Eveready Industries India has partnered with quick commerce platform Zepto to launch a doorstep battery collection and recycling programme, aiming to make it easier for households to dispose of used batteries by folding collection into everyday delivery orders.
The initiative, called “Batteries for Better,” brings the two companies together around responsible battery disposal, recycling and circular economy practices. It will launch first in Delhi and Bengaluru, with plans to expand to more cities over time.
Here’s how it works: customers placing an order on Zepto can select a “Return Battery” option at checkout, then hand over their used household batteries to the delivery partner when the order arrives. Eveready will then take those batteries through authorised recycling and disposal channels, in line with environmental regulations and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) guidelines.
Both companies describe the programme as a way to tackle battery waste management by building collection directly into a network people already use every day Zepto’s last-mile delivery fleet.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Zepto on this pioneering initiative that transforms everyday deliveries into opportunities for responsible environmental action,” said Anirban Banerjee, Chief Executive Officer, Eveready Industries India Ltd. “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 people to take part, anyone returning used batteries gets a certificate acknowledging their contribution to responsible waste management, along with special benefits on future Eveready battery purchases through Zepto.
“The biggest barrier to responsible disposal is not intent, it is convenience,” said Devendra Meel, Chief Business Officer, Zepto. “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.”
The partnership adds to a broader push around sustainability, battery recycling, waste management and EPR compliance across India’s consumer goods and quick commerce sectors, as companies look for new ways to lift recycling rates by tapping into delivery networks people are already using.
Market Research Outlook: This tie-up turns Zepto’s delivery network into reverse-logistics infrastructure for EPR compliance, a low-cost model other consumer brands (electronics, batteries, packaging) will likely copy. For Eveready, it builds brand loyalty and repeat purchases via take-back incentives. Expect quick commerce platforms increasingly monetizing last-mile density beyond delivery, into sustainability services.
