MAM
Publicis OOH India launches new initiative ‘FlexForward’
Mumbai: Publicis OOH India, part of Publicis Groupe India, launched a new green initiative, FlexForward, aimed at transforming the lifecycle of vinyl flexes used in the Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising industry. This programme addresses the pressing environmental challenges of billboard waste, offering an innovative, first-of-its-kind solution that benefits both communities and the planet.
Flex is a printable plastic material used to create banners, hoardings, and other promotional materials. In partnership with leading NGOs such as Goonj, FlexForward collects post-campaign flexes and repurposes them into eco-friendly utility items, including rain tarps, tote bags, and women’s utility pouches. These items are then distributed among marginalised communities, promoting sustainability while creating a positive social impact.
The creative strategy behind FlexForward revolves around the concept of superhero flexes, symbolising transformation, and change. The initiative highlights the community’s active role in workshops where the collected flexes are cleaned, cut, and transformed into practical products.
How FlexForward creates change
The initiative has already made significant strides in reducing waste and promoting sustainability:
Waste repurposing: Over seven lakh sq. ft. of flex in Mumbai and five lakh sq. ft. in Delhi have been collected and transformed, preventing tonnes of waste from reaching landfills.
Carbon footprint reduction: By repurposing these materials, FlexForward has substantially decreased emissions, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Community empowerment: The initiative engages local communities in the collection, transformation, and distribution process, creating awareness and fostering collective action.
PMX India managing director Sejal Shah said, “FlexForward brings in sustainability through reuse of the materials for billboards and blends innovation with social responsibility. At the core of our business matrix and goals, is an unwavering commitment to environmental protection, sustainability, positive social change and progress. FlexForward is yet another manifestation of this commitment, taking a bold step in redefining sustainability in advertising. It’s not just about reducing waste; it’s about creating a green movement and empowering communities. This initiative is a testament to the transformative impact of collective action in making a meaningful difference.”
Brands
Flipkart completes reverse flip to India ahead of IPO
Walmart-owned e-commerce giant shifts domicile from Singapore to Bengaluru
MUMBAI: Flipkart has completed its restructuring to move its parent company from Singapore back to India, marking a key milestone as the Walmart-owned marketplace prepares for a potential initial public offering on Indian stock exchanges, ET reported, citing people aware of the matter.
The move, often referred to as a “reverse flip”, relocates the company’s legal home to India and aligns its corporate structure more closely with its largest market. It also clears an important regulatory step for Flipkart as it explores listing plans.
As part of the restructuring, several Singapore-based entities have been merged into Flipkart Internet Private Limited, which will now serve as the main holding company for the entire group.
The consolidation brings a number of major businesses directly under the Indian parent company. These include fashion platform Myntra, logistics arm Ekart, travel booking platform Cleartrip, healthcare marketplace Flipkart Health, and fintech venture Super.money.
Under the new structure, global investors including Walmart, Microsoft, SoftBank, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board will hold their stakes directly in the Indian entity rather than through an overseas holding company.
The redomiciliation required approval from the Indian government because Chinese technology company Tencent owns around a 5 to 6 per cent stake in Flipkart. Under Press Note 3, investments from countries sharing a land border with India require prior government clearance.
Flipkart had already secured approval from the National Company Law Tribunal in December. With the latest clearance from the central government, the company has now obtained all the regulatory approvals needed to complete the relocation, ET reported earlier.
Flipkart had originally shifted its holding structure to Singapore in 2011 to tap global capital more easily. However, as India’s capital markets have matured, several start-ups have begun returning their domiciles to the country ahead of public listings. Companies such as Razorpay, Groww, and Meesho have taken similar steps.
The company is now expected to move ahead with its IPO preparations and has begun early discussions with merchant bankers. According to people familiar with the matter, Flipkart could file its draft prospectus later this year, setting the stage for what may become one of the most closely watched listings in India’s e-commerce sector.
Flipkart has been majority-owned by Walmart since 2018, when the US retail giant acquired a 77 per cent stake in the company for $16 billion in one of the largest e-commerce deals globally.
