Durga Puja sustainability: One of the oldest awards goes flex-free

A major contributor is single-use PVC flex banners that dominate the cityscape during the festive season, most of which end up in landfills.

Nearly 15% of this waste comes from Puja award organisers alone, with the rest produced by outdoor advertising agencies.

In a landmark move this year, the #Responsible Foundation transformed the 25-year-old ShaarodShiromoni #Responsible Durga Puja Award into a 100% flex-free initiative through its innovative FlexSwap program.

Supported by the Rotary Club of Calcutta Newbies and Kolkata Society for Cultural Heritage (KSCH) this initiative replaced conventional PVC flex banners with 100% biodegradable cotton banners.

These eco-friendly alternatives decompose naturally after use, leaving no toxic residue or microplastic pollution. Designed for durability and reusability, they align with global green event standards and significantly reduce environmental impact.

“By choosing biodegradable banners, brands and organisations not only lower their carbon footprint but also project a conscious, responsible image that supports sustainability,” said Tanushree Biswas, Natural Climate Solutions Lead at The Nature Conservancy (USA), who supported the initiative through her ReWeave Project.

For over two decades, the ShaarodShiromoni #Responsible Durga Puja Award has been a platform that promotes eco-friendly practices, waste segregation, and socially conscious themes among Puja organisers. It remains the longest-running independent Puja award not backed by any corporate or marketing initiative.

“This is a small step that could spark a major shift in making Durga Puja — and perhaps festivals across India — more sustainable,” said Aanton Mookherjee, Co-founder of #Responsible Foundation.

Calling it a defining moment, a spokesperson from Dakshindari Youths Puja Committee added, “This is the first time something like this has happened during Durga Puja. The ShaarodShiromoni Awards truly deserve credit for leading this change.”

Durga Pollution Facts

• Kolkata generates around 5,000–6,000 tonnes of waste per day, which rises by 15–20% during the 10-day Durga Puja period (as per the municipality data).

• Plastic and thermocol waste increases by over 25% during the festival, despite plastic bans.

• One of the bigger contributors to post-Durga Puja waste are the flex banners. During Durga Pujas, more than a million sq.ft of flex banners are installed city-wide. After the Pujas this non-biodegradable PVC adds to the urban waste burden contributing to landfill load and is often burned, releasing carcinogenic toxins, dioxins and furans.

• Each major pandal uses approx. 5,000 to 10,000 units of electricity over the festival period. Some of the largest pandals consume as much electricity in 10 days as a small town would in a day.