Newsletter December 2025

 From the Founder’s Desk

Wishing our entire community of eco-warriors a very happy New Year!

Before turning the page on 2025, this video felt like the perfect place to pause and reflect. Our time with Vedak Foundation at APM High School in Mangaon reminded us what real impact looks like — classrooms full of curiosity, teachers adapting with resilience, and students stepping into digital learning with confidence and hope.

Moments like these are why Green Pistachio exists. They ground us, inspire us, and quietly reinforce the belief that sustainability and education are built through everyday effort, care, and collaboration.

Looking ahead, it gives me great joy to share that there’s so much to look forward to. Our team is expanding, collaborations are taking shape, and Green Pistachio is stepping into its next phase with clearer direction, stronger partnerships, and more meaningful work.

Read on for a glimpse of how we wrapped up 2025—and the momentum we’re carrying into what’s next.

As we move into 2026, a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey all year long. Founders may set the vision, but it’s the team that makes it real every single day —Ayesha, Paripsa, Kiara, Tia, Zarah, Ismael, Chris, and Eeshita.

Thank you for the energy, care, and commitment you bring to GP. Here’s to a greener, more hopeful, more sustainable, and future-ready 2026 

–Avnee Kokatay
Founder, Green Pistachio

 In The Spotlight

Our initiative, “One for the Planet,” actually started with The Great Beach Cleanup. But honestly? What we saw on the sand left us shaken. The beach looked less like a shoreline and more like a “lost-and-found of random trash.” And that got us thinking… With so many beach cleanups happening every other weekend, are we really solving the problem? Or are we just cleaning up the same mess on repeat like a never-ending weekend routine?

So we asked ourselves the big question: How do we stop all this filth from even reaching the beach?

Turns out, the answer isn’t rocket science. It’s literally the simplest thing ever— Segregate waste at the source. If we sort our waste right from our homes, it doesn’t end up on the beach, or in a landfill, or littering our streets. It actually goes where it’s meant to go (wild idea, we know).

But here’s the thing—while the solution sounded super simple, actually making it happen? Way tougher. We quickly realized that a lot of people just didn’t know the basics: why waste segregation even matters, how to sort their trash without getting overwhelmed, what can or can’t be recycled, or who they’re supposed to call when they do want to recycle something.

Most importantly, many didn’t realize that just by managing the waste in their homes and neighbourhoods, they’re actually playing a huge part in protecting the environment.

So yeah… the problem wasn’t willingness. It was awareness.

That’s when we rolled out our next initiative under “One for the Planet” — Sorting Out Mumbai. We kicked things off in the city by inviting people to join a fun awareness session on waste segregation. Instead of keeping it theoretical, we asked everyone to bring their own trash so we could sort it together in the most hands-on way possible. To make sure the waste went to the right place, we partnered with 5Rcycle and GreenSole Foundation. 5Rcycle took care of the thermocol, plastic, and paper, and e-waste, while GreenSole Foundation collected all the old and used shoes and clothes for upcycling.

Overall, it became a simple, engaging way to help Mumbai understand waste segregation—one bag of trash at a time.

The event turned out to be a huge success. People didn’t just learn how to sort their waste—they also had a great time playing our fun games, Bin It to Win It and Bin There, Done That.

You can watch all the excitement and energy from the day in this reel: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DP-jbngDPl2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

And guess what? We’re already gearing up for Sorting Out Mumbai – 2. Another round of awareness, segregation, and collection is on the way. Follow us and stay tuned—we’ll be dropping all the details soon! Hit us up if you’re the eco warrior of your community and want to take the lead role in organising a Sorting Out wherever you are! 

Eco Nugget

Beaches aren’t the only ones sending out SOS signals. Our oceans are under far deeper stress—from bottom trawling and deep-sea mining to weak marine protected areas. These activities tear through habitats, release stored carbon, disturb food webs, and push already fragile ecosystems closer to collapse.

Encouragingly, action is picking up. Across India, organisations, government bodies, and CSR teams are working to restore balance to marine and coastal ecosystems. One standout success comes from Tamil Nadu, where large-scale mangrove restoration added 2,400 hectares and revived another 1,200—strengthening coastlines and giving marine life a fighting chance.

On land, the Supreme Court of India has taken a strong stand against deforestation, reinforcing that environmental protection is not optional, but a responsibility. Together, these efforts point to a growing shift—where restoration, protection, and accountability are finally moving in the same direction.

Our Green Quarter

In the last quarter of the year, our sustainability journey picked up some serious momentum. We sorted, recycled, showed up at green events, and loved seeing everyone—from everyday folks to big companies to government bodies—getting involved.

• Recycling made Simpler with Sonika: Sorting Out Mumbai gave everyone a good push to start segregating their waste, but we wanted to keep that momentum going. So, with a little help from Sonika Bhasin, we compiled a city-wise list of recyclers across India. Check out the recycler closest to you and begin your recycling journey today.
• The Syllabus of Sustainability with Pooja: Teachers are usually kids’ first window to the world outside their homes. When they include nature, care, and sustainability in their lessons, children start picking up green habits right from the start. Read our Teacher’s Day article featuring Pooja Godfrey to see how early eco-education can truly make a difference.
• The Plastic Lifecycle Talks at INC-5:  INC-5 could be the turning point we’ve been waiting for. From cutting plastic usage to pushing circular innovation, the treaty could spark global action. For the full scope of what went down at INC-5 (and what it means for all of us), dive into the full story.
• Tradition meets Sustainability: In India, festivals go far beyond sweets, outfits, lights, and nostalgia. They’re also about embracing sustainability and inclusivity. This year, Durgotsab GK-2 in New Delhi and Anandam Association in Pune sprinkled some serious eco-magic on their Pujo celebrations. Check out our article to see how they made eco-friendly look effortless.
• Inspiring Young Changemakers at ISDI: Avnee took the stage at ISDI as a guest lecturer and inspired students with the power of responsible youth impact. She showed how young changemakers can take conscious actions, drive sustainability, and create real-world change. Catch all the highlights from her session in our article.
• Alternative Ways to Use Deep Sea Minerals: We dug into lithium mining and recycling, and what we found surprised us. One path damages, the other reuses. Read on to see why recycling makes far more sense.
• Celebrating Responsible Fishing: World Fisheries Day celebrates thriving oceans and responsible fishing, but the reality is rough. Bottom trawling, deep-sea mining, and weak MPAs are pushing marine life to the edge. Read how small conscious steps can help restore balance and make our oceans healthier, cleaner, and happier.
• Cop30 Climate Action: Every year, world leaders, scientists, and activists gather for the UN Climate Change Conference—aka COP—to talk, debate, and (hopefully) take action for our planet. COP30 was no different. Curious about the key outcomes and what they mean for our climate? Read the full insights in our article.
• Add Magic to your Soil with our Composting Challenge: Who knew leftovers could be this powerful? With our Composting Challenge, your scraps become nutrient-rich soil. Simple steps, less waste, happier plants—and a surprisingly fun way to make sustainability part of everyday life.
• Experience the Sustainable Miracle of Christmas: This Christmas, the glow-up wasn’t individual—it was collective. Thoughtful fashion choices proved that sustainable can look festive, joyful, and effortless. We carried this same spirit into our 12 Days of Christmas feature, sharing gift ideas that feel genuine, meaningful, and planet-kind.

 GreenFluence

This quarter, we fell in love with a home-grown game-changer — Recube! They’re turning zero-waste dreams into reality, having already diverted 5 million+ single-use disposables from landfills, partnered with 70+ restaurants and 50+ events, and even helped make Coldplay’s India concert sustainable. Their approach makes zero-waste living accessible, practical, and community-driven. And this is exactly what we at Green Pistachio are rooting for — proving that sustainable living isn’t extraordinary, it’s your everyday routine with a little thoughtful twist.

From reusable cups to Boxable containers, every refill and return contributes to a circular economy. What excites us most is how Recube makes sustainability social and fun — it’s not a chore, it’s a shared habit that grows when communities participate. This is the kind of everyday action we love highlighting, because the more we normalize it, the closer we get to a world where conscious choices are simply… normal. You can see the real-life impact of their initiatives here.

 Thinking Hat 

This festive season at Green Pistachio, we chose to slow fashion down. Instead of chasing the newest sparkle, we focused on showing up stylishly, celebratory, and mindful of the planet.

Our message wasn’t about collecting more outfits, but about celebrating without the fast-fashion fallout. Through our content and conversations, we encouraged our community to style what they already own, choose pieces that last, and put creativity before convenience.

Festive glam, we believe, doesn’t need overflowing wardrobes or fleeting trends. Thoughtful styling and conscious choices can feel just as joyful—and far more meaningful.

We’ve carried this ethos into our Sustainable Fashion Challenge, ready for you to explore anytime. It’s filled with simple ideas and prompts to rethink festive dressing and build more mindful fashion habits—at your own pace.

Sprout

Behind every clean beach, planted tree, or zero-waste drive, there’s an NGO giving its all. They keep sustainability alive—working in tough conditions and pushing real change on the ground. But we rarely talk about the hurdles they face while making all that magic happen.

So we rolled up our sleeves at Green Pistachio and launched NGO Monday Masterclass, a series where we unpack real issues NGOs face and share simple, practical fixes to make their work smoother and more sustainable. Because let’s be honest—every changemaker could use a little behind-the-scenes support.

Catch all the episodes on our YouTube channel and discover how small tweaks can spark big impact.

And then there are the people who truly redefine sustainability—the ones who leave behind corporate careers to work for the planet. These ex-corporate trailblazers swap endless meetings for meaningful impact, and honestly, the glow-up is real. Sure, plenty of people wish they could make this shift, but doubts, finance-related worries, and “where do I even start?” often hold them back.

But some gutsy humans took the leap anyway—and they’re doing incredible things. Through the Impact Shift series by Green Pistachio, we’re telling their stories to show that this shift isn’t an impossible dream. It’s a bold, exciting move—and one of the most energising, fulfilling adventures you can choose.

EcoDate

The last quarter of the year was a full-on green spree—and we’re not slowing down anytime soon. We’re leaning into conversations that make sustainability feel real, doable, and far less intimidating.

That’s exactly why we’re excited to collaborate with Planet Pact. Through their climate talks held across different locations, and especially with the upcoming  Mumbai Climate Week, they bring experts and communities together in a refreshingly open, casual way. These conversations focus on climate action that’s practical, relatable, and grounded in reality—not jargon or guilt.

And while we know sustainability works best when introduced early, let’s be honest: many of us adults still have plenty to learn—and gently unlearn. This collaboration is about creating space for curiosity, questions, and clarity. Together with Planet Pact, we’ll be bringing the community simple, thoughtful, and actionable ways to engage with climate issues, one conversation at a time.

All you have to do is stay tuned.

Team Green Pistachio

Recent Collaborations