Brands go beyond the buzz for World Environment Day 2025

New Delhi: On World Environment Day 2025, brands across India stepped up with campaigns that moved beyond token gestures, offering real solutions, creative storytelling, and tangible impact.

From turning plastic waste into purpose and giving e-waste a voice, to transforming urban spaces into green sanctuaries and encouraging quiet acts of resistance through gardening, companies showed how sustainability can be integrated into our daily lives. These campaigns, launched by MAGGI, bigbasket, Cheil India for Samsung, Ugaoo, Furlenco, and HDFC Mutual Fund—not only aligned with this year’s global theme,“Beat Plastic Pollution”, but also inspired individuals to act, plant, recycle, invest, and rethink what it means to care for the planet. Here's how each brand made World Environment Day 2025 count.

“Talk Less. Plant More”, A quiet climate response takes root in urban India

On World Environment Day 2025, India’s urban gardening community witnessed a cultural nudge rather than a promotional push. Ugaoo’s latest initiative, “Talk Less. Plant More,” speaks to a growing demographic of environmentally conscious Indians who, despite being informed, often feel paralysed by the scale of the climate crisis. Through a short film distributed across digital platforms, the content addresses emotional burnout by encouraging small, visible acts, starting with the simple act of planting. Rather than presenting greenery as décor, the film positions nurturing a plant as a form of protest, a way to channel anxiety into action. 

Watch the campaign film: 

big basket turns bus stops into green billboards in a bid for everyday sustainability

Big basket, a TATA enterprise, has transformed bus stops in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Delhi into living, plant-covered billboards that embody its sustainability efforts. One shelter in Bengaluru reads: “With EVs powering 1/3rd of our deliveries, we've reduced annual carbon emissions equivalent to nurturing 34 Cubbon Parks for a decade.” Created by agency Talented and executed with Signpost, the installations highlight bigbasket’s green initiatives—from deploying 7,431 EVs and recycling 100+ tonnes of plastic to supporting over 7,000 organic farmers.

The campaign coincides with the release of bigbasket’s 2024–25 Green Report, accessible via QR codes at the shelters. It also features a collaboration with the Indian Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Association, turning the brand’s sustainability journey into a piece of art shared with customers.

Watch the campaign film: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by bigbasket (@bigbasketcom)

MAGGI reminds us on World Environment Day, waste belongs in its place

This World Environment Day, MAGGI is using playful yet pointed storytelling to deliver a serious message: responsible waste disposal starts with mindful habits. The new film, part of its ongoing “2-minute desh ke naam” campaign, uses quirky visuals—like shoes in a fridge or sunglasses in a microwave—to show how things feel wrong when out of place. The metaphor extends to waste, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to plastic responsibility. MAGGI highlights its effort to collect and recycle as much plastic as it uses in packaging, promoting simple daily actions that support long-term impact. With its blue dustbin for wrapper disposal, encouraging two minutes of daily mindfulness, reinforcing the idea that sustainable action can begin at home.

Watch the campaign film: 

Cheil India’s digital comic for Samsung gives old electronics a voice on World Environment Day

This World Environment Day, Cheil India launched a digital comic for Samsung that playfully spotlights a serious issue—India’s mounting e-waste. The animated short brings forgotten electronics to life, portraying them as dusty, discarded characters waiting to be heard. With humour and heart, the comic urges viewers to take action by disposing of e-waste responsibly. While the format is light, the message is clear: what we throw away still lingers, and sustainable choices begin at home.

Watch the campaign film:

Furlenco scales up EV Fleet and cuts plastic waste to mark World Environment Day 2025

To mark World Environment Day 2025, themed “Ending Plastic Pollution Globally,” Furlenco has spotlighted a year of measurable progress in clean mobility and sustainable packaging. The company has expanded its EV fleet from 5% to 35% across major cities and aims to surpass 50% by next year—already helping prevent over 600,000 kg of CO₂ emissions. In parallel, Furlenco has replaced single-use packaging with reusable materials, cutting down 5 tonnes of plastic waste and saving 25,000 kg of carton sheets. Its refurbishment facilities now use dry chemical washing, reducing water usage and contributing to the estimated saving of 50,000 trees. Through these efforts, Furlenco continues to embed sustainability into operations, pushing for long-term environmental impact beyond one-time campaigns.

Watch the campaign film:

HDFC Mutual fund’s #NurtureNature 5.0 turns plastic waste into purpose

To mark World Environment Day 2025, HDFC Mutual Fund launched the fifth edition of its sustainability initiative, #NurtureNature, aligning with the UN theme of “Ending Plastic Pollution.” Running from June 5 to 12, the campaign links financial investments to environmental impact — for every new digital SIP in select schemes, Rs 100 will go toward making school bags from recycled plastic for children in need. The initiative not only diverts waste from landfills and oceans but also helps children carry their books and dreams with dignity. Supporting the Government’s Mission LiFE, the campaign shows how small financial decisions can contribute to a larger ecological and social purpose.

Watch the campaign film: