pm modi bill gates: PM Modi wears recycled Sadri blue jacket made from plastic bottles during chat with Bill Gates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today discussed about the importance of reuse – recycling in an interaction with one of the world’s richest man, Bill Gates. While discussing about recycling PM Modi said that recycling and resuse ‘are inherent to our nature (Indians). He also gave example of his sleeveless Sadri or Nehru jacket, which he said was made with recycled plastic bottles and leftover cloth pieces at tailor shops.

Pointing towards his jacket, Modi told Bill Gates that the jacket is special, it’s made from waste leftover clothes and plastic bottles. He said that the fabric of his jacket has 30-40 per cent of recycled plastic bottles.

Last year, PM also donned a sleeveless jacket made from recycled plastic bottles during the Parliament session. At that time too, the light blue “sadri” jacket caught the attention of many as Modi sat in the Rajya Sabha.

The jacket, a product of the Indian Oil Corporation‘s (IOC) ‘Unbottled’ initiative, was presented to the Prime Minister during the India Energy Week in Bengaluru. The IOC, in alignment with Modi’s push to eliminate single-use plastic, has introduced uniforms for retail customer attendants and LPG delivery personnel made from recycled polydiscuester (rPET) and cotton.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders commended Modi’s choice of attire, lauding it as an innovative approach towards addressing climate change and sustainability. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi expressed, “Modi ji doesn’t just walk the talk, he also leads from the front. A superb way to promote climate consciousness.”

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri also praised the Prime Minister for promoting eco-friendly practices through his wardrobe choices. “Truly exemplifies his leadership for #LiFE Movement — India led global mass movement to nudge individual and community action to protect and preserve environment,” Puri tweeted.

According to officials, each set of uniform for an IOC customer attendant will contribute to recycling approximately 28 used PET bottles. The IOC, a public sector undertaking (PSU), has expanded this initiative with ‘Unbottled’, a brand offering sustainable garments made from recycled polyester.

Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the significance of Modi’s action as a life lesson for all, emphasizing the importance of sustainable living. BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore echoed this sentiment, stating that Modi’s choice showcases that an eco-friendly lifestyle can also be fashionable.BJP’s national spokesperson Sambit Patra acknowledged the Prime Minister’s commitment to pro-environment initiatives, citing the recycled plastic bottle jacket as a testament to this philosophy. Meanwhile, another spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawalla, drew a comparison between Modi’s sustainable fashion and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s choice of an expensive Louis Vuitton scarf in Parliament.