Flipkart's new initiative to collect plastic packaging from customers’ doorstep

Consumer outreach initiative aimed at responsible disposal of used plastic packaging 

• Initiates pilot across select hubs in seven cities including Dehradun, Kolkata, Mumbai and Bengaluru to collect plastic packaging from doorsteps
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Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace, today announced the roll out of a new initiative that focuses on creating awareness among consumers on the proper disposal of plastic packaging and make them active participants in its sustainability agenda. As part of this initiative, Flipkart is conducting a pilot project to collect plastic packaging back from consumers at select hubs across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Dehradun, Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad.

The pilot aims at ensuring existing plastic packaging in the system is recycled and reused. Under the program, Flipkart will send out an intimation to consumers asking them to voluntarily hand over plastic packaging to Flipkart wishmasters for its proper disposal, at the time of product delivery. The collected packets will then be sent to registered vendors to ensure it is disposed of responsibly to avoid ending up in landfills. Wishmasters have also been provided proper training in explaining the various facets of this initiative to consumers to ensure high participation. This industry-first initiative aims at inspiring people to actively contribute towards the proper disposal of plastic packaging and become Green Ambassadors. 

This program is in continuation of Flipkart’s sustainability agenda under which it has already reduced the utilization of single-use plastic by 33% and aims to move towards 100% recycled plastic consumption in its supply chain by March 2021.Towards this goal, Flipkart has filed for EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and is targeting 30% collection back in the first year. The company is also committed to maximizing recycled content in single-use plastic to boost the recycling ecosystem and reduce virgin plastic consumption. 

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, “Flipkart is a committed corporate citizen who is mindful of its role towards environmental sustainability. We have taken bold steps towards reducing single-use plastic in the system by replacing it with various eco-friendly alternatives and are constantly innovating with our approaches. The recently initiated pilot program ensures that our biggest stakeholder - consumers, is one of the key enablers of this initiative and will help drive awareness. We are proud to be the first-ever e-commerce marketplace to channelize plastic packaging back into the system through door-to-door collection with the help of our wishmasters. We believe a collective approach of all stakeholders would help us in achieving the dream of a Swachh and Samridha Bharat, and the country's vision to phase out single-use plastic.”

Flipkart is working on various initiatives, including the introduction of eco-friendly paper shreds, replacing poly pouches with recycled paper bags, replacing bubble wraps and airbags with carton waste shredded material, and 2-ply roll, to name a few as part of its long-term sustainability initiatives. 

Earlier this year, the company announced the introduction of electric vehicles in its last-mile delivery network with the aim to replace nearly 40% of its existing last-mile fleet of delivery vans with EVs by March 2020. By leveraging technology in its workflow at fulfillment centers, Flipkart optimizes the type and volume of packaging to be used, instead of leaving it to human decision and was also recently certified ISO 14001 for its strategic facilities, a crucial benchmark for the preparedness to prevent environmental pollution in the workplace. 

Flipkart transforms entertainment for India

Flipkart transforms entertainment for India: Announces the launch of ‘Flipkart Video Originals’

~ This launch addresses categories that aren’t easily accessible, such as non fiction and short stories

Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace today announced its foray into offering original video content with the launch of ‘Flipkart Video Originals’. Integrated within the Flipkart Video platform, which was launched in August this year, Flipkart Video Originals will be produced by some of the best creators in the industry and curated especially for the Flipkart platform. The first creator to join the platform is Academy Award winner Guneet Monga. Guneet is on board as the official creator and curator of short stories for the platform, helping bring to life new-age storytelling for millions of people. Understanding the entertainment needs of today’s consumers, Flipkart Video Originals will make available bespoke snackable content that is both mobile-first and interactive in nature. Unlike other video offerings available today, Flipkart is integrating compelling technology in entertainment, for the widest consumer base which penetrates into the deepest parts of the country, where the possibilities are endless.

In the months to come, Flipkart will work with renowned industry talent and production houses such as Studio Next, Frames and Sikhya Productions, to bring forth first-of-its-kind content across genres and languages. The first original series ‘Backbenchers’ hosted by Farah Khan goes live later this month and will feature an array of India’s most-loved celebrities, engaging in nostalgic banter, which will have the audience coming back for more.

Speaking about Flipkart Video Originals, Prakash Sikaria, Vice President - Growth & Monetization at Flipkart says, “Our singular focus at Flipkart is to bring value to the lives of our consumers, through carefully tailored and curated offerings. When we launched our Video platform earlier this year, our agenda was clear and we were keen to play a role in on-boarding new customers who are not necessarily new to the internet, but are new to e-commerce. Within the first two months of the launch of Flipkart Video, we are overwhelmed with the positive response we have received from consumers. Encouraged by this, we are launching our next content offering - ‘Flipkart Video Originals’. There is an existing gap that needs to be filled and at Flipkart, we saw an opportunity to create great video content which is easier for people to consume, that is mobile-first. From short stories created by award-winning producers, to entertainment shows featuring the leading talent from Bollywood, we believe that our platform will have something special for every consumer. We envisage our original content to resonate strongly with people across the country, as we usher in a new era of mobile-first video content.”

Speaking about her partnership with Flipkart Video Originals, Oscar Winning producer Guneet Monga, said, “Flipkart Video is offering a great platform for content creators to engage with a customer base of over 160 million people across India, through a unique story telling format. I am excited to be collaborating with Flipkart to cater to today's demand of short-form content, at the convenience of mobile phones. With accepting audience like today's, it is exciting to make diverse films. It's great to witness that Flipkart Video Originals is enabling film makers to share their stories."

When Flipkart launched its video platform earlier in 2019, it truly democratised content for Bharat. Most consumers’ first touch point with the internet is through online video content, and in India, primarily via mobile. Flipkart truly believes that great content, if made available to a wider base of consumers, specially the ones who are new to e-commerce but not necessarily the internet, can play a key role in helping them access e-commerce effectively. Flipkart Video Originals as an offering has been curated for consumers who are constantly looking out for new and better ways to spend their time online.