Indian Oil Corporation(IOC), which supplies up to half of the country's fuel requirements, is venturing into recycling PET bottles thus adhering to its aim of a sustainable future. The project involves recycling  20 million discarded mineral water, cold drink, and other PET bottles annually to make eco-friendly uniforms for staff that man its petrol pumps and LPG distributor agencies.

IOC Chairman SM Vaidya unveiled a special "sustainable and green" uniform for the organization's three lakh fuel station attendants and LPG gas distribution staff in a spectacular ceremony themed "Unbottled - Towards a Greener Future."

After usage, empty PET packaging is thrown away by the consumer and produces PET waste. IOC has arranged for the collection of around 20 million of these bottles to be made into yarn for weaving or knitting cloth. This will afterward be given to a textile business for the creation of uniforms for the employees of IOC's LPG gas agencies and petrol pump attendants.

Vaidya said that the eco-friendly uniforms will shine as their green commitment, and he was delighted that their frontline energy soldiers would don them. He further added that about 8 million metric tonnes of plastic enter the ocean annually, and about 150 million metric tonnes circulate in our marine ecosystems. At this pace, by 2050, there will be more plastics in the sea than fish. He said that the conversion of plastic bottles into fabric is a beautiful example of how diligent handling of problems opens doors to new opportunities.