On the occasion of Earth Day, Sattva Group, in partnership with Knowledge Realty Trust and rePurpose Global, has announced the launch of the Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative, a multi-year programme focused on building structured, community led waste management systems across the state’s coastline. At Sattva Group and Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT REIT), growth is approached with the understanding that it must remain aligned with the environment and communities. As organizations engaged in building and managing high quality, sustainable environments for modern India, there is a clear recognition that environmental health and community wellbeing are fundamental to meaningful progress. The Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative extends this approach by enabling systems that improve ecological outcomes while strengthening local livelihoods.
Spanning three years, the initiative addresses the growing challenge of plastic waste along Karnataka’s 320 Km coastline, where plastic accounts for 60 percent coastal litter. The programme is designed to put in place waste management systems that are locally run, financially viable, and capable of delivering consistent and measurable results.
The initiative will connect over 80,000 households to formal waste management systems and integrate 50 coastal villages into formal waste management systems, improving waste handling at the source. It will support 200 waste workers through stable livelihoods, skill development, and safer working conditions, helping build a more secure and dignified waste value chain. In parallel, it is expected to enable the recovery and responsible processing of approximately 4.5 million kilograms of waste, improving coastal conditions and reducing environmental leakage into marine ecosystems.
Commenting on the initiative, Shivam Agarwal, Vice President, Strategy, Sattva Group, said: “Protecting Karnataka’s coastline and addressing the growing challenge of waste is essential to sustaining the environment and improving the overall quality of life. The coastline is a vital ecological and economic asset, and improving its condition has a direct impact on local livelihoods and communities. Through the Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative, we are enabling structured, community-led waste management systems that strengthen local practices while creating more secure and dignified livelihoods. With a strong focus on awareness and participation, the initiative is designed to deliver measurable improvements and contribute to a cleaner, more resilient coastline for the state.”
A strong focus on awareness and everyday behavior change is central to the programme, encouraging communities to adopt more sustainable habits and take greater ownership at the local level. Better segregation, collection, and processing systems will also help move towards a more circular approach to material use, reducing dependence on landfills.
Jiji Thomas, Head – ESG & Sustainability, Knowledge Realty Trust said, “As a responsible REIT, Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT) recognizes that environmental stewardship extends beyond our asset boundaries. Coastal waste is a material ESG risk with implications for climate resilience and long-term asset value. By supporting integrated waste systems, we are embedding sustainability into our operations and the eco systems that support them. While our implementation partner will spearhead mid-stream interception and downstream actions like clean up to control waste leakage to sea, our focus will be on creating awareness on upstream control to be exercised by urban centers to reduce land-to-sea waste burden”
The Karnataka Zero Waste initiative is being implemented in collaboration with rePurpose Global, a leading packaging sustainability and compliance platform, and the Centre for Applied Research and People’s Engagement (CARPE), the designated non-profit recipient of programme funds. While rePurpose Global brings expertise in designing and executing waste recovery systems aligned with global best practices and will lead on-ground implementation, CARPE, a social enterprise, contributes deep capabilities across solid waste management, green cover enhancement, and water body restoration through data-driven and research-led methodologies. Knowledge Realty Trust further strengthens the programme through its focus on governance, transparency, and stewardship, ensuring a structured, accountable, and scalable approach to impact.
Aditya Siroya, Chief Impact Officer and Founder, rePurpose Global added, “Addressing waste at scale requires systems that are locally embedded and operationally robust. This partnership is focused on building models that reduce environmental impact while enabling communities to participate meaningfully in the process.”
The Karnataka Zero Waste Initiative reflects a broader shift towards development approaches that are more responsible and inclusive. By combining measurable outcomes with community ownership, the programme aims to create a model that can be sustained and expanded over time, contributing to a cleaner and more resilient Karnataka.
About Sattva Group
Headquartered in Bengaluru, Sattva Group brings over three decades of pioneering excellence in real estate and presence across eight Indian cities and is one of India’s leading real estate powerhouses. The group has delivered 80 million sq. ft. of premium developments, with another 100 million sq. ft. in various stages of planning and development. The Group has achieved a historic milestone by listing India’s largest Commercial REIT, Knowledge Realty Trust (KRT) as co-sponsor with long term partner Blackstone, encompassing 46 million sq. ft of Grade A office assets across six cities and establishing itself as India’s most geographically diversified REIT. Sattva’s commercial portfolio features iconic developments across key markets, while its expansive residential business spans Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, and Goa with diverse premium and luxury projects. Beyond core real estate, the Group’s strategic diversification into co-working, co-living, education, hospitality, data centres, and warehousing reinforces its position as a comprehensive urban infrastructure leader, backed by an exceptional CRISIL AA rating that underscores decades of financial strength and unwavering quality commitment.
About Knowledge Realty Trust
Knowledge Realty Trust, co-sponsored by Sattva[1][1] and Blackstone[2][2], is India’s largest REIT** and most geographically diverse office REIT. Its portfolio comprises 29 best-in-class Grade-A office assets totalling 46.4 million square feet as of December 31, 2025, with 37.2 million square feet of completed area, 1.2 million square feet under construction area and 8 million square feet of future development spread across 6 cities in India. With a multi-market geographical presence and assets comprising both front offices and integrated business parks/centers, our portfolio reflects a broad proxy of the Indian office market. Our portfolio comprises 6 city-center offices and 23 integrated business parks/centers, in the best sub-markets in the country. Our portfolio houses over 450 tenants comprising prominent multinational tenants, including Fortune 500 companies and GCCs, as well as leading domestic corporates.
