Inclusive Transition in Plastic Recycling in Bangalore

Case number : 9 100 2025 002
Case published in the International Journal of Case Studies in Management, Vol. 23, No. 2
Author :  Israel Fortin
Date :  2025-05-30
Teaching notes included :  Yes
Abstract

In November 2022, Iqbal Ahuja represented Bangalore’s informal plastic collectors (IPCs) as the coordinator of the Alliance of Informal Indian Collectors (the Alliance). He aimed to ensure that IPCs would be included in the new plastic recycling practices the multinationals registered on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) portal introduced. While the multinationals had expressed interest in supporting the integration of IPCs through their initiatives to meet their EPR, finding a mutually beneficial solution was proving difficult.

In one week, Ahuja was to meet with these multinationals to discuss the opportunities and challenges of including IPCs in their EPR systems, and to present the optimal solution for IPCs. By the close of the meeting, Ahuja wanted the multinationals to understand why inclusive EPR was necessary.

Teaching objectives
  • Explain managerially relevant differences between formal and informal workers in a developing country.
  • Critically assess the different interests of stakeholders impacted by a specific business decision in a developing country.
  • Develop and defend recommendations that would allow multinationals to fulfill their extended producer responsibility and balance their triple bottom line in a specific situation in a developing country.
Primary domain :  Business ethics  - Sustainable development
Secondary domain :  Not available
Sectors :  Consumer goods
Type :  Traditional case (Decision-making case)
Event location :  India
Year of start of the event :  2022
Year the event ended :  Not available
Business size :  Large enterprise