World Environment Day Spotlight: How Companies' Sustainable Technologies Are Impacting the Environment

Muskaan Kapoor

Jun 5, 2024 — 12 min read

World Environment Day - How Companies' Sustainable Technologies Are Impacting the Environment

On World Environment Day, celebrated annually on June 5, to encourage global awareness and action for environmental protection, StartupTalky reached out to various companies dedicated to sustainability to understand how their technologies are making a positive impact on the environment.

By asking how various companies' technology is making a difference in the environment, we aimed to gather real-world examples and case studies showcasing their contributions. Here are their insightful responses, highlighting innovative solutions and benefits for our planet.

Dr Renuka Diwan, Co-Founder and CEO, BioPrime AgriSolutions
Dr. Sat Kumar Tomer, Founder and CEO, Satyukt Analytics Private Limited
Mitull Batraa, Co-founder, Udaan E-Vehicles
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.

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

At BioPrime, through our ahead of the times research & development in ag-Biologicals, we have developed biological solutions capable of empowering farmers with safe, natural & sustainable products. Our solutions are based on the patented SNIPR platform, which is a sophisticated technology aimed at extracting nature-friendly biomolecules. Our process is based on the concept of the interconnectedness of nature & its symbiotic relationship with healthy microbes. With over 10 years of research, we have developed an effective range of Biologicals capable of enhancing plant resilience, promoting nutrient uptake, and combat pathogens.

The development of these biological products is a formidable alternative, assuring safe, residue-free produce with the assurance of maximum yields. Contrary to the traditional chemical & synthetic agri-input products, our biological products leave a negligible impact on the environment & human health reducing the risk of harmful residues in the produce or the environment.

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

We embrace sustainable farming practices that protect our environment. By monitoring soil health, crop health and water usage, farmers and agricultural stakeholders can optimize their practices and contribute to a more sustainable future.

A farmer from Kakinada in the Kolar District of Karnataka was facing the potential loss of his crop yield. Struggling to determine whether the issue stemmed from pests, diseases, soil nutrient deficiencies, or lack of soil moisture, he was uncertain about which chemicals to use for pests and diseases or how much nutrients to apply. As a result, he continued to invest heavily in fertilizers and pesticides without finding an optimal solution. However, after successfully implementing our technology, he identified a nitrogen deficiency as the root problem. By applying the precise amount of fertilizer needed, he learned to invest wisely in inputs instead of overspending on unnecessary pesticides, fungicides, and fertilizers.

This approach not only reduced his overall costs but also protected the soil from over-fertilization, harmful chemicals, and excessive irrigation, making every drop count. This sustainable growth model inspires us to further our efforts in environmental protection and sustainability.

Mitull Batraa, Co-founder, Udaan E-Vehicles

Our company's technology makes a significant positive impact on the environment by focusing on the recycling of key components of e-rickshaws, especially their batteries. For lead-acid batteries, we implement safe extraction processes to recover and reuse lead, thereby preventing potential environmental hazards. In the case of lithium-ion batteries, which are becoming more common, we employ sophisticated recycling methods to recover valuable metals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel. This not only minimizes environmental impact but also promotes a circular economy by reusing these materials in the production of new batteries.

Moreover, we ensure that other components of e-rickshaws, including metal frames and plastic parts, are recycled using standard methods. The comprehensive recycling of e-rickshaws is crucial to reducing their environmental footprint and ensuring the sustainability of electric vehicles throughout their lifecycle. Our efforts are supported by government regulations and industry initiatives that promote responsible recycling practices, further enhancing the positive environmental impact of our technology.

Kishan Karunakaran, CEO, Buyofuel

Buyofuel addresses the challenges in the current regime by leveraging technology to bring transparency and efficiency to the biofuels and waste supply chain. The platform digitizes the entire B2B transaction process, providing visibility from enquiry generation to payment and delivery. This digitization enhances transparency and security, contributing to the credibility of the informal biofuels sector. Buyofuel's focus on all types of biofuels and wastes distinguishes it from other online platforms that often lack sectoral expertise.

The architecture of Buyofuel is designed to be a comprehensive and efficient solution for digitizing the biofuels and waste supply chain. A robust and scalable database system is crucial for storing and managing vast amounts of data related to biofuels, waste transactions, user profiles, and more. This ensures quick retrieval and updates.

What sets Buyofuel apart in terms of environmental impact is its sustainability dashboard and database. These tools calculate the carbon footprint of every transaction, enabling businesses to make informed decisions about their environmental impact. Since its inception, Buyofuel has replaced a remarkable 85,000+ metric tons of traditional fuels with biofuels and supplied over 50,000+ metric tons of various wastes for recycling and repurposing.

This concerted effort has led to a substantial decrease in carbon emissions, mitigating around 100,500+ metric tons of CO2. Overall, Buyofuel's technology is making a tangible difference in the environment by promoting the adoption of biofuels, reducing waste, and empowering businesses to make eco-conscious decisions through data-driven insights.

Devndra Chawla, CEO and MD, GreenCell Mobility

GreenCell Mobility is building a pioneering platform to provide Electric Mobility-as-a-Service (eMaaS) with electric buses and delivering the core value proposition of non-polluting on-demand shared transportation for intra-city travel, as well as inter-city travel with our brand NueGo. We are also developing charging infrastructure and enabling the entire e-mobility value chain, thereby reducing dependence on fossil fuel, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions which are harmful to the environment.

Our electric buses are 100% electric, noiseless, and have avoided over 1,30,000 T Kg of CO2 tailpipe emissions. These efforts underscore our real commitment towards climate change and transforming India’s electric transportation landscape.

Ankit Mathur, Co-Founder, Greenway Grameen

The Greenway cookstoves use the Company’s patented combustion technology that reduces the consumption of biomass by 65% and emissions by 70%. With a remarkable efficiency of over 35%, the cookstoves offer a unique solution for cleaner cooking whilst reducing the harmful effects of household air pollution (HAP).

Our surveys have revealed that with the use of cookstoves, the women are able to save 1-2 hours of daily cooking time and about 2-3 hours of time spent in collecting wood. The women use this time to work in the fields or spend quality time with their children or learn a new skill for income opportunities.

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

The biggest resistance to the adoption of decarbonization in the industry has been the financial viability, which is where carbon trading comes in. EKI is one of the largest developers and suppliers of carbon credits globally, which means it works on encouraging decarbonization for polluting industries in a phased manner while facilitating funds for projects that avoid or absorb carbon emissions. We connect businesses and individuals to projects that reduce greenhouse gases, like renewable energy or afforestation. This allows them to offset their emissions. By making companies consider offset costs, EKI indirectly encourages them to decarbonize. Specific examples of campaigns and projects aimed at absorbing or avoiding carbon emissions, undertaken by EKI.

EKI's clean cooking initiative has revolutionized the way underprivileged kitchens operate, making them more environmentally friendly. By replacing traditional smoky mudstoves, which are prevalent in rural and tribal regions of India and Africa, with improved cookstoves provided at no cost to beneficiaries, EKI has significantly alleviated the burden of firewood collection, economic challenges, and health issues caused by smoke. This initiative has also prevented millions of tonnes of carbon emissions, as improved cookstoves with better designs enable complete combustion of fuel, hence increasing the efficiency, subsequently resulting in less emissions than traditional mud stoves and also reduced deforestation.
Additionally, EKI, in collaboration with state-owned IOCL, has started manufacturing Surya Nutan, an indoor solar cooking device. We have also initiated a pilot program to distribute these solar-powered devices for free to underprivileged communities in India, promoting 100% clean energy for cooking - which means zero smoke in the kitchens and zero emissions.
EKI is actively involved in the research and production of biofuels through its subsidiary, GHG Reduction Technologies. Their initiatives include the establishment of Oorja Biogas plants and bio briquette manufacturing plants, contributing to sustainable energy solutions.
Through Amrut Nature Solutions, EKI has undertaken various afforestation projects to conserve vast tracts of land and their biodiversity. They offer solutions, consultation, and services for sustainable farming, farmland protection, forestation, and the cultivation of wetlands and grasslands. These best practices support emissions reduction and promote environmental sustainability.

Ravi Kaushik, Founder and CEO, AiRTH

Airth’s air purifying technology is making a significant difference in the environment by improving air quality, reducing health risks, and contributing to broader environmental sustainability efforts. Here are several ways this impact can be realized:

Reduction of Air Pollutants

Particulate Matter (PM) Removal: Airth's advanced air purifiers filter out harmful particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) from the air. This helps reduce pollution levels in urban and industrial areas, contributing to cleaner and healthier air.

Biological Contaminant Control: Airth’s Green Coated HEPA filter technology effectively neutralizes biological contaminants such as bacteria and viruses, creating a safer living and working environment.

Improving Public Health

Reducing Respiratory Issues: By removing pollutants that can cause or exacerbate respiratory issues such as asthma and bronchitis, Airth air purifiers contribute to better respiratory health, especially in children and the elderly.

Lowering Disease Transmission: In public spaces, schools, and hospitals, Airth air purifiers help reduce the transmission of airborne diseases by filtering out pathogens, thus contributing to public health safety.

Supporting Sustainable Practices

Energy-Efficient Designs: Airth’s advanced air purifiers are designed to be energy-efficient, consuming less power while maintaining high performance. This helps reduce the overall carbon footprint.

Case Study: Airth Air Purification in India Post Payments Bank, New Delhi

Project: Airth installed its air purification systems in the IPPB New Delhi office in Feb’2024 to tackle poor indoor air quality caused by pollutants.

Impact: The implementation resulted in a noticeable decrease in pollutants such as PM2.5 and CO2. The PM2.5 in the office used to trend in the range of 400-450 before Airth intervention, which came down to 30-40 after installation. Similarly, CO2 concentration, which was earlier in the range of 2000-2500 PPM, improved significantly to 500-550 PPM. Employees reported experiencing fresher air and fewer respiratory issues, contributing to a more productive and healthier work environment.

Utkarsh Singh, Co-founder and CEO, BatX Energies

BatX Energies leverages Hydro+Electro technology to recycle lithium-ion batteries, achieving a 97.5% recovery rate and significantly reducing CO2 emissions. By supporting India's Net Zero 2070 initiative, the company contributes to the circular economy and aligns with India's Critical Mineral Policy and Battery Waste Management Law. BatX’s sustainable practices reduce landfill waste and ensure a reliable supply of critical minerals, fostering a greener future.

A successful case study of Batx includes recycling 2,500 metric tons of batteries in the last 18 months, pushing back 2000 Mts of valuable materials back into the supply chain, and substantially cutting greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to approximately 130,000 kgs of CO2 and 5,909 trees would need to be planted.

Samit Jain, Managing Director, Pluss Advanced Technologies Ltd.

Pluss Advanced Technologies leverages PCM solutions to enhance energy efficiency and reduce environmental impact. From PCM-enhanced refrigeration and HVAC systems for commercial applications that cut energy consumption by 20%, thereby lowering carbon footprints to solutions for storage and transport of perishable items (Agricultural produce, frozen foods, vaccines etc.) which reduces food spoilage by 30%, ensuring fresh produce reaches markets while reducing active cooling methods which are generally higher in emissions and costs; Pluss has a varied range of sustainable cooling technologies that span across industries.

Due to the harsh summers, the country is facing, Pluss has also succeeded in making PCM cooling vests for outdoor workers to have improved comfort and productivity, decreasing the need for energy-intensive cooling solutions. These initiatives demonstrate Pluss’s commitment to sustainable technology, showcasing tangible benefits in energy conservation and impact on the planet.

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

Bry-Air is at the forefront of environmental sustainability with our advanced dehumidification and quality air solutions. Our advanced desiccant dehumidifiers exemplify our commitment to reducing environmental impact. All our products are energy-efficient, which helps industries achieve significant energy savings, thereby reducing their carbon footprint. With the environment deteriorating at a rapid rate, we continuously strive to upgrade and tailor our products to navigate the challenge innovatively.

Our revolutionary product Air-to-Water Generator, which extracts potable water from ambient air, provides an innovative solution to water scarcity, especially in arid regions. This technology supplies clean water and reduces reliance on traditional water sources, conserving valuable natural resources.

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

Annually, India generates approximately 500 million tonnes of agricultural waste and of this, nearly 200 million tonnes are left unused and often burned, emphasising the untapped potential for biofuel conversion. The conversion of agri-waste to biofuels facilitates the cycle of waste to wealth which not only mitigates environmental damage but also provides economic benefits to farmers and rural entrepreneurs.

Biofuels, particularly solid biofuels like briquettes and pellets, produce fewer particulate emissions compared to fossil fuels. It is also considered to be more carbon-neutral because the carbon dioxide (CO2) they emit when burned is offset by the CO2 absorbed by the plants during their growth. This helps in reducing the overall greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels and lowers the levels of particulate matter in the air, which are major contributors to air pollution.

Biofuels Junction is actively addressing this by working towards converting agricultural waste, like cotton stalks, paddy stubble, soya husk which are traditionally burnt, into sustainable biofuel. Leveraging technology to establish an IT-enabled supply chain platform in the biofuels industry is critical for optimizing supply-demand dynamics.

The innovative IT platform developed by Biofuels Junction connects over 1200 suppliers in the biofuels industry to industrial buyers to replace the usage of fossil fuels in boilers to generate energy. It leverages Artificial Intelligence and Machine learning for various functions related to biofuels and agricultural residue trading and settlement to optimize the entire supply chain. This includes route optimization, quality-based rates and payments, inventory management, and demand forecasting.