MUMBAI: In a move that could soon change what Mumbaikars carry on their temple visits, a sustainability drive is set to replace single-use plastic water bottles with recyclable, paper-based alternatives across India’s busiest religious hubs.Temple Connect, a platform linking temple ecosystems, has partnered with Blueprint Water to roll out eco-friendly packaged drinking water across temple towns, pilgrimage circuits and large religious gatherings. The initiative has already begun at Mumbai’s iconic Shri Siddhivinayak Mandir and the Kashi Vishwanath Mandir, with more locations in the pipeline.The move is aimed at tackling a less-discussed but growing problem: plastic waste generated by millions of devotees visiting temples every day. From the crowded lanes of Shirdi to mega events like the Kumbh Mela, discarded water bottles have increasingly become part of the landscape—an irony in places meant to symbolise purity.Mumbai in early spotlightFor Mumbai devotees, the change could be visible sooner than elsewhere. Siddhivinayak, one of the country’s richest and most visited temples, has been chosen as an early implementation site, signalling how urban religious centres could lead the transition.Officials say the new packaging—made from recycled, recyclable and biodegradable materials—will be integrated into existing temple operations, whether for daily distribution or high-footfall festival days.Reusable, recyclable—and cost-neutral?Unlike fragile alternatives, the new bottles are designed for durability and can be reused up to 20 times, including for refrigeration and household use. A parallel collection and recycling ecosystem is also being planned, with dedicated units to ensure used bottles are brought back into circulation.Pricing, however, is a key challenge. While conventional plastic bottles in temple towns typically retail at ₹25–₹30, the eco-friendly version is expected to cost ₹40–₹60. To prevent burdening devotees, the partners are exploring subsidy models through temple trusts, municipal bodies, CSR funding and brand sponsorships.The idea, stakeholders say, is to keep the retail price unchanged for the common pilgrim while absorbing the premium through institutional support.‘Faith must not create pollution’The initiative targets major pilgrimage circuits—from the 12 Jyotirlingas to Vaishno Devi and Tirupati—where daily footfall runs into lakhs. Meetings are underway with temple authorities across states to expand adoption.“Temples are among the largest consumption hubs in the country. Even a small shift here can create a meaningful environmental impact,” said Anuj Shah, co-founder of Blueprint Water.Giresh Vasudev Kulkarni, founder of Temple Connect, added that religious institutions can influence behavioural change at scale. “Sacred spaces have the power to lead by example—clean, responsible and future-ready,” he said.Behavioural push alongside product shiftBeyond replacing bottles, the initiative also seeks to nudge devotees towards sustainable habits. An ‘Eco-Hero’ campaign will encourage pilgrims to carry reusable bottles and adopt responsible disposal practices, while temples will receive support to strengthen waste management systems.Local production modelA key part of the plan is to set up production units within temple towns, allowing water to be packaged at source. This is expected to cut transportation costs, reduce carbon footprint and generate local employment.A larger environmental betIndia’s temple towns and religious gatherings collectively generate massive plastic waste annually, often overwhelming local civic systems. By targeting these high-density consumption zones, the partnership aims to create a ripple effect across the broader public.If successful, the initiative could make biodegradable packaging the default in religious and cultural destinations—turning places of faith into unlikely leaders of India’s sustainability mission.For Mumbai’s temple-goers, that shift may begin with something as simple—and symbolic—as the bottle of water in their hands.
