UNDP partners with The Circulate Initiative to advance responsible sourcing and inclusive recycling in India
The partnership will improve the lives of over 1,000 informal waste workers and support the responsible sourcing of 8,000 metric tonnes of plastic by 2027
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India has partnered with The Circulate Initiative, a global non-profit, as a technical partner to advance responsible sourcing across the recycled plastic value chain in India. As part of The Circulate Initiative’s human rights program, the Responsible Sourcing Initiative, the partnership will support two projects with leading recyclers – Dalmia Polypro Industries and Ganesha Ecosphere, aimed at strengthening responsible sourcing practices, improving working conditions, and providing targeted support for informal waste sector workers across select geographies in India.
This collaboration reinforces UNDP’s leadership in advancing inclusive circular economy approaches and builds on its work to promote responsible business conduct through its Business and Human Rights programme.
India is the world’s largest producer of plastic waste, generating around 9.3 million tonnes annually. At the forefront of collection and recycling are approximately four million informal waste workers, many of whom are women and children. Despite their crucial role in keeping the country’s recycling systems running, these workers often face limited recognition, unsafe working conditions, and barriers to social protection.
By 2027, the two projects will:
- Directly improve the lives of over 1,000 informal waste sector workers by providing access to government social security schemes, identity cards, insurance, and PPE, building capacity through structured trainings, and strengthening responsible sourcing practices in the value chains of Dalmia Polypro Industries and Ganesha Ecosphere.
- Support responsible sourcing of 8,000 metric tonnes of plastic and build skills across the value chain through training and regular tracking of progress.
- Develop practical guidance to help recyclers and other value chain actors apply the Harmonized Responsible Sourcing Framework for Recycled Materials (Harmonized Framework), identify and address human rights risks, improve worker protections, and strengthen responsible sourcing practices across the sector.
Dr. Ashish Chaturvedi, Head, Action for Climate and Environment, UNDP India, said, “Informal waste workers (Safai Sathis) sustain the backbone of India’s recycling sector, yet many continue to face unsafe conditions and limited recognition. Through this partnership, UNDP is strengthening livelihoods, expanding access to social protection, and supporting recyclers to institutionalise responsible and inclusive practices. Anchored in our commitment to advancing business and human rights, this work demonstrates how circular economy transitions can deliver both social justice and environmental progress while leaving no one behind.”
Annerieke Douma, Senior Director, Programs, The Circulate Initiative, said, “Responsible sourcing begins with valuing the people at the heart of recycling systems. Through this partnership with UNDP India, we are connecting tens of thousands of workers to social protections, providing hands-on training, and embedding responsible practices in India’s largest plastic value chains. The progress we make here will inform global approaches to sourcing that create opportunity, strengthen equity, and accelerate the shift to a truly circular economy.”
The projects will be implemented with Dalmia Polypro Industries, a leading recycler of local Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyolefin (PO) waste, and Ganesha Ecosphere, a pioneer in recycled polyester (rPET) fibre and yarn production. Both recycling partners will adopt the Harmonised Framework to identify human rights risks in their supply chains and implement measures to mitigate them, ensuring fair and safe treatment of workers across all tiers of collection and recycling.
In addition to the implementation projects, the partnership will establish the Responsible Sourcing Network India (RSNI), co-hosted with the Alliance of Indian Wastepickers (AIW), a national coalition working for the inclusion of waste pickers in policies and programmes. Based on the learnings from the two implementations, the network will provide a platform for knowledge exchange, technical guidance, and the expansion of responsible sourcing practices, and will be open to all value chain actors in India.
The partnership will contribute to key Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by strengthening inclusive, rights-based, and sustainable recycling value chains.