Mondelez India Launches 'Lighthouse Project' In Goa To Tackle Plastic Waste, Foster Circular Economy

To address the plastic waste problem, Mondelez India launched the ‘Lighthouse Project’ in Mapusa, Goa. This five-year initiative, created in collaboration with the Goa State Pollution Control Board and Mapusa Municipal Council, aims to tackle waste management issues and promote a circular economy by redirecting over 1,000 metric tons of plastic waste annually.

At the occasion, Sawant commended the project, stating that I am delighted to have launched the Lighthouse Project for Plastics Circularity under the CSR initiative by Mondelez India, in association with the Goa State Pollution Control Board. The project aims to transform waste management in Mapusa, focusing on circularity in plastic waste management.

Goa currently produces approximately 2,700 tons of non-recyclable waste each month, with plastic waste making up a significant portion.

Mondelez India President Samir Jain said that the company is dedicated to sustainable practices. “Sustainability is one of our company’s strategic growth pillars, and the Lighthouse Project reflects our commitment towards plastics circularity in alignment with the government’s vision for sustainable waste management,” he said. The initiative, grounded in behavioural shifts, infrastructure upgrades, and digital innovation, aims to create a scalable circular economy, enhance waste recovery and foster community involvement.

The project is being implemented with the support of the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC), Anubhuti Welfare Foundation (AWF), and Responsible Earth Foundation (REF) as operations partners. Key goals include upgrading Mapusa’s Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to a “Smart MRF” to improve recycling recovery rates and implementing digital systems to boost transparency and track waste management efforts. Over the next five years, the initiative aims to establish a sustainable MRF operation by strengthening market linkages for recycled materials and improving operational efficiency through technology.

One symbolic feature unveiled at the event was ‘The Fisherman Casting Net,’ a striking art installation crafted entirely from recycled plastic and located at Goa’s Miramar Circle. This artwork, a collaboration between Mondelez, the Goa State Pollution Control Board, and the Corporation of the City of Panaji, underscores the project’s environmental vision while celebrating the lives of coastal communities.

With a strong focus on community engagement, the Lighthouse Project incorporates awareness campaigns targeting over 50,000 residents, sanitation workers, and 120 Safai Mitras involved in waste management. These efforts aim to empower local sanitation workers as vital participants in the circular waste economy.

The project also encourages public involvement through clean-up activities, material collection drives, and collaborations with schools and colleges. Educational programs within schools aim to foster a generation of environmentally conscious youth ambassadors dedicated to plastic waste circularity.