC, said, “This is the first time ever that an initiative of this nature and scale has been launched. It is a strong platform that brings the industry together with one common mission – of radically transforming the recycling landscape and positively impacting millions engaged in the waste trade. We are very grateful for the support that we have received from the industry.”
Applauding the launch of AARC, Mr. C K Mishra, Secretary, Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change said, “The Government recently revamped the Waste Management Rules and introduced the principle of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). We are extremely happy to see the formation of AARC – collaboration between industry, the waste trade, NGOs and civic society and their commitment to fulfil their mandate as responsible producers.”