EPR and ESG in India: A Strategic Framework for Sustainable Waste Management

  India stands at a critical juncture in its sustainability journey. As urbanization accelerates, consumer demand rises and industrial activity expands, the country faces an alarming increase in waste generation. Overflowing landfills, hazardous e-waste, and persistent plastic pollution now pose serious environmental and public health risks. As government data shows, India recycles less than half of its e-waste, despite being the third-largest generator globally, after China and USA 1 . Major landfills in cities like Delhi contribute significantly to methane emissions, intensifying GHG emissions and creating fire hazards 2 . To address this mounting crisis, India has embraced Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) as a key policy tool. This blog unpacks the concept of EPR and illustrates how Indian enterprises can integrate it into their ESG strategies to foster innovation, compliance and sustainable growth. History of EPR The concept of EPR was first introduced in 1990 by Th...