MAM
India wins ICC T20 World Cup 2024: Coca-Cola India and ICC feature made in India recycled PET flag
Mumbai: In the thrilling conclusion of ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 held in the USA and the West Indies where India truly emerged victorious, by winning the prestigious tournament. Coca-Cola India and the ICC once again brought a refreshing difference by combining cricket passion with a commitment to sustainability.
This year’s Men’s T20 World Cup matches featured the ‘Made in India’ National Flags and the Cricket 4 Good Flags, crafted from post-consumer recycled PET bottles. These bottles were transformed into polyester fabric and recycled yarn, made by recycling garbage and plastic bottles. These flags were proudly displayed during the national anthem ceremony at the respective stadiums.
Coca-Cola India first introduced the recycled PET National Flags during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023, becoming the first company in the world to introduce these flags in cricket. Following the impactful, sustainable strides made previously through several green initiatives during the marquee event, Coca-Cola India continues to showcase environmental responsibility by the creation of these National Flags of the participating 20 nations, the largest flags in the world with the size— 35 metres by 20 metres and the nine ICC Cricket 4 Good Flags.
In addition, Thums Up was the official beverage and sports drink partner for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. Recently, Coca-Cola has extended its partnership with ICC, committing to serve as a global partner for ICC events until 2031. This renewed collaboration solidifies Coca-Cola’s support for cricket across all three formats, ensuring a lasting sustainable impact on the sport, worldwide.
Approximately 11,000 PET bottles have been transformed into each national flag, and 2,000 bottles into each ICC Cricket 4 Good Flag by Go Rewise by Ganesha Ecoverse Limited and their partner. Even the packaging for these flags is made from recycled material, emphasizing on a holistic approach to sustainability. Also, all these flags are Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certified, meeting international standards for recycled content, social and environmental practices, and chemical restrictions. Further, the use of cutting-edge AI sorting systems has boosted waste segregation efficiency, enhancing resource recovery. Simultaneously, the collection systems have empowered over 50,000 waste workers, including women. A dedicated team of 600 workers was built to bring these magnificent flags to life. Each of these flags produces 60 per cent lesser carbon emissions while saving hundreds of kgs of waste going to landfills and reducing dependency on fossil fuel-based resources.
Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia (INSWA) senior director-CSR and sustainability Rajesh Ayapilla said, “At Coca-Cola, we’re excited to unite cricket passion with our commitment to sustainability at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. These recycled PET flags showcase our dedication to circularity and environmental responsibility. By turning post-consumer plastic bottles into symbols of national pride, we celebrate fans and take a significant step towards a greener future. We believe that the initiative will set a precedent for future events and will continue to inspire a positive change.”
ICC chief commercial officer Anurag Dahiya said, “ICC World Cups have once again proven to be a fantastic platform to showcase the partnership between Coca-Cola India and the ICC, highlighting our shared commitment to cricket and the environment. The ‘Made in India’ recycled PET flags were a powerful initiative of our exciting partnership. Not only did they create a vibrant atmosphere during the national anthem ceremonies, but they also demonstrated how innovation can promote sustainability within cricket.”
Go Rewise founder Yash Sharma said, “Our mission is to wisely recycle every bottle used and disposed off into high-value products and give multiple lives to our resources. As the ICC World Cup fans cheered for their nations, the world saw a combination of India’s sports as well as technological prowess in recycling post-consumer waste and the craft of 100+ artisanal men and women creating a symbol of sustainability and sportsmanship through flags made of recycled PET bottles. We are proud to partner with Coca-Cola to continue their commitment to weave sustainability into sports.”
Through this innovative initiative, Coca-Cola India and the ICC are not just promoting a sustainable future but also inspiring cricket fans to join the movement towards environmental stewardship.
Brands
Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen to step down after 18 years in role
Board begins CEO search as Narayen prepares to move to chair role
SAN JOSE: After nearly two decades at the helm, Adobe’s long-serving chief executive Shantanu Narayen is preparing to pass the baton.
The company announced that Narayen will transition from his role as chief executive officer once a successor is appointed, ending an 18-year run that reshaped Adobe from a boxed software seller into a global cloud and AI powerhouse. He will remain chair of the board following the leadership transition.
Adobe’s board has formed a special committee to oversee the succession process, led by lead independent director Frank Calderoni. The committee will evaluate both internal and external candidates.
“Shantanu’s leadership has been instrumental in Adobe’s transformation and in positioning the company for the AI-driven era,” Calderoni said in a statement. “As we begin the next phase of succession planning, our focus is on identifying the right leader for the company’s next chapter while ensuring a smooth transition.”
In a note to employees, Narayen described the moment not as a farewell but as a pause for reflection after a long journey with the company.
“I love Adobe and the privilege of leading it has been the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote, adding that he will continue to work closely with the board over the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership change.
Tributes from the technology industry quickly followed the announcement. Microsoft chairman and chief executive officer Satya Nadella congratulated Narayen on what he described as a “legendary run” at Adobe.
“Congrats Shantanu, on a legendary run at Adobe! You’ve built one of the most important software companies in the world, and expanded what’s possible for creators, entrepreneurs, and brands everywhere,” Nadella wrote on LinkedIn.
“What has always stood out to me is the empathy you’ve brought to the creative process and the example you’ve set as a leader. Grateful for your friendship, mentorship, and for all you’ve done for Adobe and for our industry.”
Narayen’s career at Adobe spans nearly three decades. He joined the company in 1998 as vice president and rose steadily through the ranks before becoming chief executive officer in December 2007.
During that time, he orchestrated one of the most significant reinventions in the software industry. In 2013, Adobe made the bold decision to abandon traditional boxed software sales and move its flagship creative tools such as Photoshop to a subscription-based Creative Cloud model. The shift initially rattled investors but ultimately transformed Adobe into a predictable recurring revenue business and a case study in digital reinvention.
Narayen also pushed Adobe beyond creative tools into the world of marketing technology and data-driven customer experience, spearheading acquisitions such as Omniture and Marketo. Those moves helped build Adobe’s digital experience division and broaden its reach far beyond designers and photographers.
The numbers tell the story of that transformation. When Narayen took over in 2007, Adobe generated roughly $3 billion in annual revenue. Today the company reports more than $25 billion. Over the same period, its workforce expanded from around 3,000 employees to more than 30,000.
In recent years, Narayen has steered Adobe into the generative AI era with the launch of Adobe Firefly, aiming to keep the company ahead in a rapidly evolving creative technology landscape.
Born in Hyderabad in 1963, Narayen studied electronics and communication engineering at Osmania University before moving to the United States for a master’s degree in computer science from Bowling Green State University. He later earned an MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.
Widely regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s most steady and effective leaders, Narayen has earned multiple honours during his career, including India’s Padma Shri in 2019.
For Adobe, the upcoming leadership change marks the end of a defining chapter. For Narayen, however, the story is far from finished. As he told employees, the company’s next era of creativity, powered by AI and new digital workflows, is only just beginning.
