Environmental challenges spanning waste management, agriculture, and clean technology are creating significant opportunities for India’s circular economy, according to Suranjana Ghosh, Head of Marico Innovation Foundation.
India generates an estimated 350 million tonnes of agricultural waste annually, much of which holds substantial industrial and economic potential if converted into valuable resources rather than discarded.
“Environmental challenges today are increasingly interconnected… Across sectors, we are seeing growing evidence that environmental challenges can be addressed through practical solutions,” Ghosh said.
She emphasised that sustainability is now viewed as an opportunity to create economic value, citing innovations that convert crop residue into sustainable materials, fuels, and industrial inputs, alongside waste-to-value technologies that strengthen recycling ecosystems.
“More than innovation itself, the challenge today is creating the right conditions for adoption. Access to markets, industry partnerships and implementation support will be critical,” Ghosh added.
As World Environment Day 2026 focuses on climate action, Ghosh called for translating innovation into measurable outcomes to build a USD 2 trillion circular economy that could generate 10 million jobs by 2050.
“India does not lack innovative solutions… the focus must be on translating innovation into measurable outcomes that strengthen circularity, improve resource efficiency, and create long-term impact,” she said.