Category: Environment

To date, over 80 recycled benches have been deployed in schools across Bengaluru and the complete deployment is planned to be completed by the end of March.

Diversified conglomerate ITC Limited today said its recently launched initiative “YiPPee! Better World – Trash to Treasure” is not only creating awareness among students but also using the collected plastic waste to make recyclable benches and desks.

  The plastic waste collected will contribute towards the creation of 1000 sets of benches and desks made from recycled plastic which will be deployed in schools that are devoid of this infrastructure, the company said in a statement.

  To date, over 80 recycled benches have been deployed in schools across Bengaluru and the complete deployment is planned to be completed by the end of March, it added.

  The “YiPPee! Better World – Trash to Treasure” program is designed to bring behavioural change in 3.5 million students across 100 plus cities through on-the-ground awareness programs in schools about plastic waste, its impact on the environment, and strategies to minimize, reuse, and recycle.

  Through this initiative, students are also being encouraged to collect household plastic waste and deposit them at designated collection points in the school.

  Speaking about the initiative, Kavita Chaturvedi, Chief Operating Officer – Snacks, Noodles & Pasta, ITC Foods Division said: “ITC is a global exemplar in sustainability with multi-dimensional initiatives for environmental stewardship and supporting large scale livelihoods. Taking inspiration from our organizational efforts to support the creation of a circular economy for post-consumer packaging waste, Sunfeast YiPPee! has embarked on a journey to create community champions in schools to help reduce, reuse and recycle plastic waste.”

  The company is confident that the initiative will educate and motivate school children to make a conscious effort towards creating a better world, she added.

  Sunfeast YiPPee! is ITC Ltd’s well-known instant noodles and pasta brand.

These EVs will help in reduction in carbon emission and traffic congestion within the AIIMS campus.

State Bank of India (SBI) has donated 10 electric vehicles to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi as part of its CSR “Go Green” initiative.

  SBI’s Chairman Dinesh Khara handed over the e-vehicles to AIIMS Director Dr M Srinivas here, the bank said in a statement.

  Speaking on the occasion, Khara reiterated the Bank’s commitment towards sustainable environment and also emphasized the country’s commitment towards achieving a carbon neutral status by 2070.

  Khara complimented AIIMS Director for taking up an environment friendly initiative. He wished a great success to this endeavor and thanked AIIMS for inviting SBI to be a partner in this green initiative.

  The AIIMS Director said these EVs will help in reduction in carbon emission and traffic congestion within the AIIMS campus.

  He also said that this was a part of a number of initiatives planned by AIIMS for making AIIMS a green campus, which would benefit the patients, doctors, all other employees as well as visitors to the facility.

SJS Enterprises Managing Director K A Joseph said the company took up this step after witnessing the plight of the villagers as they were facing major health problems due to poor waste management.

Garbage disposal is major concern for most urban and rural areas in India. In many parts of the country, garbage is simply dumped in landfills, which is an unhygienic and unsustainable practice. The inappropriate technique of dumping garbage waste can cause irreversible damage to humans and the environment.

  To address this major concern, SJS Enterprises took up the initiative of helping Agara Panchayat Jurisdiction by providing door-to-door garbage collection across seven villages — BM Kaval Village, Tataguni, Vaderahalli, Agara Village, Dodapalya Village, Lakshmipura and Byresandra village — in Bengaluru.

  A fleet of three vehicles were provided for collecting both wet and dry garbage from October 1. These trucks have a load capacity of 600-650 kg. Each truck can carry 0.50 tonnes of garbage every day and handed it over to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike team, which will further segregate and dispose of the garbage in an eco-friendly manner, Agara Panchayat President Venkatesh said.

  SJS Enterprises Managing Director K A Joseph said, “SJS team took up this step after witnessing the plight of the villagers as they were facing major health problems due to poor waste management. Currently, the villagers are relieved as now they can live a better life with less risk of health problems.”

The initiative has garnered extensive support from the fishing communities of Gujarat resulting in a decline in cases of poaching from around 600 in 1999-2000 to zero in 2021.

Tata Chemicals through its ‘Save Whale Shark Campaign’ has saved over 850 of these endangered species till date in the Saurashtra region along the coastline of Gujarat.

  This initiative of Tata Chemicals, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and the Gujarat Forest Department has garnered extensive support from the fishing communities of Gujarat resulting in a decline in cases of poaching from around 600 in 1999-2000 to zero in 2021.

  For effective implementation of this project, migration research studies of Whale Sharks from Gujarat Waters have been conducted. So far eight satellite transmitters on rescued Whale Sharks have been deployed. The results were analysed in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and published in the International Journal of Frontiers in Marine Science.

  About 18 Genetic study samples have been collected and analysed from rescued Whale Sharks in Gujarat waters.

  Talking about this initiative, Tata Chemicals Head HR and CSR R Nanda said, “Corporates through CSR can do a lot for our environment. This campaign is a reflection of Tata Chemicals’ commitment to environmental conservation. Designed to make the community a stakeholder in our endeavor to save this Whale Shark, this initiative has ushered a significant behavioral change.”

  The concerted efforts of the company and the partners have resulted in the whale shark becoming the second wildlife pride in Gujarat, after the Asiatic lions and seven coastal cities in Gujarat, including a non-coastal city, Ahmedabad, have adopted the whale shark as their city mascot.

  The Whale Shark conservation project has sensitized over 50,000 fishers and 100,000 coastal students through campaign awareness drive to inculcate the message of conservation.

  The project has been represented in the International Whale Shark conferences held globally, including the ones in Doha in 2016 and Australia in 2019. It has won the India Biodiversity Award by UNDP for the conservation of the whale shark, under the co-management category in 2014; the Green Governance Award by BNHS in 2005.

Biodegradable rubber to be developed by IIT Madras – JK Fenner will help boost sustainability and environmental degradation

Indian Institue of Technology (IIT) Madras and JK Fenner (India) Limited have partnered to develop a biodegradable alternative to rubber. As part of its CSR initiative, JK Fenner would fund the project.

The objective is to make the finished rubber product biodegradable quicker. Synthetic rubbers are also not biodegradable due to their structural feature, which consists of carbon-carbon single bonds in the backbone.

An IIT Madras research team headed by Prof R Dhamodharan, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, will research and develop practical, biodegradable molecular bridges as an alternative. Speaking about this CSR Partnership with IIT Madras, Nagaraju Srirama, President and Director, JK Fenner (India) Limited, said, “JK Fenner India Limited is happy to partner with IIT Madras, the premier research institute in the country for developing the next generation rubber which is going to be biodegradable and the environment- friendly. This research will set a new direction in the rubber industry (belts/hoses), which will be environmentally friendly and support our initiative towards a sustainable future.”

Elaborating on the scope of their research, Principal Investigator Prof R Dhamodharan, Department of Chemistry, IIT Madras, said, “The structure of the polymer to address these issues should be amenable to the ‘standard curing procedure’ established in the rubber industry. The polymer and the ‘crosslinker’ or the ‘bridge molecule’ used in the curing should also be designed with structural features that would make it suitable for biodegradation.”

As part of this campaign, the company will undertake plantation of over 44,000 saplings across its dealerships and office premises in India along with other activities.

Reaffirming the need for sustainable existence in harmony with nature through transformative on-ground changes, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI)on Sunday on the occasion of World Environment Day kickstarted its week-long National Environment Campaign.

  The campaign, which will end on June 11, was kicked off by the company’s Managing Director, President and CEO Atsushi Ogata with a tree-plantation ceremony organised at Future Honda, Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) dealership.

  Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Ogata said Honda aims for a circular society to achieve zero environmental impact by year 2050. In this direction, the company’s three key pillars of carbon neutrality, clean energy and resource circulation will enable Honda’s vision to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050.

  “Therefore, reinforcing these goals each year through our week-long sensitization campaign, we come together to strengthen our commitment towards conservation of our one & only – Mother Earth,” he added.

  Takeshi Kobayashi, Director, Sales & Marketing and other senior officials were present at the event.

  As part of this campaign, the company will undertake plantation of over 44000 saplings across its dealerships and office premises in India along with other activities.

  Also, during the week free of cost PUC check-ups will be conducted in collaboration with Society of Indian Automobile Manufactures (SIAM) for all the customers visiting HMSI authorized dealership network, among other activities.

  With an aim to bring a holistic understanding on environment protection, Honda will engage customer groups & personnel at over 6000 dealership network including HMSI associates at all its office locations and manufacturing plants in Manesar (Haryana), Tapukara (Rajasthan) Narsapura (Karnataka) and Vithalapur (Gujarat).

  The week-long national campaign is a synergy between UNEP’s 2022 global theme of ‘Only One Earth’ and ‘Honda’s vision to realize carbon neutrality for all products and corporate activities Honda is involved in by 2050.’

  To promote a greener cover around their surroundings, customers visiting the dealerships will be gifted free plant saplings as well. Additionally, as part of HMSI’s responsibility to support our business partners in reducing their environmental footprint, the concept of Green Factory, Green Dealer and Green Supplier aims for a Cleaner, Greener and Brighter outlook.

  Further instilling awareness to reinforce the campaign’s message during the environment week celebration, dealership personnel will sensitize the customers via awareness dockets for greener practices to all the customers.

This initiative aims to sensitise children about littering in public spaces, including beaches, and the impact of plastic usage on environment and marine life.

On World Environment Day, Nicktoons Motu Patlu teamed up with Afroz Shah, UNEP Champion of the Earth for a beach cleanup at Versova Beach as part of its ongoing campaign, #OnlyOneEarth with the United Nations in India.

  The programme aims to raise awareness on ways individual action can help protect our planet and its ecosystems. The beach cleaning programme, organised by the Afroz Shah Foundation, saw volunteers across age groups collect waste from Versova beach to prevent litter from reaching our oceans and harming marine animals.

  The volunteer effort gave young people and children a chance to demonstrate their love and care for the planet Earth, its environment and biodiversity, including oceans and its life, the UN body said in a statement.

  Commenting on the participation from Motu & Patlu, Afroz Shah said, “It is important to remember that there is no Planet B, and therefore we must protect the one we have for the future. It’s time we look at our actions and adopt sustainable practices to reduce our carbon footprint. I truly believe children are critical agents of change and can make a difference through everyday actions. And encouragement from their favourite Nickelodeon characters will only inspire them to be the change leaders they are!”

  Nickelodeon has consistently strived to instill positive behavioral change amongst children and in shaping their values by leveraging the influence of Nicktoons among kids. This initiative also aims to sensitise children about littering in public spaces, including beaches, and the impact of plastic usage on environment and marine life.

 Afroz Shah, the founder of the Afroz Shah Foundation, is a UNEP Champion of the Earth and a young change-maker reclaiming beaches, oceans, rivers, and mangroves from trash and apathy.

IndiGo has successfully conducted trials with a new water faucet in 200 flights which reduced water consumption by 5.4 litres per hour.

Leading carrier IndiGo on Sunday said it has successfully conducted trials with a new water faucet in 200 flights which reduced water consumption by 5.4 litres per hour.

  “For an average length 138 min flight (as per our trials conducted onboard), we saved 12.42 Ltr of water per flight,” the company said in a statement.

  IndiGo currently operates 1500 daily flights with an average flight duration of 98 minutes. This new installation will reduce water consumption by 8.82 litres per flight, enabling overall water savings of 13230 litres per day.

  The airline is implementing innovative measures to reduce water and fuel consumption on flights on the occasion of world environment day.

  According to IndiGo, this modification will also solve the challenge of water quantity in long flights. The reduced need for uplifting water in shorter flights will also contribute to fuel savings during operations, reducing carbon emissions by 930.75 Kg CO2/m3 per year.

  The airline has been working towards an integrated sustainable approach which can help them with day- to- day operations. IndiGo will be the first airline globally to make these changes for water conservation on board the aircraft.

  IndiGo President and Chief Operating Officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said, “As a leading airline, we have a special responsibility towards the environment and ESG is therefore one of our top corporate goals. We are in the process of institutionalising a sustainable approach to operations over the last few years, where-in sustainability is being integrated with day-to-day operations.”

  “With this new initiative, we to conserve water and significantly reduce carbon emissions through fuel savings. These consistent initiatives will contribute to a healthy ecosystem for our future generations,” he added.

  Recently, IndiGo published its first ESG Report, IndiGo Green, to share company’s outlook towards good governance and an overview of the environmental and social performance.

  The airline has already registered a reduction of 1,478,359 tonnes of carbon emissions from 2014-15 to 2020-21 fiscal years. In 2022-23, the airline aims to reduce CO2 emission by 18% per ASK when compared to 2015-16, the statement added.

The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has provided a grant to Saahas, a non-profit organization working towards waste management, to set up sustainable waste management infrastructure in 30 villages around the Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh next two years

The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has provided a grant to Saahas, a non-profit organization working towards waste management, to set up sustainable waste management infrastructure in 30 villages around the Panna National Park in Madhya Pradesh next two years.

By doing so, the TCCF joins the first-ever multi-stakeholder partnership to support the local government-run initiative towards waste management, along with the Ministry of Tourism, Madhya Pradesh, under their initiative ‘Clean Destinations’. The initiative also embraces India’s ‘Swachh Bharat’ mission to strengthen sustainable waste management across the country, especially in villages.

An MoU was signed today, in the presence of Hon’ble Governor Mr Mangubhai C. Patel; Smt. Usha Thakur from Minister of Tourism; Shri. Brajendra Pratap Singh, Minister Of Mineral Resources and Labour, Madhya Pradesh; Shri VD. Sharma, Member of Parliament, Khajuraho; Shri. Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary of Tourism Madhya Pradesh; Mr Sanjay Kumar Mishra, the District Collector; along with Mr Rajesh Ayapilla and Mr Rajiv Gupta from Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia.

Under the Responsible Tourism Mission, an innovative initiative Project ‘Clean Destination’ has been started by the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board, Department of Tourism. Shri Sheo Shekhar Shukla, Principal Secretary, Tourism, informed that, in the first phase, the project would be started in 30 villages around Panna National Park. An MoU has been signed between the Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board and Bangalore based ‘Saahas’. The Coca-Cola Foundation (TCCF) has provided financial aid for the same.”

Ms Saadia Madsbjerg, President of TCCF, said, “We are proud to use our resources to fund initiatives for creating sustainable waste management solutions. And we are humbly confident that this grant will help repurpose waste effectively on our journey to drive progress in the Panna National Park region. TCCF and The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) support achieving a World Without Waste (WWW), a bold, ambitious goal of achieving 100% collection and recycling by 2030. WWW signals a renewed focus on global sustainable waste management.”

Sonia Garga, Program Director, said, “Saahas is very excited to be part of this initiative, and we envisage that this project will become an example of sustainable waste management practices for national parks and natural tourist attractions. National parks pose some unique challenges due to their remote location and large waste generation by tourists. However, they also offer a great opportunity. The message of sustainable living can be conveyed very impactfully in these pristine surroundings. The parks can take this message far and wide through the large number of visitors coming from all over the country.

We look forward to contributing towards keeping our natural heritage clean and green!”

The key focus of this Solid Waste Management (SWM) program encompasses setting up infrastructure for waste collection and transportation systems, ensuring the creation of end destinations for all waste categories. Additionally, it incorporates Information, Education and Communication (IEC) and awareness campaigns to bring about awareness and behavioural change amongst tourists towards waste segregation and management.

Under this project, waste management infrastructure, including collection centres, will be set up for all 30 villages. This project will also provide motorized vehicles and pull carts throughout the project area for the collection and transportation of waste. Wet waste composting will also be set up for two larger villages, Madla and Hinauta. Separate colour-coded waste segregation bins will be placed at all prominent tourist spots and entry gates of the National Park.

The Madhya Pradesh Tourism Board will play a pivotal role in implementing the project, with different state government departments and institutions, including the Forest, Rural, Urban and Revenue department and the district panchayat office. The department has extended its immense support by providing land to set up collection infrastructure along with necessary civic amenities across 30 villages to ensure the sustainability of SWM systems.

Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW), formerly known as Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions (RBEI), has partnered with Forests by Heartfulness to plant 25,000 saplings in a mini-forest plantation drive to celebrate its 25 years legacy in India

Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW), formerly known as Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions (RBEI), has partnered with Forests by Heartfulness to plant 25,000 saplings in a mini-forest plantation drive to celebrate its 25 years legacy in India.

This multi-city plantation across Bangalore, Coimbatore and Hyderabad kicked off in February.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr RK Shenoy, SVP – Mobility Engineering and Member of Executive Leadership, BGSW, said, “This plantation drive marks our commitment to sustainability. BGSW focuses on improving the quality of life, and this is reflected in our commitment to developing new products and high-tech solutions that are intelligent, connected, and sustainable”.

“We are celebrating 25 years of our legacy in India and our recent rebranding to BGSW through an initiative that will leave an enduring positive impact for many decades to come. Globally, Bosch has taken many steps on sustainability and is one of the first to be Carbon neutral. BGSW has been driving many initiatives, including lake rejuvenation. This is one more small but sincere step in conserving and maintaining the planet’s ecological balance. Together with the local community, we can fight climate change and create a healthy environment for the next generation.”, he said.

President and Guide of Heartfulness Mr Kamlesh Patel said, ‘Forests by Heartfulness is our endeavour to create widespread awareness and enhance sustainable green cover for the future generations. The amount of flora that needs to be replenished for the natural ecosystem to be restored is not an overnight process, nor can it be a single entity initiative. It is a shared responsibility amongst various stakeholders – corporates, governments, NGOs, forestry, and individuals. We are greatly encouraged to see corporates’ interest in collaborating with this initiative towards actively building a green legacy. We congratulate Bosch Global Software Technologies (BGSW) towards taking up this large-scale multi-city mini-forest plantation drive across many cities marking their 25 years in India and commitment to sustainability.”

With 25,000 Sapling across Bangalore, Hyderabad and Coimbatore, this project focuses on improving biodiversity, creating a microclimate to abate city pollution, providing naturally grown fruits and medicinal herbs to the local communities, raising the local water table, and reducing at least 5,000 tonnes of carbon emission over the next ten years. BGSW, with their NGO partner, Heartfulness, will collaborate with local communities to take care of saplings and provide the necessary technology for geotagging and monitoring their growth for at least two years to ensure nutrient management.

The 25,000 saplings will be planted using Forests by Heartfulness proprietary Heartyculture High Density (HCHD) plantation method. This method involves extensive soil reconstitution using Activated Biochar, Vermicompost, Cow manure, and Cocopeat. BGSW will facilitate the plantation of over 100 different species of trees to create a mini forest. The trees selected for the plantation drive are native endemic and supported through an extensive root network.