Sattva Group, Knowledge Realty Trust and rePurpose Global have marked an early milestone in the Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative through a field visit across Someshwara Beach, Pachanady, Kadeshwalya and the Bantwal Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
Launched on Earth Day 2026, the three-year initiative aims to recover between 3.5 million and 4.5 million kilograms of waste, integrate 80,000 households into formal waste management systems, reduce plastic leakage across 50 coastal villages and support 200 waste workers, primarily women, through livelihood and skill development opportunities.
On 23 May, Shivam Agarwal, Vice President, Strategy, Sattva Group, and Aditya Siroya, Co-Founder and Advisor, rePurpose Global, led a full-day visit to project locations along Karnataka’s coastline to review implementation efforts and community engagement activities.
The visit began at Someshwara Beach, where approximately 40 community volunteers participated in a clean-up drive that recovered more than 250 kilograms of waste.
Shivam Agarwal, Vice President – Strategy, Sattva Group, said, “You can talk about sustainability in boardrooms and earnings calls. But standing on a beach, collecting plastic with forty people who live here that’s where it becomes real. This is where the work happens, and this is where we intend to show up.”
The team later visited Kadeshwalya village to review household waste collection and segregation systems currently in operation. Assessments were also conducted along the Netravathi river to identify infrastructure requirements aimed at preventing plastic waste from reaching the sea.
The visit concluded at the Bantwal Material Recovery Facility, where discussions were held with waste workers involved in waste collection, segregation and processing activities.
Jiji Thomas, Head – ESG & Sustainability, Knowledge Realty Trust, said, “At Knowledge Realty Trust, we are committed to creating value that extends beyond our buildings and into the communities around us. The outcomes achieved through the first phase of the Repurpose Initiative demonstrate how collaborative action can drive meaningful environmental and social impact. We are encouraged by the progress made and remain committed to supporting initiatives that create cleaner, more sustainable communities for the future.”
According to programme data, the initiative has recovered more than 1.5 lakh kilograms of dry waste, ethically processed over 50,000 kilograms of low-value plastic, supported 20 waste workers and engaged with more than 30 village gram panchayats. The programme is being implemented with support from the Dakshina Kannada Zila Panchayat and Mangala Resource Management.
Aditya Siroya, Co-Founder and Advisor, rePurpose Global, added, “What we saw today reinforced both the scale of the challenge and the importance of building solutions designed to last. It’s encouraging to see businesses like Sattva stepping forward with real ambition — not just commitments on paper, but investment in systems that can scale. Through this partnership, we’re not only reducing plastic leakage locally; we’re building a model for environmental leadership that can extend far beyond Karnataka.”
By the end of 2026, the Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative targets the recovery of more than 10 lakh kilograms of dry waste, including 4 lakh kilograms of plastic. The programme also aims to improve livelihoods for 60 waste workers and conduct awareness and capacity-building programmes across at least 15 villages in Dakshina Kannada.
Karnataka’s coastline extends for 320 kilometres, with the initiative focused on supporting long-term waste management and coastal protection efforts across the region.
