Allianz’s Plastic Waste-Free Rivers Project in Thiruvananthapuram Crosses 1,000-Ton Recovery Mark
Allianz Services India and Allianz Technology India recently celebrated a major milestone of their Plastic Waste-Free Rivers Project: this CSR initiative has recovered over 1,000 tons of plastic waste from Thiruvananthapuram’s rivers and waterways over four years, equivalent to removing 50 million plastic bottles. This was formally announced at an event held in Thiruvananthapuram, attended by dignitaries such as P.K. Kunhalikutty, Kerala Minister for Industries, IT, AI and Startups, Adv. Mons Joseph, Kerala Minister for Water Resources, K M Shaji, Kerala Minister for Local Self Government, Adv. V V Rajesh, Mayor of the Corporation of Trivandrum, V Muraleedharan, Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly (Kazhakoottam constituency). Jison John, MD & CEO, Allianz Services India, and Jayant Tulsiani, Branch Head India, Allianz Technology SE, represented the Allianz Group.
A closer look reveals a truly innovative operation to intercept plastic waste in rivers and urban waterways. Globally, nine million tons of plastic reach the oceans every year. In Thiruvananthapuram, 79% of debris on the banks of major waterways is plastic, and the Karamana and Killi rivers have the highest microplastic densities in the region. The solution to this local pollution crisis was found in low-cost floating barriers called TrashBooms. Today, 15 TrashBoom systems operate across critical urban waterways surrounding Technopark and key industrial zones in Thiruvananthapuram, including Thampanoor thodu, Ulloor thodu, Pattom thodu, Thekkinakara canal, Amayizhanchan thodu, Karamana river, Killi river, Kariyil thodu, and Thettiyar canal.
The project provides local employment and is supported by three Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) at Injakkal, Venpalavattom, and Vallakadavu, which are managed by Plastic Fischer. Collected plastic waste is transported to the MRFs for transportation, segregation and shipping. Subsequently, non-recyclable plastic is co-processed at the plants of Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited in Tamil Nadu, while recyclable plastic is repurposed locally, including into TrashBins now installed at Veli Beach.
Allianz Services India and Allianz Technology India are Global Capability Centers (GCCs) of the Allianz Group in India, based at Technopark, Thiruvananthapuram. Since its launch in 2022, they have together invested more than INR 5 crores (EUR 500,000) from CSR funds. They run this initiative in association with NGO partners Thanal Trust and Sustera Foundation, and their technology partner Plastic Fischer of Germany. The initiative has also earned the endorsement of the UN Ocean Decade.
They are now attempting to expand the reach of their efforts to tackle pollution: in 2025, with their NGO partners, they launched grassroots-level programmes in Puthenthope, Kadinamkulam and Veli to encourage visitors, local merchants, and residents to dispose of waste responsibly. These programmes represent a strategic shift towards preventive waste management by extending impact from interception to behaviour change and early intervention. Allianz employees regularly collaborate with NGO partners to undertake beach cleanup drives and awareness campaigns. The GCCs’ close collaboration with the Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram and the Government of Kerala (Departments of Local Self Government and Water Resources) ensures the initiative complements local governance efforts.
The Allianz GCCs are driving environmental initiatives in Thiruvananthapuram with real, scalable impact through corporate citizenship. Adv. Mons Joseph, Kerala Minister for Water Resources, gave this endorsement: “What makes the Plastic Waste-Free Rivers Project particularly commendable is its sustained, systematic approach. I urge corporates, local bodies, and citizens alike to draw inspiration from this model.” By removing plastic waste from crucial waterways, this project has helped local authorities mitigate urban flood risks, protect tech infrastructure and enhance the liveability index that attracts global talent to the city.
