Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd Champions Sustainability at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir
~Showcasing PLA-based solutions with Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 to promote responsible celebration~
Ayodhya, September 27, 2025: In a pioneering step towards integrating sustainability with tradition, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) is set to distribute eco-friendly PLA-based prasad boxes and water bottles at Shree Ram Mandir, Ayodhya, during Dussehra on October 2, 2025. As a pioneering initiative, Dusshera is being celebrated, paving the way for eco-conscious traditions at India’s most cherished cultural and religious events.
This initiative is a part of BCML’s broader commitment to sustainable innovation through its PLA brand, Balrampur Bioyug, and aligns closely with the ongoing Swachhata Hi Seva 2025 campaign — a flagship national initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission. Being observed from September 17 to October 2, this year’s campaign is themed “Swachhotsav – Celebrating Cleanliness Together”, which aims to merge India’s festive spirit with a deeper commitment to cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
BCML partnered with MSME converters and compounders across southern and western India to manufacture over 2.5 lakh prasad boxes and 1 lakh water bottles. With the invaluable support of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, the initiative has been seamlessly executed while honouring the sanctity of its spiritually significant setting.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is globally recognized as one of the most promising and food-safe alternatives to single-use plastics (SUPs). Durable, aesthetic, and fully food-safe, PLA delivers the functionality of traditional plastic without the environmental burden. The prasad boxes and water bottles created for this initiative are entirely bio-based and IS 17088 compostable, including the water bottle caps, ensuring convenience while preventing littering and promoting a cleaner environment.
Mr. Vivek Saraogi, Chairman & Managing Director, BCML said, “At BCML, we see sustainability not as an option but as a responsibility. Launching this initiative on the auspicious day of Dussehra, where good triumphs over evil and Swachh Bharat programme which coincides on 2nd Oct was symbolic—celebrating responsibly while honouring our cultural and moral heritage. Large gatherings like those in our temples often generate significant plastic waste affecting the environment and through PLA, we wanted to show that sustainable, compostable alternatives can seamlessly coexist with faith and tradition. Our hope is that this step inspires other festivals and organisations to embrace greener choices with low environmental impact while honouring our rich tradition. This is just the beginning of how we envision sustainability becoming an integral part of everyday Indian life.”
“Sustainability and coexisting with nature have always been at the heart of India’s civilization—we are simply taking it forward with this initiative. Sustainability is not just a goal; it’s a movement that must be experienced,” said Avantika Saraogi, Executive Director, BCML. “For innovative solutions like PLA to take root, we must bring them directly to consumers, letting them see, feel, and trust these alternatives in real life. Cultural moments like Dussehra provide the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that eco-conscious choices can be practical, respectful of tradition, and scalable. By aligning with the Swachhata Hi Seva campaign, we aim to drive a deeper cultural shift—one that reinforces the idea that sustainability is not just an environmental imperative, but a collective national duty.”
Through such initiatives, BCML is not only advancing innovation in sustainable packaging but also helping shape a mindset of responsible consumption proving that eco-friendly alternatives are both viable and essential for India’s transition toward a cleaner, greener future.