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Category: Sustainable World

  • Empowering SUTRA 2025 Sustainable Trade Summit: India’s resilient future

    Empowering SUTRA 2025 Sustainable Trade Summit: India’s resilient future

    India is committed to advancing circularity and strengthening farm-to-factory linkages to position its textiles as a global model of responsibility and resilience, a senior Ministry of Textiles official said on Thursday.

    “With the right partnerships, investments, and innovations, we can weave a future that is not only equitable and climate-resilient but also defines India’s leadership in sustainable growth,” Rohit Kansal, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles, said at the SUTRA 2025 sustainable trade summit in New Delhi.

    Kansal said the IDH SUTRA 2025 platform brings together farmers, farmer producer organizations (FPOs), financiers, innovators, and industry stakeholders, embodying the meaning of SUTRA—the thread that connects them all.

    “Collaboration is the cornerstone of transformation, and through initiatives like this, India is demonstrating how sustainability can move from compliance to competitiveness, from intent to impact,” he added.

    The SUTRA 2025 sustainable trade summit brought together over 400 delegates and 35 speakers from government, industry, development institutions, academia, and farmer organizations to explore how purpose-led sourcing can accelerate India’s transition to climate-resilient and socially equitable trade systems.

    The summit highlighted India’s growing leadership in embedding sustainability and inclusion into its trade and agricultural systems.

    This year’s edition featured a Sustainability Experience Centre showcasing innovations in traceability, regenerative farming, and circular production. Interactive demonstrations and solution pitches enabled participants to explore how emerging technologies and data-driven systems can enhance transparency and accountability across supply chains, aligning with principles of responsible sourcing.

    Industry leaders including Sougata Niyogi of Godrej Agrovet, Sudhakar Desai of Emami Agrotech and IVPA, and executives from SAP, ITC Limited, Hindustan Unilever, and ICRIER shared perspectives on aligning business competitiveness with climate action and social responsibility. These empowering discussions at the SUTRA 2025 sustainable trade summit underscored the potential for scalable, inclusive solutions in sustainable trade.

  • India’s Green Giants: Wipro, Tech Mahindra Lead Global Sustainability Charge

    India’s Green Giants: Wipro, Tech Mahindra Lead Global Sustainability Charge

    By Eldee

    When TIME Magazine and Statista rolled out their 2025 World’s Most Sustainable Companies list in June, two Indian IT powerhouses stole the spotlight. Bengaluru’s Wipro (53rd, score: 75.83) and Pune’s Tech Mahindra (57th, 75.13) didn’t just make the global top 100—they were India’s sole representatives there.

    But the story’s bigger: eight other Indian firms, from Mahindra (201st, 66.77) in automotive to Dr. Reddy’s (417th, 59.36) in pharma, also cracked the 500-strong list, signaling India’s rising clout in the global green race.

    As climate alarms blare—from Delhi’s choking smog to Kerala’s relentless floods—this isn’t just a feather in India’s cap; it’s a rallying cry for Corporate India to power our 2047 Viksit Bharat vision of a developed, sustainable nation.

    For years, India’s IT sector was written off as the world’s code mill, churning out software for Western giants. Wipro and Tech Mahindra are torching that stereotype. Wipro’s Lab45 AI platform slashed water use by 40% for US farmers in 2023 with smart irrigation—vital tech for a nation where 600 million battle water scarcity. “Sustainability drives our innovation,” CEO Thierry Delaporte told TIME.

    In 2025, Wipro’s FullStride Cloud tie-up with Pure Storage is supercharging clients’ green transitions, dovetailing with Budget 2025’s push for AI-driven clean tech. Tech Mahindra’s EcoForge platform, meanwhile, helped telecom majors like Vodafone cut emissions by 35% by linking data centres to renewables, while their 1-million-mangrove drive in Maharashtra shields coasts from erosion. “We’re redefining tech for a sustainable future,” CEO Mohit Joshi said, a vision reinforced by their 2025 Terra Carta Seal. These aren’t just firms; they’re India’s green vanguards.

    The list’s ten Indian stars—Mahindra, Airtel (223rd, 65.87), HCLTech (233rd, 65.51), WNS (290th, 63.37), Hindustan Zinc (313th, 62.49), Syngene International (364th, 61.08), Infosys (374th, 60.84), TCS (383rd, 60.65), Godrej Properties (413th, 59.54), and Dr. Reddy’s—show India’s green push spans sectors.

    Mahindra’s electric vehicles, Airtel’s renewable-powered towers, and Dr. Reddy’s eco-conscious drugs prove we’re not just followers but pacesetters. India’s 99th rank on the 2025 SDG Index—our first top-100 finish—rides on 42% renewable energy (we’re the world’s third-largest producer) and a tech market zooming to $60 billion, per Nasscom, with 126,000 new AI and ESG jobs in 2025. But the road’s bumpy: data centres guzzle power, supply chains stay opaque, and EY warns we’ve met just 25% of green investment needs. With net-zero by 2070 in focus and Budget 2025 boosting solar and battery storage, Corporate India must shift gears fast.

    While Schneider Electric (France, 93.85), Telefónica (Spain, 87.68), Brambles (Australia, 86.14), Temenos (Switzerland, 85.95), and Moncler (Italy, 85.87) top the list with European flair, India’s ten-strong contingent, led by Wipro and Tech Mahindra, shows we can hold our own.

    Global trade hiccups like tariffs may sting, but they underline India’s edge: affordable, scalable green tech that the Global South hungers for.

    For 1.4 billion Indians, sustainability isn’t a buzzword—it’s do-or-die. Wipro and Tech Mahindra have cracked the code; now Mahindra’s EVs, TCS’s low-carbon IT, and others must follow. The world’s watching, and India’s ready to lead—not just on rankings, but in scripting a greener future.

  • BSG Awards Celebrate Sustainability Changemakers

    BSG Awards Celebrate Sustainability Changemakers

    Amid rising climate challenges like floods in Uttarakhand and heavy rains in Mumbai, Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) held its first-ever BSG Awards for Excellence in Sustainability on September 3, 2025, at New Delhi’s Chinmaya Mission Auditorium.

    The event honoured 17 winners and 3 special mentions across 14 categories, chosen from over 200 nominations by a distinguished jury, including Prof Bijayalaxmi Nanda, Gaurav Shah, Ruby Makhija, Ramveer Tanwar, and Vikas Verma.

    Chief Guest Amit Chandra emphasized sustainability as nurturing relationships between people, nature, and institutions.

    BSG Chairperson Vishesh Gupta highlighted the power of individual action in shaping a greener India. Jury members stressed sustainability as a responsibility, not a choice, urging daily practices for a thriving future.

    BSG’s ‘BSG for SDG’ initiative, launched in 2021, promotes sustainable human behavior to achieve SDGs by 2030. A special screening of the ‘BSG for SDG Film’ showcased stories of hope, followed by discussions to inspire collective climate action ahead of the UN Climate Conference (COP).

  • UNESCO Designates Cold Desert as India’s First High-Altitude Biosphere Reserve

    UNESCO Designates Cold Desert as India’s First High-Altitude Biosphere Reserve

    Spanning 7,770 square kilometers across the trans-Himalayan region at altitudes of 3,300 to 6,600 meters, the reserve includes Pin Valley National Park, Chandratal, Sarchu, and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary.

    UNESCO has added India’s Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve to its World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR), marking the country’s first high-altitude cold desert reserve and its 13th UNESCO biosphere site, the organization announced at the 5th World Congress of Biosphere Reserves in Hangzhou, China.

    Spanning 7,770 square kilometers across the trans-Himalayan region at altitudes of 3,300 to 6,600 meters, the reserve includes Pin Valley National Park, Chandratal, Sarchu, and Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. It features glacial valleys, alpine lakes, and one of the world’s coldest, driest ecosystems, hosting 732 vascular plant species, including 30 endemics, and iconic fauna like the snow leopard, Himalayan ibex, and golden eagle.

    Home to 12,000 people in scattered villages, the region sustains traditional practices such as yak herding, barley farming, and Tibetan herbal medicine, guided by Buddhist monastic traditions and community resource management.

    “This designation highlights India’s commitment to balancing conservation with sustainable development in fragile, culturally rich ecosystems,” said Tim Curtis, Director of UNESCO’s Regional Office for South Asia. “Biosphere reserves are learning hubs for fostering harmony between people and nature.”

    Announced during the 50th anniversary of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme, the Cold Desert joins 26 new sites in the WNBR, now totaling 785 globally. The MAB promotes interdisciplinary approaches to biodiversity conservation, sustainable economic development, and research, with biosphere reserves serving as models for local solutions to global challenges.

    The 5th World Congress, attended by over 3,000 participants from more than 100 countries, marks the first time the event has been held in Asia, underscoring the MAB’s growing global inclusivity.

  • INOX India unveils FY25 sustainability report: growth and green pledges in focus

    INOX India unveils FY25 sustainability report: growth and green pledges in focus

    INOX India Ltd, a leader in cryogenic equipment, launched its Sustainability Report 2024-2025, spotlighting environmental strides and robust financial growth amid a global push for clean energy solutions.

    The report, overing April 2024 to March 2025 and aligned with Global Reporting Initiative standards, highlights a 19 percent renewable energy uptake, mitigating 1,808 tonnes of CO2 equivalent with new solar and wind installations.

    Scope 1 emissions dropped to 716 tonnes CO2e from 724, though Scope 2 rose to 9,550 tonnes due to expansion, with intensity improving 12 percent to 0.00000079 tonnes per rupee turnover.

    Chairman Pavan Kumar Jain called FY25 a “turning point,” with revenue up 16.2 to Rs 1,354 crore (USD 161.8 million), EBITDA rising 18.3 percent to Rs 330 crore, and PAT increasing 15.4 percent to Rs 224 crore.

    Exports hit Rs 692 crore (53 percent of total), boosted by a Bahamas LNG terminal and the world’s first liquid air energy storage project in Manchester, UK.

    Energy use climbed 28.7 percent to 65,397 GJ (intensity up 7.9 percent), while water fell 5.3 percent to 109,243 KL (intensity down 20.5 percent) with zero liquid discharge at Savli. Waste rose 6.3 percent to 3,406 tonnes (intensity down 10.3 percent), with 2.8 million litres of rainwater harvested.

    CSR efforts invested RS 4.5 crore in girls’ education and healthcare for 5,200 elderly. The 1,332-strong workforce includes 6 percent women (up from 5.7 percent), with 9,689 training hours and a lost time injury frequency rate of 0.23.

    Governance features a diverse eight-member board (25 percent women) and sustainability committees. Lacking Scope 3 data, it focuses on India operations.

    INOX targets 30 percent renewables by FY27 and net-zero by 2040, aligning with its ISO 14001-certified eco-strategy.

  • Apraava Energy’s solar power drive benefits 60,000 in rural India

    Apraava Energy’s solar power drive benefits 60,000 in rural India

    The move helped reduce over 130 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to planting 6,500 trees per year.

    Apraava Energy, India’s leading integrated energy solutions provider, has impacted nearly 60,000 people from disadvantaged communities across the country through a five-year solar development program, the company said on Thursday.

    In partnership with SELCO, Apraava implemented solar power initiatives in close to 40 villages across five states – Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana and Telangana. The move helped reduce over 130 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, equivalent to planting 6,500 trees per year.

    The community interventions focused on enhancing safety through solar lighting in villages and schools, electrifying healthcare centres, creating jobs for differently-abled individuals and women, and improving access to quality education.

    “Solar lighting installations have provided a sense of safety and security…Solar electrification in primary health centres has ensured uninterrupted functionality of essential facilities,” Apraava said in a statement.

    It added that solar-powered appliances like fridges and roti-rolling machines created employment for differently-abled people and women, while digital education kits improved the quality of learning in rural areas.

    “These interventions have not only focused on all-round community development but also helped reduce significant greenhouse emissions,” said Priyesh Modi, head of corporate social responsibility at Apraava Energy.

    “Apraava remains committed to working with the communities to address their needs and contribute to building a sustainable future for India,” he added.

    Apraava Energy did not disclose the investment made in the solar development program.

  • Natural Gas firm Adani Total charts sustainable, low-carbon path

    Natural Gas firm Adani Total charts sustainable, low-carbon path

    As part of its environmental efforts, the company is prioritizing reducing carbon emissions through solarization, curbing methane leaks, promoting renewable energy like bio-compressed natural gas and electric mobility.

    Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL), a joint venture between India’s Adani Group and France’s TotalEnergies, said on Thursday that embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles into its business is essential for long-term value creation.

    The natural gas distributor said adhering to ESG helps build resilience, foster a sustainability-focused culture and identify opportunities while managing risks in the interests of all stakeholders.

    “In today’s world, sustainability isn’t just an option; it’s a fundamental requirement,” ATGL said in a regulatory filing.

    “Sustainability is woven into the fabric of our values, emphasising environmental stewardship, social accountability, strong governance, and economic vitality.”

    As part of its environmental efforts, the company is prioritizing reducing carbon emissions through solarization, curbing methane leaks, promoting renewable energy like bio-compressed natural gas and electric mobility.

    ATGL said it has mapped all greenhouse gas emissions and is working continuously to minimize them, including by conducting methane leak detection and repair for its networks to reduce fugitive emissions.

    On the social side, ATGL is committed to promoting health, safety, community engagement, education, diversity and inclusion, the statement said. It highlighted the Greenmosphere tree plantation initiative aimed at creating a low-carbon society.

    The company said it has developed a 10-acre biodiversity park in Ahmedabad, called the ATGL Forest, where more than 200,000 trees have been planted to create an oxygen park for the city.

    With an eye on climate change, ATGL said it is working towards low-carbon gas retail by initiating bio-gas and electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with pilot studies planned for blending green hydrogen.

    “Our overarching goal is to foster lasting economic prosperity while forging a sustainable and equitable future for everyone involved,” the company said.

  • Carlsberg India brewery wins award for environmental, safety excellence

    Carlsberg India brewery wins award for environmental, safety excellence

    The award recognizes the brewery’s commitment to implementing top-class EHS policies and practices with the goal of continuous performance improvement through full team engagement.

    Carlsberg India’s brewery in Mysuru city has won a prestigious Silver Award for Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Excellence from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the leading brewer said on Thursday.

    The award recognizes the brewery’s commitment to implementing top-class EHS policies and practices with the goal of continuous performance improvement through full team engagement, the company said.

    It was one of over 5,000 applicants from various sectors for the 16th edition of the CII EHS Excellence Awards, which celebrate best practices in EHS management through rigorous onsite audits and evaluation by an independent panel.

    “We commend our colleagues at the Mysuru brewery for their relentless efforts in pursuing excellence in EHS,” said Sanjeev Gupta, Vice-President of Integrated Supply Chain at Carlsberg India.

    “This award is a testament to our commitment and continuous effort to drive our group initiative on Together Towards Zero & Beyond for creating a sustainable future for our people and planet,” he added.

    The Carlsberg Group aims to brew “For a Better Today and Tomorrow” through its sustainability program “Together Towards ZERO and Beyond”, focused on achieving zero water waste, accidents, carbon footprint and packaging waste, among other environmental, social and governance targets.

  • Tech adoption, rainwater harvesting key for water security: food and beverages sector

    Tech adoption, rainwater harvesting key for water security: food and beverages sector

    Emphasizing the shared responsibility of water stewardship, leaders from the food and beverage industry, government, and experts underscored the urgency of adopting innovative technologies, harvesting rainwater, and fostering collaborative actions to address water sustainability challenges.

    Emphasizing the shared responsibility of water stewardship, leaders from the food and beverage industry, government, and experts underscored the urgency of adopting innovative technologies, harvesting rainwater, and fostering collaborative actions to address water sustainability challenges at a conference organized by CII-Triveni Water Institute and CII Food & Agriculture Centre of Excellence.

    “Water stewardship is a shared commitment towards securing our future,” said Hina Nagarajan, Conference Chairperson and Managing Director & CEO, Diageo India, setting the tone for the two-day event attended by over 150 delegates.

    Thakur Brahmanand Singh, Member Secretary, Central Ground Water Authority, highlighted the potential of harvested rainwater and greywater to be “gamechanger” in tackling the water crisis amid depleting groundwater resources. He urged the industry to improve specific water consumption through regular audits to determine water use efficiency.

    Inoshi Sharma, Executive Director, FSSAI, echoed similar views, stating, “Focus on harvesting rainwater could help recharge our water bodies and make use of a resource that is otherwise wasted.” Sharma also emphasized the importance of adhering to labeling requirements for packaged drinking water and announced FSSAI’s intent to merge the BIS mark requirement within its regulations to simplify processes.

    Ajay Popat, Chairman – Core group on New & Cutting-Edge technologies, CII National Committee on Water, stressed strategies like water audits, technology integration, wastewater treatment and reuse, sustainable sourcing, collaborative initiatives, and water risk assessment for effective water stewardship.

    Dr Kapil Kumar Narula, CEO & Executive Director, CII Triveni Water Institute, urged industries to be conscious of the watershed in which their plants are located and undertake measures to ensure operational sustainability, citing NITI Aayog’s water neutrality guidelines.

    The conference witnessed participation from government bodies, food processing companies, technology providers, researchers, and industry associations, underscoring the collaborative approach needed to promote sustainable water usage across the food and beverage value chain.

  • ICICI Prudential Life scores ESG rating of ‘A’

    ICICI Prudential Life scores ESG rating of ‘A’

    This year, the company expanded the terms of reference of the Board CSR Committee to include review of sustainability activities and key ESG related disclosures.

    ICICI Prudential Life Insurance today said it has received a rating of ‘A’ in the MSCI ESG Ratings assessment with a score of 16.9.

      MSCI ESG Ratings aim to measure a company’s management of financially relevant ESG risks and opportunities. It uses a rules-based methodology to identify industry leaders and laggards according to their exposure to ESG risks and how well they manage those risks relative to peers.

      ICICI Prudential Life Insurance said it has focused initiatives in place for each dimension of the ESG framework under the Environment (Transitioning towards Green and Sustainable Operations), Social (Empowering Employees, Adopting Customer Centricity, and Helping Communities) and Governance (Enabling Robust Governance Structure and Effectively Managing Risks) pillars.

      As a result of these initiatives ICICI Prudential Life Insurance received an ESG Risk Rating of 16.9 and was assessed by Sustainalytics to be at Low risk of experiencing material financial impact arising from ESG factors.

    “ESG as one of the strategic elements has been a core part of path followed by the company in achieving its objective of doubling the FY2019 Value of New Business in FY2023. We remain committed to creating a culture that integrates ‘best in class’ sustainability practices with our business processes,” the company’s Managing Director and CEO N S Kannan said in the report.

    The company has been making significant progress in integrating sustainability with its business processes and as a way of doing business since it commenced on their ESG journey in 2020.

    This year, the company expanded the terms of reference of the Board CSR Committee to include review of sustainability activities and key ESG related disclosures.

    According to MSCI, a “leader” (rated AAA & AA) indicates a company leading its industry in managing the most significant ESG risks and opportunities.

    “Average” (rated A, BBB, or BB) companies are described by a mixed or unexceptional track record of managing ESG risks and opportunities relative to industry peers; while a “laggard” (rated B or CCC) trails its industry based on its high exposure and failure to manage significant ESG risks.