An estimated 100 billion cigarette butts are discarded each year!
India generates approximately 26,000 tonnes of cigarette butt waste annually, making it the most littered form of plastic in the country. Cigarette filters are composed of cellulose acetate, a type of plastic that can take up to a decade to decompose. When improperly disposed, these butts release toxic substances such as arsenic, lead and mercury into the environment, contaminating soil and water sources. This is exactly what worried Ketan Prajapati, Founding Director of Buffindia Receptacles Private Limited. Read on…
We just recently launched a digital IoT-based disposal kiosk, so you share your display on the top which can be used in the form of an advertising model, where you can generate revenue from advertising. It also has a sensory system that shows the real time impact of a person disposing of the cigarette butt.”
Ketan Prajapati
In the absence of a designated bin to discard cigarette butts, it was a regular ritual for Ketan to carry used butts wrapped in paper before discarding them in the general dustbin. Well, it was one of those days when he missed clearing his pocket. The parental disapproval and wrath that followed paved the way to addressing a much larger issue: universal cigarette butt disposal.
The subsequent realization of the near absence of thoughtful disposal options in India solidified his resolve. “I decided then, in 2015, that this is what I want to pursue.” Finally, BuffIndia was launched in October 2018.
The approach transcends simply providing disposal bins. Effective cigarette waste management requires a multi-pronged strategy, including disposal, awareness, collection and recycling.
“The initial idea was to sell the bins by creating a unique design for a disposal option. I realized that installing bins alone will not address cigarette waste management:
First, this required a proper disposal option, along with the right public awareness.
Second, even with bins in place, the waste would still end up in landfills and cause pollution.
Third, a collection mechanism was required.
Fourth, the waste had to be recycled and made into reusable materials.”
This comprehensive vision took three and a half years of research and development to consolidate.
“The biggest challenge, I find, is creating a win-win situation — how to sustain the business, how to make it profitable and how to create a scalable model.”
Initial success was achieved by targeting corporates and hotels, offering a “solution-as-a-service” (SaaS) model. This included installing uniquely designed disposal bins, conducting awareness activities, collecting cigarette waste, recycling it and providing clients with an Impact Report.
Despite the initial challenges of expanding operations, BuffIndia has made significant strides and is now active in 22 states across multiple cities. The company boasts a high client satisfaction rate, indicating the effectiveness of their integrated approach.
The growing global emphasis on sustainability has significantly boosted impact and client acquisition.
“Initially, the market seemed like there would be few takers. Only a few companies would take you on board. But now, with sustainability goals in place, people are serious. They want cigarette butt SaaS.”
“Along with the environmental impact, the social impact is also encouraging for any organization. We have entered the market at a particularly good time when this is seen as a greater value addition.”
Recognizing that public spaces like pan vendors, bus stops and cafés often do not prioritize traditional sustainability models, a digital IoT-based disposal kiosk is an important requirement. This innovative solution features advertising space to generate revenue and a sensory system that provides positive reinforcement and real-time impact data to users upon disposal.
“We recently launched a digital IoT-based disposal kiosk. The display on top can be used as an advertising model to generate revenue. It also has a sensory system that shows the real-time impact a person is creating by disposing of a cigarette butt.”
This strategic move aims to make cigarette waste management economically viable and accessible across 100% of the Indian market.
Drawing inspiration from international examples like TerraCycle in the USA and MéGO! in France, companies can focus on converting cigarette filters into valuable materials. One unique approach involves transforming cigarette butt waste into sustainable décor and gifting items like planters, photo frames and mobile stands, tapping into India’s large gifting market.
Companies could shape their vision to establish a circular economy. It provides corporate and hotel clients with recycled products of equivalent value to the service fees — often branded for use in gifting. This not only sustains the client’s costs but also broadcasts a powerful sustainability story. This initiative has been so successful for BuffIndia that demand for recycled products currently exceeds supply.
By building a comprehensive ecosystem for cigarette waste management and embracing the principles of circular economy, companies are not only cleaning up India’s environment but also creating economic and social value from an often-overlooked waste stream.
As told to Keerthana Sundar
