Closing the Loop, Cutting the Carbon: How Recycling reduces India’s Environmental Footprint

At Lucro, sustainability is more than a responsibility — it's a measurable, data-driven mission. Every tonne of plastic we recycle not only prevents waste from entering landfills and oceans but also significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, and water usage. As India navigates the urgent need for climate action, our recycling efforts are quietly — but powerfully — contributing to the country’s carbon reduction goals.

The Power of Recycling: Tangible Impact, Ton by Ton

Plastic, when managed responsibly, is a valuable resource. At Lucro, we specialise in recycling three key plastic types — LDPE, HDPE, and PP — diverting them from conventional end-of-life fates such as incineration or landfill, and instead giving them a new life through high-quality circular applications.

Here’s how each plastic type we recycle contributes to reducing environmental impact in India:

LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)

Share of Lucro’s Recycling Capacity: 60% (~18,000 tonnes/year)

• CO₂-eq emissions avoided per tonne: 1.24 tonnes
• Energy saved per tonne: 35,013 MJ
• Water saved per tonne: 10 m³

Annual Impact (LDPE):

• 22,320 tonnes CO₂-eq avoided
• 630 million MJ of energy saved
• 180,000 m³ of water saved

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

Share of Lucro’s Recycling Capacity: 30% (~9,000 tonnes/year)

• CO₂-eq emissions avoided per tonne: 1.04 tonnes
• Energy saved per tonne: 32,325 MJ
• Water saved per tonne: 6.60 m³

Annual Impact (HDPE):

• 9,360 tonnes CO₂-eq avoided
• 291 million MJ of energy saved
• 59,400 m³ of water saved

PP (Polypropylene)

Share of Lucro’s Recycling Capacity: 10% (~3,000 tonnes/year)

• CO₂-eq emissions avoided per tonne: 0.96 tonnes
• Energy saved per tonne: 33,102 MJ
• Water saved per tonne: 5.69 m³

Annual Impact (PP):

• 2,880 tonnes CO₂-eq avoided
• 99 million MJ of energy saved
• 17,070 m³ of water saved

Total Annual Carbon Reduction at Lucro

Thanks to our 30,000-tonne annual recycling capacity, Lucro contributes:

This is equivalent to:

Removing over 7,500 passenger vehicles from the road for a year

Powering 28,000 Indian households for a year with energy saved

Conserving enough water to fill 100 Olympic-size swimming pools

By recovering plastic waste, transforming it into high-quality circular products, and reducing the need for virgin plastic production, we are accelerating India’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Our impact doesn’t stop at emissions. Our circular model supports livelihoods, strengthens local waste ecosystems, and ensures that sustainability translates into inclusive economic growth.