Sattva announces coastal zero-waste campaign in Karnataka, targets 80,000 households

Bengaluru: Sattva Group, in partnership with Knowledge Realty Trust and rePurpose Global, has launched the Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative, a multi-year programme aimed at building community-led waste management systems along the state’s coastline.

Announced on the eve of Earth Day, the three-year initiative seeks to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste across Karnataka’s 320-km coastline, where plastics account for nearly 60% of coastal litter, a media release said.

The programme aims to connect over 80,000 households and integrate 50 coastal villages into formal waste management systems, with a focus on improving waste segregation, collection and processing at source. It also plans to support around 200 waste workers through stable livelihoods, skilling initiatives and safer working conditions, it added.


The initiative is expected to enable recovery and responsible processing of about 4.5 million kg of waste, helping reduce environmental leakage into marine ecosystems and improve coastal conditions.

Shivam Agarwal, vice president (strategy) at Sattva Group, said the programme is designed to create structured, locally run systems that are financially viable and capable of delivering measurable outcomes. “Improving the coastline has a direct impact on local livelihoods and communities. The initiative combines environmental protection with livelihood creation.”

Jiji Thomas, head (ESG & sustainability) at Knowledge Realty Trust, said coastal waste poses a material ESG risk with implications for climate resilience and long-term asset value. “Our focus is on upstream awareness in urban centres, alongside downstream interventions such as waste interception and clean-ups to reduce land-to-sea leakage,” she said.

The programme will be implemented with support from the Centre for Applied Research and People’s Engagement (CARPE), which will serve as the non-profit recipient of funds. While rePurpose Global will lead on-ground execution, CARPE will contribute expertise in waste management and environmental restoration through data-driven approaches, the press release said.

Aditya Siroya, founder and chief impact officer at rePurpose Global, said the partnership aims to build scalable, locally embedded systems that reduce environmental impact while enabling community participation.