Making India Greener: How Companies Aim to Improve the Environment This World Environment Day

Muskaan Kapoor

Jun 5, 2024 — 10 min read

World Environment Day - Making India Greener, Expert Insights

In celebration of World Environment Day 2024, the largest international event for environmental awareness led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), we reached out to various companies dedicated to sustainability. We asked them about their future plans for sustainable technology in India and how they envision these plans contributing to a greener country. Here are their responses, outlining innovative strategies and anticipated benefits for India's environment.

Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder and CEO, BioPrime AgriSolutions
Dr. Sat Kumar Tomer, Founder and CEO, Satyukt Analytics Private Limited
Kishan Karunakaran, CEO, Buyofuel
Devndra Chawla, CEO and MD, GreenCell Mobility
Ankit Mathur, Co-Founder, Greenway Grameen
Manish Dabkara, Chairman and MD, EKI Energy Services Ltd.
Ravi Kaushik, Founder and CEO, AiRTH
Utkarsh Singh, Co-founder and CEO, BatX Energies
Samit Jain, Managing Director, Pluss Advanced Technologies Ltd.
Deepak Pahwa, Chairman, Pahwa Group and Managing Director, Bry-Air
Ashvin Patil, Founder and Director, Biofuels Junction Pvt Ltd.
Mitull Batraa, Co-founder, Udaan E-Vehicles
Vineet Mittal, Director and Co-Founder, Navitas Solar

Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder and CEO, BioPrime AgriSolutions

Our purpose is From Nature, For Nature, which drives everything we do at BioPrime. Our technology advancement & efforts are based on the same purpose. We are making strides to preserve the rich biodiversity of the country by creating India's largest microbial library, named Bionexus. So far we have collected more than 17000+ microbial strains from 400 different locations across the country to learn their behavior for the benefit of the Indian agricultural ecosystem.

We are also deeply concerned about the ill effects of chemical fertilizers on the soil & plant health; to mitigate the risks associated with it, we have commercialized our Nutrient Use Efficiency [NUE] technology based on Bionexus. NUE will enable farmers to reduce the dose of chemical fertilizers without compromising on the crop yields, we are committed to advance our NUE offerings related to N, P & K nutrients in the near future.

Dr. Sat Kumar Tomer, Founder and CEO, Satyukt Analytics Private Limited

Technology plays a crucial role in building a sustainable future. By using our precision agriculture technologies and real-time data, we can conserve resources, reduce pesticides usage, promote soil conservation and ensure a healthy planet for all.

Our digital satellite-based carbon monitoring solutions offer improved accuracy, efficiency, transparency, and global coverage for monitoring and managing greenhouse gas emissions. By leveraging advanced satellite data, these systems support eco-friendly decision-making, reduce carbon footprints, and sustainably enhance crop yields, contributing to a greener future.

Kishan Karunakaran, CEO, Buyofuel

Looking ahead, Buyofuel's vision for sustainable technology in India is anchored in ambitious yet achievable goals. We are committed to substituting over 300,000 metric tons of fossil fuels with biofuels within the next 12 months, which will lead to a substantial reduction of approximately 360,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. This shift not only contributes significantly to environmental conservation but also sets a precedent for sustainable practices in the fuel industry.

Additionally, Buyofuel is actively engaging with waste management communities and the agricultural sector, addressing challenges related to general and agri-waste. This holistic approach not only benefits the environment but also creates a positive social impact, paving the way for a better sustainable future.

Looking further into the future, Buyofuel aims to replace 1% of India’s fuel sales with biofuels within 3-5 years. This strategic goal reflects our commitment to long-term sustainability and our belief in the transformative power of biofuels. India's significant fuel consumption and waste production present both challenges and opportunities, and we see biofuels as a key solution. By harnessing technology and leveraging our platform's capabilities, we want to make a substantial contribution towards creating a more resilient and sustainable energy ecosystem in India.

Devndra Chawla, CEO and MD, GreenCell Mobility

GreenCell Mobility intends to continue using sustainable technologies to revolutionise India's mass mobility sector. Our plans include growing our electric bus fleet and charging infrastructure across the country. We want to integrate electric vehicles into everyday life by working with stakeholders and raising public awareness about green transportation.

Furthermore, our commitment to safety, innovation and efficiency will prompt us to examine the integration of renewable energy and smart fleet management technologies. Collectively, these activities will be critical towards our mission of a cleaner, greener future.

Ankit Mathur, Co-Founder, Greenway Grameen

Our mission is to provide affordable, accessible and sustainable solutions to 20 million low-income households by 2030. Our focus remains on improving the lives of the rural communities with products that are tech-driven and energy efficient. We have recently launched 2 new models of the cookstoves for smaller families and commercial use respectively. We have plans to introduce more products to improve the daily lives of the communities and scaling our operations.

Manish Dabkara, Chairman and MD, EKI Energy Services Ltd.

We are poised for significant growth and transformation over the next few years. As per the current govt policies, which is likely to continue with their return, renewable energy transition is in focus, which means there will be more projects generating carbon credits while making India greener as well as generating an economic cushion for this decarbonization journey.

The government has decided to undertake a massive rooftop solarisation drive, which aligns with our vision of clean energy. Policies for compliance and voluntary carbon trading, along with Green Credits Programme and campaigns like LiFE (Lifestyle For Environment) initiative are going on in full swing, assisting private players like us in undertaking more sustainable projects.

On the other hand, we also aim to be the pioneers in increasing the contribution of biofuels and bioenergy in India's green energy transition story. We aim to establish more biogas plants and step-up the production of bio briquettes.

We intend to leverage the most for the environment with our involvement in organisations like India Clean Cooking Alliance, Carbon Market Association of India, Centre of Excellence (on the lines of LiFE initiative), allying ourselves with the International Energy Agency's (IEA) vision of universal clean cooking access in Africa, our own clean cooking initiative, under which we have distributed more than 2 million improved cookstoves and also initiated a pilot project for the distribution of indoor solar cooking devices to the underprivileged. This stride is bound to continue in the coming years.

Ravi Kaushik, Founder and CEO, AiRTH

Airth is working on a three-pronged strategy to contribute to making India greener and healthier through its sustainable air purification technology.

1. Enhancing Indoor Air Quality in Schools and Hospitals

We are in the process of installing advanced air purification systems in schools, hospitals, and other critical public buildings across India. Improving indoor air quality in these settings will protect vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and patients with pre-existing health conditions, from harmful pollutants, thereby enhancing overall public health.

2. Public Awareness and Education Campaigns

Airth is soon launching nationwide campaigns to educate the public on the importance of air quality and the benefits of air purifying technologies. Increased public awareness will drive demand for cleaner air solutions and encourage responsible behaviour regarding pollution, fostering a culture of environmental stewardship.

3. Promoting Renewable Energy-Powered Air Purifiers

We are designing and deploying the next versions of Airth air purifiers powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind. This initiative will reduce the carbon footprint of air purification technology and make it sustainable in areas with limited access to electricity, contributing to India's green energy goals.

Utkarsh Singh, Co-founder and CEO, BatX Energies

Capacity Expansion by 2030:

BatX Energies plans to significantly expand its recycling capacity to meet the growing demand for battery recycling. By 2030, the company aims to establish multiple facilities across India, increasing its total recycling capacity to 50,000 metric tons per annum (MT/A).

CO2 Savings:

With the expanded capacity, BatX Energies expects to save approximately 2.6 million kgs of CO2 emissions by 2030 equivalent to 800 thousand trees planted. This is achieved through their advanced recycling technologies, which significantly reduce the carbon footprint compared to traditional mining and disposal methods.

Support for Sustainability Goals and EV Policy:

These initiatives support India's sustainability goals and EV policy by:

Promoting a circular economy through efficient recycling of lithium-ion batteries.
Reducing the environmental impact of battery waste.
Ensuring a reliable supply of critical minerals for the EV industry.
Contributing to India's commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070 and enhancing the domestic EV ecosystem.

Samit Jain, Managing Director, Pluss Advanced Technologies Ltd.

Pluss Advanced Technologies aims to expand its PCM applications, promoting energy efficiency and passive thermal backup across sectors like automotive, textiles, electronics and buildings. They plan to venture into buildings to further enhance green building initiatives, incorporating PCM materials to reduce heating and cooling costs. In textiles, for thermal comfort applications and for electric battery cooling applications with thermal inertia.

Pluss plans to look at food security in a big way with their PCM solutions for off-grid crop storage, minimizing post-harvest losses. These plans align with India’s sustainable development goals, enhancing quality of life while protecting the environment.

Deepak Pahwa, Chairman, Pahwa Group and Managing Director, Bry-Air

Looking ahead, Bry-Air is committed to driving sustainability across the world through continuous innovation and strategic partnerships. Our future plans include scaling up the deployment of our air-to-water generators across water-stressed regions throughout the world, aiming to provide a sustainable water source to millions. This initiative not only addresses water scarcity but also aligns with the country's goals for sustainable development.

We are also advancing our HVAC solutions by integrating AI and IoT to further optimize energy use in industrial and commercial settings, ensuring minimal energy wastage and maximum efficiency. Our carbon capture technologies are set to play a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with India’s goals for achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.

Moreover, our VOC abatement solutions will continue to support industries in meeting stringent environmental regulations while promoting cleaner air. By partnering with governmental and non-governmental organisations, we aim to implement these materials, sciences, and technologies widely, contributing to a sustainable and green future for the world. Our comprehensive approach ensures that we address multiple environmental aspects, fostering overall ecological well-being.

Ashvin Patil, Founder and Director, Biofuels Junction Pvt Ltd.

The recent implementation of the Compressed Bio Gas (CBG) mandate has enabled the usage of a wider variety of agricultural residues and waste as feedstock for production. In line with this, Biofuels Junction plans to expand the use of different types of agricultural residues as feedstock for biomass supply to various upcoming CBG plants. This includes commonly burned residues like paddy straw (Parali) as well as corn cobs, cane trash, cotton stalks, and municipal waste, which are well-suited as feedstocks for CBG. This may greatly help reduce instances of stubble burning and the pollution issue in North India as paddy straw is a well-accepted and proven feedstock for CBG.

Biofuels Junction is also working towards continually investing and enhancing the IT platform, to further streamline the supply chain, reduce costs, and ensure consistent quality and supply of biofuels. By optimizing the biofuel production, distribution and supply chain processes, Biofuels Junction aims to promote efficiency, sustainability and minimize environmental impact.

Mitull Batraa, Co-founder, Udaan E-Vehicles

As we look to the future, one of our primary focus areas is investing heavily in R&D and embracing innovative technologies to maintain our competitive edge in the EV manufacturing sector. We are pouring significant resources into cutting-edge projects related to advanced battery technology, increasing vehicle range, and optimizing charging solutions.

But we know that we cannot do it alone. That is why we are actively seeking out partnerships with leading research institutions and dynamic startups in the field. By collaborating with these brilliant minds, we can stay at the forefront of technological innovation and push the boundaries of what is possible in sustainable transportation.

Our goal is not just to meet the needs of today but to anticipate and shape the trends of tomorrow. We are building a culture of curiosity and using emerging technologies, because we believe that this forward-thinking approach is the key to creating a greener, more sustainable future for India.

Vineet Mittal, Director and Co-Founder, Navitas Solar

Navitas Solar will scale up its annual PV panel capacity to 3 GW by 2025. The capacity expansion includes setting up of a new 1.2 GW manufacturing plant with M10 and G12 mono PERC and TOPCon modules capacity. The company growth strategy is in line with Indian Government’s focus on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 100% renewable energy for a sustainable and greener India.