Milestone Achievement in Plastic Waste Recovery
Allianz Services India and Allianz Technology India, the Global Capability Centers (GCCs) of Allianz Group in India, announced that their Plastic Waste-Free Rivers Project has recovered over 1,000 tons of plastic waste from Thiruvananthapuram's rivers and waterways over four years. This prevents the plastic from reaching the Arabian Sea and is equivalent to removing 50 million plastic bottles, which if placed end-to-end would stretch 12,000 km—exceeding India's coastline.
Event and Dignitaries
The milestone was announced at an event in Thiruvananthapuram attended by Kerala Minister for Industries, IT, AI and Startups P.K. Kunhalikutty; Minister for Water Resources Adv. Mons Joseph; Minister for Local Self Government K M Shaji; Mayor of Thiruvananthapuram Adv. V V Rajesh; MLA V Muraleedharan; Jison John, MD & CEO of Allianz Services India; and Jayant Tulsiani, Branch Head India of Allianz Technology SE.
CSR Investment and Duration
Launched in 2022, the project is entirely funded by Allianz Services India and Allianz Technology India, with over INR 5 crores (EUR 500,000) from CSR funds invested so far.
Quotes from Officials
P K Kunhalikutty stated, "Global Capability Centres in Kerala are not merely engines of economic growth—they are responsible corporate citizens who invest in the communities and ecosystems that sustain them. This milestone reinforces a powerful message to global investors: Kerala's industrial growth is inseparable from its commitment to environmental excellence."
Adv. Mons Joseph said, "What makes the Plastic Waste-Free Rivers Project particularly commendable is its sustained, systematic approach. I urge corporates, local bodies, and citizens alike to draw inspiration from this model."
K M Shaji added, "I call upon our Panchayats, Municipalities, and the Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram to draw inspiration from this model and deepen their collaboration with initiatives of this nature."
Barbara Karuth-Zelle, Member of the Board of Management and Group COO of Allianz SE, noted, "Reaching the 1,000 ton milestone is incredibly meaningful for Allianz—every piece of plastic removed from rivers is one less harming the ocean. It reflects a clear conviction: to protect biodiversity and ocean health, we must act upstream. This is about more than cleanup—it's about lasting change: creating jobs, raising awareness, and transforming how communities manage waste. But we are only at the beginning."
Technology and Operations
The project uses low-cost floating barriers called TrashBooms to intercept plastic waste in rivers and urban waterways. Currently, 15 TrashBoom systems operate at sites including Thampanoor thodu, Ulloor thodu, Pattom thodu, Thekkinakara canal, Amayizhanchan thodu, Karamana river, Killi river, Kariyil thodu, and Thettiyar canal. The initiative is run with NGO partners Thanal Trust and Sustera Foundation, using technology from Plastic Fischer, Germany. Three Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) at Injakkal, Venpalavattom, and Vallakadavu are managed by a team of 23 professionals. Non-recyclable plastic is co-processed at Dalmia Cement plants in Tamil Nadu, while recyclable plastic is repurposed locally, including into TrashBins installed at Veli Beach.
Environmental Context
Globally, nine million tons of plastic reach oceans annually. In Thiruvananthapuram, 79% of debris on major water banks is plastic, and the Karamana and Killi rivers have the highest microplastic densities in the region. Without intervention, plastic is projected to outweigh fish in the world's oceans by 2050.
Grassroots Programs and Expansion
In 2025, Allianz launched grassroots programs in Puthenthope, Kadinamkulam, and Veli with Thanal Trust and Sustera Foundation, focusing on preventive waste management and behavior change. Employees conduct beach cleanups and awareness campaigns in collaboration with the Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram and the Government of Kerala.
Impact and Replication
The project has earned endorsement from the UN Ocean Decade. The model is being replicated in Mangaluru, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kanpur, and Varanasi. Allianz's GCCs in Thiruvananthapuram employ over 6,600 professionals, making it the largest GCC location by headcount globally.
