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ITC to use 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging
MUMBAI: Multi-business conglomerate, ITC Limited has pledged that over the next decade, going beyond its Extended Producer Responsibility, it will deploy superior solutions so that 100 percent of its product packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
ITC also reiterated that it is committed to scale up its solid waste management programmes and sustain its leadership position as a Solid Waste Recycling Positive Company.
ITC’s initiatives in the solid waste management of which plastic waste management is a significant component, aim at providing a 360-degree solutions framework to address the critical issue of waste management through packaging optimisation, resource conservation, recycling of waste generated in its operations, source segregation, collection, reuse and recycling. Already over 99 percent of waste generated in ITC’s operations is recycled. ITC’s holistic solid waste management initiatives has now extended to 10 states across the country, covering cities, towns, villages and temples.
In a true spirit of public-private-people partnership, ITC’s waste management models including the flagship initiative Wellbeing Out of Waste, encompass community awareness, segregation, promotion of recycling and reuse through capacity building and development of social entrepreneurship. 100 per cent dry waste including plastic waste is sent for recycling.
ITC Ltd managing director Sanjiv Puri says, “The problem of solid waste management is one of the epic proportions and requires each organ of the society and more so, enterprises that are large economic organs of the society, to make a meaningful contribution. Wellbeing out of Waste (WOW) focuses on providing an end-to-end sustainable and a scalable solution spanning the entire value chain right from awareness, segregation, collection and promotion, reuse or recycle of solid waste. The benefits of these are already available to 77 lakh citizens of the country and over time, we are going to scale this up and enhance our contribution to the Prime Minister’s Vision of Swachh Bharat.”
“As a Company which is carbon positive, water positive and solid waste recycling positive for over a decade, ITC is committed to shaping a secure, sustainable and inclusive future through superior Triple Bottom Line performance,” he added.
Other than the Wellbeing Out of Waste (WOW) programmes that is operational in cities and large towns, ITC has initiated a number of community-managed projects in villages and towns to address the issue of waste management. Under ITC’s Green Temple initiative, three of Tamil Nadu’s eminent temples are turning their premises into zero garbage zones by recycling the organic waste from daily offerings – benefitting both the temples and their neighbourhoods with cleaner and healthier surroundings.
ITC is also collaborating with the municipal corporations of Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Saharanpur, Muzaffarpur, among others to ensure cleaner and greener cities.
WOW works by building partnerships, giving each stakeholder including rag-pickers and waste workers a role and responsibility and leveraging their capabilities as productively as possible. It optimises resources – using existing infrastructure where available and creating new where required.
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33 per cent of women believe the salary scale is rigged: Naukri report
Voices @ Work study finds rising calls for equal pay audits and lingering bias
MUMBAI: Progress may be visible in India’s workplaces, but many women still feel the need to tread carefully. A new report by Naukri reveals that one in two women hesitate to disclose marriage or maternity plans during job interviews, worried that such information could influence hiring decisions.
The findings come from the second edition of Naukri’s annual Voices @ Work International Women’s Day report, titled “What Women Professionals Want.” Drawing insights from more than 50,000 women across over 50 industries, the survey sheds light on evolving workplace aspirations alongside the biases that continue to hold women back.
One of the report’s most striking insights is the growing demand for equal pay audits. The share of women calling for regular pay parity checks has climbed to 27 per cent this year, up from 19 per cent a year ago. The demand now stands alongside menstrual leave as the most sought after workplace policy.
Interestingly, the call for pay transparency grows louder higher up the income ladder. Nearly half of women earning between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore annually say equal pay audits are a priority, suggesting that pay gaps become more visible as women move up the career ladder.
At the same time, confidence and ambition appear to be rising. About 83 per cent of women say they feel encouraged to pursue leadership roles, a significant jump from 66 per cent last year. Cities in southern India appear particularly supportive, with Hyderabad leading the way as 86 per cent of respondents there reported encouragement to step into leadership positions. The education sector recorded the highest sense of encouragement at 87 per cent.
Yet the report also highlights a growing trust deficit around pay equity. Nearly one in three women, or 33 per cent, say they do not believe men and women are paid equally at their workplace. That figure has risen from 25 per cent last year, pointing to widening perceptions of disparity as careers progress.
Bias in hiring and promotions continues to be the biggest hurdle. About 42 per cent of respondents say workplace bias is the main challenge for women from diverse backgrounds. The concern is consistent across major metros, with Chennai and Delhi NCR reporting similar levels.
Reluctance to discuss personal milestones during hiring processes is also widespread. While 34 per cent overall said they hesitate to share marriage or maternity plans in interviews, the anxiety increases with experience. Among professionals with 10 to 15 years of work experience, the figure rises to 40 per cent.
Info Edge group CMO Sumeet Singh, said the data reflects both progress and unfinished work. “Behind every data point in this report is a woman who is ambitious. The fact that 83 per cent feel encouraged to lead is something to celebrate. However, the fact that one in two still hide their marriage or maternity plans in interviews tells us the work is far from done. As India’s leading career platform, it felt not just important but necessary for us to shine a light on these gaps through the second edition of our report,” he said.
The report suggests that while ambition among women professionals is growing, structural changes around pay transparency, fair hiring and supportive policies will be key if workplaces hope to keep pace.
