India’s Climate Leaders Show the Way Forward on World Environment Day

Last Updated:June 03, 2025, 16:52 IST

From sacred ghats to smart cities, India’s green champions are proving that purpose-driven action can power real environmental change.

World Environment Day 2025: Greener today, greater tomorrow, driving change from faith to future.

As the world turns its focus to environmental consciousness this World Environment Day, a powerful shift is evident across India from policy corridors to corporate boardrooms, and from holy ghats to everyday urban centres. Thought leaders and sustainability champions are aligning action with intent, forging meaningful paths to ecological stewardship through innovation, collaboration, and grassroots impact.

Sustainability at the Heart of Business

Hyundai Motor India Foundation is one of the torchbearers of this green transformation. The company is demonstrating how large corporations can lead climate-positive change while staying aligned with long-term goals like carbon neutrality. “Hyundai Motor India Foundation is dedicated to driving impact where it matters most at the grassroots across Bharat,” says  Puneet Anand, AVP & Vertical Head, Corporate Affairs, Corporate Communication & Social, Hyundai Motor India Limited.

He adds, “In alignment with our aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045, we continue to strengthen our initiatives that support clean mobility, afforestation, ocean conservation, and innovative waste management practices.” Hyundai’s EcoGram initiative in Gurugram is a standout example. It has successfully recycled over 11,15,370 kg of waste, resulting in a reduction of 1,44,000 kg of CO₂ emissions, actively diverting waste from landfills. This aligns seamlessly with the brand’s global vision of Progress for Humanity, and highlights how scalable eco-conscious solutions can be embedded into a corporate ecosystem.

Faith Meets Climate Action

Sustainability isn’t confined to urban or corporate settings. It’s making its way to India’s most significant cultural and religious events like the Maha Kumbh 2025. Traditionally associated with devotion, massive footfalls, and, unfortunately, plastic pollution, the Kumbh is undergoing a green makeover.

“At Foundation for Climate Protection (FCP), we believe that environmental stewardship must be at the heart of every large-scale celebration,” says Anshika, CSR Head, FCP. In a landmark collaboration with Coca-Cola India and its foundation Anandana, the #MaidaanSaaf campaign during the Kumbh resulted in the collection and recycling of over 12 metric tonnes of PET bottles—equivalent to over 6 lakh bottles diverted from landfills.

“This initiative was not just about managing waste, but about setting a new global standard for climate-conscious cultural events,” asserts Anshika. The message is clear: even in deeply traditional spaces, sustainability can—and must—coexist with celebration.

Rethinking Plastic with Circular Innovation

Of course, no conversation around environmental impact is complete without addressing plastic—often vilified but undeniably vital in modern life. Jeevaraj Gopal Pillai, Director – Sustainability and President, Flexible Packaging & New Product Development at UFlex Limited, brings a nuanced perspective: “Plastic plays a vital role in modern development… in delivering food, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products, ensuring safety, durability, and accessibility.”

Referring to a McKinsey report, he notes that in five of six flexible packaging categories, plastic had lower greenhouse gas emissions than alternatives like glass or steel, which require significantly more resources. “We believe that the problem isn’t plastic itself, but how we manage its lifecycle,” says Pillai.

UFlex is addressing this by investing in technologies that recycle complex multi-layered plastics—turning waste into reusable raw material for new packaging or alternative applications. “The solution lies in circularity: designing for recyclability, building infrastructure, and promoting responsible consumption,” he emphasizes. It’s a call to shift the narrative from blame to action.

A Green Future, Together

These efforts reveal a deeper, promising truth: India is no longer passively reacting to environmental crises; it’s actively designing the blueprint for sustainable living. Whether it’s cleaning sacred grounds, reducing emissions in smart cities, or innovating in packaging, every initiative points to one powerful idea that meaningful environmental change is possible when purpose meets practice.

On this World Environment Day, let these be the stories we celebrate: stories of leadership, action, and hope, a proof that when we rethink our habits, realign our systems, and work together, we can pave the way to a greener, cleaner tomorrow.

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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News lifestyle India’s Climate Leaders Show the Way Forward on World Environment Day



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