The journey onwards
Collaboration, innovation, and advocacy in plastic waste management
The journey towards sustainable plastic use in India is ongoing. We continue to engage with our consumer goods companies on their progress on reducing their use of single-use plastic. We have also recently provided funding for a pilot project being run by WRAP and CII, to explore solutions to the problem of multi-material single-use plastic films and sachets. This form of packaging is still one of the most-used formats across consumer goods and remains a key challenge to address both in terms of collection and recyclability. If successful, the project could demonstrate the case for brands to move to more recyclable film packs which will be recycled, and thereby reduce pollution as well as provide additional value to the informal waste collectors.
Our next steps involve deepening our collaborations with existing partners and expanding our network to include more companies, policymakers, and community organisations. We aim to foster innovation in waste management and recycling technologies, advocate for policy changes to support circular economy principles and, ultimately, contribute to a significant reduction in plastic pollution. By integrating sustainability into the core of business practices, we can collectively work towards a future where the impact of plastics on our environment is minimized, ensuring a healthier planet for generations to come.
Recyclable flexible packaging solutions
The India Plastics Pact is calling upon FMCG brands and converters in India to participate and take the lead in India’s packaging sustainability story.
The objective is to enable successful applicants to demonstrate a positive use cases for businesses to investigate and transition to more recyclable film packaging. Successful applicants will not only champion the cause but also inspire other businesses to follow suit.
Discover more information on the pilot here.
Further reading/additional sources
‘Addressing plastic pollution in India’ — request here
‘Addressing plastic pollution in India — output paper’ - request here
India Plastics Pact
The Plastics Paradox
Plastics Pacts - Scaling impact
WRAP Global Plastics Pact Network
“Collaborations: the key to progressing towards a circular economy”
Plastics Pact Scaling Impact
"Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly as waste management and recycling fall short, says OECD"
Footnotes
Source: Plastic pollution is growing relentlessly as waste management recycling fall short, says OECD. Feb 2022, OECD.
Source: UNDP India
Source: Around 90% of all river-borne plastic that ends up in the ocean comes from just 10 rivers. Jun 2018, World Economic Forum.
Source for all figures: Innovate UK.
Source: CII-ITC-CESD.
Source: Kotak Institutional Equities. May 03, 2024.
Source: Plastics Pact: Scaling Impact Executive Summary.
Source: Stewart Investors Portfolio Explorer at at June 2024. Source for Climate Solutions and impact figures: © 2014–2024 Project Drawdown. Source for climate solutions and human development analysis and mapping: Stewart Investors investment team. Contributions are defined by the team as demonstrable contributions to any solution, either direct (directly attributable to products, services or practices provided by that company), or enabling (supported or made possible by products or technologies provided by that company).
For illustrative purposes only. Reference to the names of example company names mentioned in this communication is merely for explaining the investment strategy and should not be construed as investment advice or investment recommendation of those companies. Companies mentioned herein may or may not form part of the holdings of Stewart Investors. Holdings are subject to change.
Important information
This material is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute investment or financial advice and does not take into account any specific investment objectives, financial situation or needs. This is not an offer to provide asset management services, is not a recommendation or an offer or solicitation to buy, hold or sell any security or to execute any agreement for portfolio management or investment advisory services and this material has not been prepared in connection with any such offer. Before making any investment decision you should consider, with the assistance of a financial advisor, your individual investment needs, objectives and financial situation.
We have taken reasonable care to ensure that this material is accurate, current, and complete and fit for its intended purpose and audience as at the date of publication. To the extent this material contains any measurements or data related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, these measurements or data are estimates based on information sourced by the relevant investment team from third parties including portfolio companies and such information may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. No assurance is given or liability accepted regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of this material and we do not undertake to update it in future if circumstances change.
To the extent this material contains any expression of opinion or forward-looking statements, such opinions and statements are based on assumptions, matters and sources believed to be true and reliable at the time of publication only. This material reflects the views of the individual writers only. Those views may change, may not prove to be valid and may not reflect the views of everyone at First Sentier Investors.
To the extent this material contains any ESG related commitments or targets, such commitments or targets are current as at the date of publication and have been formulated by the relevant investment team in accordance with either internally developed proprietary frameworks or are otherwise based on the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC) Paris Aligned Investment Initiative framework. The commitments and targets are based on information and representations made to the relevant investment teams by portfolio companies (which may ultimately prove not be accurate), together with assumptions made by the relevant investment team in relation to future matters such as government policy implementation in ESG and other climate-related areas, enhanced future technology and the actions of portfolio companies (all of which are subject to change over time). As such, achievement of these commitments and targets depend on the ongoing accuracy of such information and representations as well as the realisation of such future matters. Any commitments and targets set out in this material are continuously reviewed by the relevant investment teams and subject to change without notice.
About First Sentier Investors
References to ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’ are references to First Sentier Investors, a global asset management business which is ultimately owned by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Certain of our investment teams operate under the trading names AlbaCore Capital Group, FSSA Investment Managers, Stewart Investors, RQI Investors and Igneo Infrastructure Partners, all of which are part of the First Sentier Investors group.
We communicate and conduct business through different legal entities in different locations. This material is communicated in:
Australia and New Zealand by First Sentier Investors (Australia) IM Ltd, authorised and regulated in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL 289017; ABN 89 114 194311)
European Economic Area by First Sentier Investors (Ireland) Limited, authorised and regulated in Ireland by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI reg no. C182306; reg office 70 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2, Ireland; reg company no. 629188)
Hong Kong by First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited and has not been reviewed by the Securities & Futures Commission in Hong Kong. First Sentier Investors, FSSA Investment Managers, Stewart Investors, RQI Investors and Igneo Infrastructure Partners are the business names of First Sentier Investors (Hong Kong) Limited.
Singapore by First Sentier Investors (Singapore) (reg company no. 196900420D) and this advertisement or material has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. First Sentier Investors (registration number 53236800B), FSSA Investment Managers (registration number 53314080C), Stewart Investors (registration number 53310114W), RQI Investors (registration number 53472532E) and Igneo Infrastructure Partners (registration number 53447928J) are the business divisions of First Sentier Investors (Singapore).
Japan by First Sentier Investors (Japan) Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Service Agency (Director of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registered Financial Institutions) No.2611)
United Kingdom by First Sentier Investors (UK) Funds Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reg. no. 2294743; reg office Finsbury Circus House, 15 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7EB)
United States by First Sentier Investors (US) LLC, authorised and regulated by the Securities Exchange Commission (RIA 801-93167)
other jurisdictions, where this document may lawfully be issued, by First Sentier Investors International IM Limited, authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA ref no. 122512; Registered office: 23 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 1BB; Company no. SC079063).
To the extent permitted by law, MUFG and its subsidiaries are not liable for any loss or damage as a result of reliance on any statement or information contained in this document. Neither MUFG nor any of its subsidiaries guarantee the performance of any investment products referred to in this document or the repayment of capital. Any investments referred to are not deposits or other liabilities of MUFG or its subsidiaries, and are subject to investment risk, including loss of income and capital invested.
© First Sentier Investors Group
