The jacket that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wore today in the Parliament, made with up of recycled plastic bottles, will be available in major cities within three months, said Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) Chairman, SM Vaidya, on the sidelines of the ongoing India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru.
Under the 'Unbottled' initiative of Indian Oil, the Prime Minister on Monday launched the uniforms made from recycled plastic at the ongoing India Energy Week 2023 in Bengaluru.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, IOCL Chairman said that within three months, jackets made from recycled plastic waste bottles will be available to all the people.
People will be able to buy the jacket at the retail outlets of oil marketing companies (OMC) such as IOCL, BPCL and HPCL.
Mr Vaidya said that recycled products will not be limited to just to oil marketing companies or army personnel.
Mr Vaidya said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a very big statement by wearing the jacket and about recycling plastic bottle waste.
"While inaugurating India Energy Week Prohibited has given the mantra of reduce, reuse, and recycle. This jacket is an example of how can we reduce consumption. of fresh polymer and promote recycling," Vaidya said.
Mr Vaidya said that PM wearing such a jacket will raise recycling to a new level.
"We had started the uniform made by used plastic bottles to spread this initiative. OMCs have total of 70,000 outlets in India. We want to spread the message of recycling to every household. PM took this initiative to the next level," Mr Vaidya added.
During the energy week event launch, PM Modi linked India's effort for Green Growth, and Energy Transition with Indian values where the circular economy is part of every Indian's lifestyle and Reduce, Reuse and Recycle is part of the culture.
He said initiatives of recycling plastic bottles into uniforms will strengthen Mission LiFE.
Indian Oil is taking this initiative further through 'Unbottled' - a brand for sustainable garments launched for merchandise made from recycled polyester. Under this brand, Indian Oil targets to meet the requirement of uniforms for the customer attendants of other Oil Marketing Companies, non-combat uniforms for the Army, uniforms/ dresses for Institutions & sales to retail customers.
At the COP26 summit in Glasgow in 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had committed to an ambitious five-part "Panchamrit" pledge, including reaching 500 GW of non-fossil electricity capacity, to generate half of all energy requirements from renewables, to reduce emissions by 1 billion tons by 2030.
India also aims to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 45 per cent. Finally, India commits to net-zero emissions by 2070.
Notably, India banned several single-use plastics in July 2022.
Single-use plastics are typically items that are discarded after being used only once and do not go through the recycling process.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
