Bengaluru, 15 June 2026: Kia India, country’s leading mass-premium carmaker, has taken another leap towards its long-term commitment towards sustainable development and responsible environmental stewardship. In partnership with Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the company today announced the rollout of Phase-IV of Project D.R.O.P. (Develop Responsible Outlook for Plastic) in Delhi National Capital Region at the NDMC Convention Centre in Connaught Place, New Delhi.
Under Phase-IV, Project D.R.O.P. aims to facilitate responsible management of plastic waste across 250 facilities spanning Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, further strengthening the initiative’s contribution towards building cleaner and more sustainable urban ecosystems.
As part of the Phase-IV rollout, Kia India and its partners unveiled specially designed D.R.O.P. Community Bins manufactured using recycled plastic waste, reaffirming the project’s emphasis on resource reuse. The event also witnessed the flag-off of the D.R.O.P. Collection Vehicle, symbolizing the operationalization of a structured and integrated plastic waste collection mechanism. This is aimed at strengthening segregation, collection, and responsible disposal practices across New Delhi.
On the commencement of the Phase IV of Project D.R.O.P, Mr. Atul Sood, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Kia India said, “As India’s urban ecosystems continue to evolve, the need for structured and sustainable waste management systems has become more critical than ever. Through Project D.R.O.P., Kia India is committed to enabling meaningful behavioural change and supporting robust grassroots infrastructure for responsible plastic waste management. We are proud to collaborate with IPCA and NDMC in bringing this initiative to the national capital region and creating a scalable model that can inspire broader environmental transformation across the country.”
The keynote address was delivered by the Chief Guest Shri Kuljeet Singh Chahal, Vice Chairperson, NDMC, who lauded the initiative as a timely and impactful step towards addressing urban environmental challenges and strengthening sustainable waste management practices within the national capital region.
“It is a matter of immense pride for NDMC to collaborate with Kia India & IPCA for implementing Project D.R.O.P., under which dedicated plastic collection bins will be installed across the NDMC area. It will ensure systematic collection, transportation, segregation & recycling of plastic waste through authorized recycling channels,” said Shri Chahal.
“Through public awareness & encouraging responsible citizen participation, Project D.R.O.P. plays a vital role in reducing plastic waste pollution and promoting a more sustainable New Delhi. I am confident that Project D.R.O.P. will emerge as a model initiative, inspiring greater environmental responsibility and community engagement across the country,” he further added. The initiative was also appreciated by NDMC Council Members, Shri Anil Valmiki and Shri D.P. Singh.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Ajay Garg, Secretary, IPCA, underlined the urgent need for collective action in combating plastic pollution and appreciated the collaborative efforts that have enabled the expansion of Project D.R.O.P. into the national capital.
Dr. Radha Goyal, Deputy Director, IPCA, presented a comprehensive overview of the initiative, highlighting the project’s implementation framework, measurable impact at the grassroots level, and its potential to evolve into a scalable urban sustainability model for cities across India.
Kia India launched Project D.R.O.P. in 2023 across five cities, meeting its target of collecting 2,500 tonnes of plastic waste from 500 facilities. In 2024, the initiative expanded to 789 facilities and surpassed its 3,500-tonne target by collecting 4,850 tonnes. In 2025, the programme scaled to eight cities, including Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Zirakpur, cumulatively managing over 14,560 metric tonnes of plastic waste across 1,100 facilities and positively impacting over 3.6 million people. Now in its fourth phase, Project D.R.O.P. expands to 11 cities covering 1,350 facilities, with a stepped-up collection target of 9,200 tonnes.
Kia India and IPCA are working towards scaling Project D.R.O.P. across additional cities and communities, with the New Delhi model serving as a strong blueprint for collaborative environmental action and structured plastic waste management in urban India.
The initiative marks a significant milestone in Kia India’s sustainability journey and reflects the company’s continued efforts to create meaningful environmental impact through collaborative, community-driven interventions focused on responsible plastic waste management.
About Kia India
In April 2017, Kia India signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the State Government of Andhra Pradesh, India, to build a new manufacturing facility at Anantapur District. Kia commenced mass production in August 2019 and has an installed annual production capacity of 350,000 units. In April 2021, Kia India reimagined itself in line with its new brand identity, “Movement that Inspires,” aimed at offering customers meaningful experiences backed by innovative products and services. Under the new brand identity, Kia has set out to find ways to achieve new benchmarks and inspire consumers to be more and do more. Till date, Kia India has launched nine vehicles for the Indian market – the Seltos, the Syros, the Sonet, the Carens, the Carnival, the EV6, the EV9, the Carens Clavis, and the all-new Carens Clavis EV. Kia India has completed almost 1.5 million vehicle dispatches from its Anantapur plant, including over 1.5 million domestic sales and over 3.67 lakh exports. With more than 5 lakh connected cars on Indian roads, it is among the connected Car leaders in the country. The brand has a widespread network of 891 touchpoints across 402 cities and is focused on strengthening its footprint across the country.
