Eveready, Zepto roll out India’s first quick-commerce battery recycling initiative

Eveready Industries India Ltd . announced its partnership with Zepto to launch India’s first doorstep household battery collection and recycling initiative. The programme aims to make the disposal of used household batteries easier and more convenient for millions of users across India by integrating battery collection into routine doorstep deliveries.

This partnership brings together India’s No. 1 battery brand and quick commerce company, Zepto - with a shared vision of promoting responsible consumption and advancing a circular economy. Through the ‘Batteries for Better’ initiative, Eveready and Zepto aim to make battery disposal more accessible while encouraging households to adopt more sustainable waste disposal practices.

As part of this innovative collection model, users ordering on Zepto will have the option to select a “Return Battery” feature at checkout post which they can hand over their used household batteries to Zepto delivery partners at the time of order delivery. The collected batteries will be sent to Eveready for responsible recycling and disposal through authorised channels in compliance with applicable environmental regulations and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines.

The initiative will be rolled out across Delhi and Bengaluru, leveraging Zepto’s extensive last-mile delivery network to build a convenient battery collection ecosystem for users. Eveready and Zepto intend to progressively expand the programme to additional cities across India, making responsible battery disposal accessible to a wider consumer base.

Anirban Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, Eveready Industries India Ltd., said: “We are delighted to collaborate with Zepto on this pioneering initiative that transforms everyday deliveries into opportunities for responsible environmental action. Through this programme, Eveready aims to drive greater consumer awareness around responsible battery disposal while helping strengthen circular economy practices in India. As a leader in the country’s battery industry, we remain committed to creating meaningful impact through sustainable innovation and responsible stewardship of our products throughout their lifecycle.”

To encourage participation, users who contribute used batteries for recycling will receive a certificate recognising their contribution towards responsible waste management. In addition, they will also be eligible for special benefits on subsequent purchases of Eveready batteries through the Zepto platform.

Devendra Meel, Chief Business Officer, Zepto, said: “The biggest barrier to responsible disposal is not intent, it is convenience. Most households have used batteries lying in drawers because there has never been a simple, everyday way to return them. With this partnership, we are using Zepto’s last-mile network to turn regular orders into battery take-back moments. We thank our seller partners for enabling this. Even at a modest scale, every million household batteries collected can help divert several tonnes of battery waste from mixed garbage streams into authorised recycling. That is the opportunity here, using quick commerce not only for access, but to build habit-level infrastructure for more responsible consumption.”