‘ESG frameworks key for long-term socio-environmental impact'
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru Zone, organised the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) conference and expo 2025 here on Wednesday.
Themed 'Driving Sustainable Transformation: Aligning Business with Sustainability', it was held in collaboration with the CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, JSS Science and Technology University, and the Schevaran Cleanfix Academy.
The conference served as a platform to catalyse conversations around the ESG strategies and accelerate sustainability-led growth in the region.
Speaking at the inauguration, C.G. Betsurmath, executive secretary of the JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru, highlighted the critical role of ESG principles in organisational strategy, especially for initiatives aimed at environmental conservation and restoration.
He emphasised that integrating ESG frameworks is essential for building resilient institutions capable of driving long-term socio-environmental impact.
Speakers, including A.N. Santosh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, JSS STU, and Sohanjeet Randhawa, director – Sustainability, Volvo Group India, shared valuable insights on the evolving ESG landscape and global best practices.
Nagaraja Gargeshwari, chairman of the CII Mysuru Zone, noted that sustainability has transitioned from being a compliance requirement to a core business strategy and reaffirmed India's commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, while underscoring Karnataka's leadership in sustainable industrial practices. 'We are not merely discussing sustainability—we are building it, brick by brick, enterprise by enterprise,' he said.
Sam Cherian, ex-chairman of the CII Mysuru Zone, described ESG as a vital business imperative. He spoke about the nationwide shift towards mandatory ESG disclosures through the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report and lauded the contribution of MSMEs to this evolving landscape. He also highlighted the State's growing prominence in clean manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.
Ganapathy C.P., convenor of the HSE & Wellness Panel, CII Mysuru Zone, stressed the importance of embedding ESG deeply across sectors and shared that only 37% of Indian companies have fully integrated ESG into their operational and strategic frameworks, indicating vast scope for collective action.
The day-long conference featured four focused technical sessions: Decarbonising Industries: Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions and Resource Management; The Business Case for ESG Accounting—Growth, Risk & Compliance; ESG as a Growth Catalyst for MSMEs; and Transforming the Sustainability Journey—Beyond Net-Zero into the Value Chain.
Over 150 delegates from diverse sectors, including manufacturing, services, academia, and sustainability consultancies, took part in the conference. An expo comprising 10 stalls showcased a wide range of sustainable products, green technologies, and ESG-aligned services offered by participating organisations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
5 hours ago
- Business Standard
Indha: Redefining Sustainability Through Design Innovation; Training Rural Women To Become Eco-Entrepreneurs
PNN New Delhi [India], June 7: In a world increasingly defined by conscious consumerism and sustainability, Indha, a homegrown social enterprise, is emerging as a powerful model of how design, innovation, and rural empowerment can intersect to drive meaningful business and social at empowering women from underserved communities with skills that help them economically sustain themselves and live a life of dignity, Indha has trained and impacted 10,000 women and over 100 rural families positively. Founded in 2005 by World's First Woman Airbus-300 Commander, Captain Indraani Singh, Indha began as a small initiative in Village Daulatabad, Gurgaon, to create sustainable livelihoods for underserved women. Today, it has evolved into ten full-fledged production and design units that repurpose CPUs, tablets, packaging wood, glass bottles, fabric waste, cardboard, and more, turning them into home decor, stationery, utility bags, and corporate gifts, all while preserving handmade excellence and traditional art. "We've always looked inward - finding beauty, utility, and purpose in what's already around us," says Capt. IndraaniSingh, Founder of Indha and Literacy India. "Our design thinking is rooted in frugal innovation - from making bags out of newspapers, using old sarees for children's dresses, or converting waste wood into art. This ethos eventually led us to set up our own paper recycling unit. For us, sustainability isn't a trend - it's our foundation." Indha's artisans - primarily women from rural and peri-urban communities - are more than just skilled craftswomen; they are producers, mentors, and eco-entrepreneurs. From managing production lines and developing new product concepts to training newcomers in embroidery, printing, papercraft, and stitching, these women play a central role in shaping Indha's creative output. Their collaboration extends beyond the physical workspace - WhatsApp groups serve as vibrant design forums where artisans and design leads share patterns, exchange ideas, and offer daily encouragement. Leveraging technology, including AI-powered design tools, Indha has built a dynamic, interconnected ecosystem where innovation and knowledge flow seamlessly across centres--fostering creativity, skill-sharing, and a strong sense of community. Endorsed by Corporates: Conscious Gifting Goes Mainstream In recent years, KPMG India, Orange, Dell, Intach, Teleperformance, Sita India, BioDerma, and other responsible businesses have partnered with Indha for sustainable corporate gifting and employee engagement initiatives. These partnerships not only support local artisans but also reflect the growing corporate shift towards ESG-aligned, purpose-led procurement. Through a growing presence via exhibitions and institutional collaborations, Indha has established itself as a scalable, replicable model of circular economy that puts women, innovation, and responsible designing at its core. As India deepens its focus on sustainability, skill-building, and climate resilience, stories like Indha's serve as a powerfulreminder: solutions can come from the grassroots.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
BM Property: Bengaluru emerges as prime market for office space retrofitting
Bengaluru's commercial real estate market is poised for a major transformation, as a new report by CBRE South Asia Pvt Ltd has highlighted massive potential in retrofitting existing office spaces. Titled 'From Existing to Exceptional: A Strategic Approach to Retrofitting Indian Office Spaces', the study estimated that nearly 130-140 million sq ft of the city's 230 million sq ft office stock is ripe for upgradation—presenting a significant opportunity for value micro-markets such as Outer Ring Road, Whitefield, and the Extended Business District are identified as the hotspots for modernisation. These areas not only hold the greatest retrofitting potential but also promise varying rental premiums upon upgrade. CBRE estimates that Bengaluru alone represents an investment potential of INR 95–162 billion through targeted improvements in ageing office broader office market too, shows considerable opportunity, with nearly 50% of the office inventory across top seven cities exceeding 10 years in age. Of the estimated 882 million sq ft of total stock, more than 434 million sq ft—based on ownership and asset age—qualifies for strategic retrofitting. Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR account for nearly 45% of this older inventory, followed by Mumbai and Chennai with another 32%.The report noted that this transformation isn't just aesthetic. Upgraded buildings can command rental premiums of up to 20%, and in some cases, even 30–40% based on market demand. This makes retrofitting a smart strategy for developers and investors to align with rising occupier expectations around sustainability, wellness, and offers both immediate and long-term advantages. Tenants benefit from lower operating costs, improved amenities, and healthier work environments. Landlords gain higher leasing velocity, stronger tenant retention, and improved asset valuation. Enhanced safety, energy efficiency, and ESG alignment make such properties more appealing to institutional investors and REITs, boosting asset push for modern, high-performance workspaces is also a response to evolving workplace expectations. Retrofitted buildings can include smart systems, modular designs, wellness features like gyms and daycare facilities, and even community-centric Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, emphasised that retrofitting has become a strategic imperative. 'This is no longer about cosmetic upgrades,' he said, adding that retrofitting is now a sophisticated, data-backed approach to transforming real estate assets to meet long-term sustainability and financial the sentiment, Gurjot Bhatia, Managing Director - Asia, PJM Advisory, Turner & Townsend, stated, 'India's office sector is at a critical juncture. With 434 million sq ft of space ready for transformation, the focus must be on creating future-ready workplaces that cater to modern occupier needs and ESG-focused investment.' As Bengaluru leads the national push towards retrofitting, the city's commercial real estate sector is set to make new benchmarks in asset performance, investor returns, and occupier satisfaction.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Time of India
IGBC plans tie-up with Bengal to promote green buildings
Kolkata: The Indian Green Building Council is open to collaborating with state govt to promote green buildings under Bangla Awas Yojana. The IGBC proposal was supported by state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya during Green Building Summit 2025, organised by CII and IGBC in the city on Friday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bhattacharya said a public-private partnership model for green buildings could be explored to enhance net-zero and climate-resilient infrastructure. "The govt is providing incentives like a 10% additional floor area ratio to green buildings in KMC and NKDA areas," she said. Bengal currently has about 900 IGBC-registered green building projects. M Anand, deputy executive director of IGBC, said: "We are planning to work with Bengal govt for development of green homes under Bangla Awas Yojana." Sushil Mohta, chairman of IGBC Kolkata, said: "Every rupee invested in green buildings saves Rs 3 to Rs 7 in operational costs. We request the govt for fast-track approvals of green projects."
