Circular Goals, Lasting Impact: How Businesses Are Building a Sustainable Tomorrow

Last Updated:June 07, 2025, 23:15 IST

From organic farms to commercial campuses, Indian enterprises are rewriting the playbook on sustainable growth.

This World Environment Day, the spotlight is on plastic pollution—but India’s leading enterprises are pushing the conversation further, from rural farmlands to urban skylines, embedding sustainability into the core of their business operations. With an emphasis on circularity, responsible sourcing, and community impact, companies across sectors are not just responding to climate urgency—they’re setting the benchmark.

Rooted in Regeneration: The Organic Way Forward

Shashi Kumar, Co-founder & CEO, Akshayakalpa Organic, believes true sustainability begins in the soil. “At Akshayakalpa Organic, we have always believed that good farming is about balance with the land, the animals, and the people who work with them,” he says. The brand’s circular co-existence farming model captures this ethos. On each farm, cow dung is used to generate methane for energy and the leftover slurry is returned to the land, enriching it as a natural fertilizer.

These techniques have paid off. “We’ve increased soil carbon levels from 0.5% to 2.5%,” Kumar notes, crediting the improvement to organic practices like mulching, trenching, and plant diversity. “We don’t just farm—we restore, regenerate, and return. The soil is where our story begins, and where the future of food must be rooted.”

Consumer Goods with a Conscience

For consumer-facing giants like Tata Consumer Products, waste management is a top priority. “Plastic pollution is a systemic issue that requires collective action,” asserts Vishwa Bandhu Bhattacharya, Director – Global Sustainability. Under its ‘For Better Planet’ roadmap, Tata Consumer has made 72% of its packaging recyclable across geographies—surpassing its FY26 goal—and is pushing toward 100% recyclability by 2030.

“Our 100% compliance with EPR in India and global goal to achieve zero waste to landfill by FY26 underscores our focus,” says Bhattacharya. “We believe industry has a vital role to play. We’re leveraging science, innovation, and partnerships to build a cleaner, greener future.”

Building Greener Cities, One Square Foot at a Time

As urban centers grow, so does the responsibility to build sustainably. Saarang Ganapathi, CEO, Embassy Services, highlights the role of infrastructure: “We manage over 130 million square feet PAN India, with the capacity to manage 406 million units of green energy. Property and facility management is central to environmental impact.”

Whether through solar integration, efficient water systems, or climate-conscious maintenance, the company is reimagining warehouses, supply hubs, and office parks as engines of climate action.

Similarly, Karan Virwani, Managing Director & CEO, WeWork India, has tied his sustainability goals to measurable outcomes. “We aim to reduce our energy consumption by 20% from 2019 levels, divert 90% of waste from landfills, and source 100% renewable energy by 2027,” he shares.

WeWork India is also focused on biodiversity and community-led conservation. In Bengaluru, the Tarahunise Lake Restoration Project has revived native flora and fauna. “Over the past two years, we have planted over 289 tree saplings & pollinator-friendly flora, and installed over 38 floating wetlands,” says Virwani. In Mumbai, the ‘Living with Leopards’ program has enabled safe tracking of 54 leopards and trained forest officials, proving that environmental harmony is possible even in urban jungles.

A Blueprint for Collective Progress

From organic farms to commercial campuses, Indian enterprises are rewriting the playbook on sustainable growth. Their models show that profitability and planet-positive practices canand must go hand in hand. This World Environment Day, their unified message is clear: sustainability is no longer a side initiative. It’s a shared mission, rooted in innovation, accountability, and a deep respect for the ecosystems we all depend on.

Swati Chaturvedi

Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl…Read More

Swati Chaturvedi, a seasoned media and journalism aficionado with over 10 years of expertise, is not just a storyteller; she’s a weaver of wit and wisdom in the digital landscape. As a key figure in News18 Engl… Read More

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