Industry Leaders Urge for Innovative Solutions on World Environment Day 2025, ET Government
NEW DELHI: On World Environment Day, industry leaders from across technology, manufacturing, and CSR sectors underscored the urgent need to integrate environmental responsibility into the very fabric of today’s digital economy. In a world increasingly shaped by data, devices, and rapid consumption, they called for innovations that reduce environmental footprints and champion circularity – especially amid growing concerns over plastic pollution, energy usage, and ecosystem degradation.Amit Luthra, Managing Director, Lenovo ISG India, highlighted the environmental toll of the digital infrastructure. “Data centers are among the most energy-intensive parts of our ecosystem,” he said. “Traditional cooling methods only worsen the impact. Technologies like Lenovo’s Neptune liquid cooling, which removes up to 98% of system heat and cuts power usage by 40%, show that digital growth and sustainability can go hand in hand.”
Sumitha Selvaraj, Manager – Engineering Management at Ascendion, pointed to plastic pollution as a defining crisis of our time. “Over 400 million tons of plastic are produced annually, much of it ending up in nature. It’s no longer enough for sustainability to be a side initiative—it must become central to corporate strategy. Start with small acts. Even living a day without plastic can inspire a mindset shift.”
Thomas Marangattu, Product Head at Tata Elxsi, echoed the call for systemic redesign. “Plastic pollution begins at the design stage. At Tata Elxsi, we apply circular design principles to keep materials in circulation and out of the environment longer. But no single entity can solve this alone—collaboration between policy, corporates, and communities is key.”
DV Manjunatha, Founder & MD of Emmvee, linked the day’s theme to energy resilience. “Clean energy is about restoring balance. Solar power not only reduces emissions but revitalizes degraded land and supports climate-smart agriculture and water conservation—crucial for a sustainable future.”
Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR at HCLTech and Director of HCLFoundation, emphasized grassroots action and ecosystem restoration. “Through our various initiatives, we’ve helped recover over 2.6 lakh kg of plastic waste, restored 358 water structures, and involved children, communities, and businesses in long-term environmental stewardship. Scalable local solutions are key to global impact.”
Prasad Parigi, Vice President, Software Engineering at Sabre India, underscored technology’s role in advancing sustainability. “Sustainability shapes our operations and culture. By collaborating with travel partners and promoting responsible consumption, we aim to make travel a force that not only connects people—but protects the planet.”
As plastic waste piles up and resource consumption rises, this World Environment Day serves as a clarion call: the digital future must be powered by ecological intelligence, community engagement, and a resolute shift from linear to regenerative systems.
Shruti Tandon, Managing Director – People Enablement, Nagarro, emphasized the power of daily choices in driving environmental change. “At Nagarro, we believe that real change begins with everyday actions,” she said, detailing the company’s complete elimination of single-use plastics across its offices—barring a few exceptions like multi-layered packaging in pre-packaged snacks.
From stainless steel tumblers and ceramic crockery in cafeterias to reusable glassware in meeting rooms, the company has redesigned its operational habits around sustainability. Even onboarding kits are entirely plastic-free, reinforcing Nagarro’s green values from day one.
The same ethos extends to festivals and events. For Diwali 2024, Nagarro introduced the ‘3B ka funda’—a cloth bag, a bottle, and a tiffin box for each employee—to promote reusability. “Jalsa,” the company’s flagship annual gathering of over 12,000 Nagarrians, is conducted entirely without single-use plastics. In partnership with a waste recovery agency, Nagarro also manages in-situ waste segregation and responsible disposal at scale.
“Combating plastic pollution is something we take very seriously,” Tandon added. “It’s the small, consistent choices that add up to a real difference.”
Sunil Dhawan, Director – Corporate Property Services, India, Fidelity International, highlighted how environmental sustainability is integral to the future of finance. “We believe the future of finance is deeply linked to the future of our planet,” he said. “Our mission is to create a sustainable future not only for our clients, but also for our colleagues, communities, and the broader world.”
A significant milestone in this journey is that Fidelity International’s offices in India now operate entirely on renewable energy—demonstrating the company’s commitment to a cleaner, healthier planet. To support this transition, Fidelity has implemented energy-saving innovations such as a smart Building Management System equipped with over 1,000 IoT sensors for intelligent control of lighting and HVAC. The company has also achieved a 48% reduction in water usage over four years, and now operates a fleet with 15% electric vehicles.
On World Environment Day, the company further strengthened its commitment by phasing out single-use stirrers across its facilities. “From clean energy to everyday habits, we are fostering a resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon economy through sustainable practices,” Dhawan affirmed.
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