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Time of India
06-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
TOI celebrates 26 ecopreneurs steering country's green shift
New Delhi: To celebrate changemakers driving India's green transition, the TOI Ecopreneur Honours 2025 was held on Aug 4, recognising individuals, startups and corporates making significant strides in sustainability. The award, hosted by The Times of India, honoured 26 changemakers for steering the nation towards net-zero goals in various fields, from renewable energy, zero-waste living to water conservation. Delivering the keynote address, Udai Shanker Awasthi, managing director of Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative, stressed the need for sustainable agriculture and urged youths to develop solutions balancing growth with environmental care. "The patents and innovations by ecopreneurs must be protected. Their products and the money invested in them must not go waste," he said. Among the 26 honorees were Malhar Kalambe's Beach Please for youth-led cleanups, Mayank Nagori's Gud Gum for plastic-free chewing gum and Chirag MG's Sunbird Straws for natural alternatives to plastic. Prachi Shevgaonkar was recognised for her climate-action app Cool The Globe, alongside environmentalists Pradeep Sangwan, Pankti Pandey and Marimuthu Yoganathan for their grassroots efforts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi Innovative startups like Without, Woolah Tea, Dharaksha Ecosolutions, Mahina, HealthFab, Ecoil, Packmate, Bare Fruit and Gen-E were lauded for solutions in waste upcycling, sustainable menstruation, eco-packaging, clean fuel and climate storytelling. Companies, including Hero MotoCorp, Adani Green Energy, Godrej Properties, Shree Cements, JSW Energy, Jain Irrigation, Organic Mandya, Suzlon Energy and Eternal (formerly Zomato), were honoured for embedding sustainability into business practices through green energy, mobility, innovation and conservation. The event also featured two panel discussions. The first, The Power of the Citizen: Redefining Environmental Activism in the Digital Age, was led by Shevgaonkar and Kalambe, two of the honorees. The second, From Boardroom to the Road: Integrating Sustainability into India's Growth Strategy, brought together industry leaders Anjali Ravi Kumar of Zomato, Hero MotoCorp's Ram Kuppuswamy, Adani Green's Pankaj Verma and Abhijeet Sinha of National Highway for EV.
Time of India
04-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
TOI Ecopreneur Honours 2025: Youth-led movements and digital platforms drive environmental action
TOI Ecopreneur Honours 2025 At the TOI Ecopreneur Honours 2025 held in Delhi on Monday, the first panel of the evening ,The Power of the Citizen: Redefining Environmental Activism in the Digital Age, showcased two young changemakers leading by example in the fight against climate change. Prachi Shevgaonkar, founder of Cool The Globe, and Malhar Kalambe, founder of Beach Please India, discussed how their grassroots movements have turned individual responsibility into large-scale environmental impact, using digital tools and community engagement as key drivers. Malhar Kalambe, whose journey began with a simple beach clean-up, highlighted the power of hands-on experience in shaping environmental consciousness. 'You can't learn about the environment in a classroom,' he said. 'What we try to do through our community is give young people — even kids as young as six — the opportunity to physically clean beaches and rivers. Only then do they understand how serious the problem really is. ' Over 800 clean-up drives later, his initiative has removed over 8 million kilograms of waste and engaged 4.5 lakh citizens. Kalambe emphasised relatability and creativity on social media as essential tools in motivating youth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Undo 'We try to make beach clean-ups cool, something young people can relate to. A single social media post once brought in 6,000 volunteers.' For Shevgaonkar, personal climate anxiety led to innovation. Her journey began with a self-imposed challenge to reduce her carbon footprint by 10%, leading to the creation of Cool The Globe, a mobile app that tracks carbon savings from everyday actions like public transport use or waste segregation. 'People often ask: what can one individual do?' she said. 'When one lakh users from 150 countries came together, we saved over 7 million kilos of carbon emissions. That's the power of collective action.' The app features a live global meter and has sparked a worldwide movement, with sustainability ambassadors in over 25 countries. She credited social media for helping create belief among ordinary people that their actions matter. 'If we all do our part, miracles can happen,' Shevgaonkar said. The panel highlighted how India's new wave of eco-champions is turning anxiety into action
Time of India
18-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
The power of one: Meet the changemakers shaping India's eco movement for a sustainable tomorrow
As India accelerates its drive toward a greener future, a quieter but equally determined movement is unfolding—one led not by institutions, but by individuals working across the country to address environmental challenges with personal initiative and long-term commitment. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These changemakers are not only raising awareness but also implementing on-the-ground solutions, proving that sustainability is not just a policy priority, but a personal one. Take Rajendra Singh, widely known as the Waterman of India. His work in water conservation has made him one of the most recognised environmental voices in the country. Along similar lines of ecological impact, Jadav Payeng, referred to as the Forest Man of India, has spent decades planting trees and transforming barren land into thriving green ecosystems. In the field of environmental advocacy, Sumaira Abdulali has made her mark by focusing on the issue of sand mining, working to preserve fragile coastal and riverbed environments. Tree planting is another area of individual-driven action. Marimuthu Yoganathan, called the Tree Man of India, has personally planted over 3 lakh saplings, spreading environmental awareness while working full-time as a bus conductor. Waste reduction and lifestyle change are also key themes in this space. Pankti Pandey promotes waste-free living and helps people identify practical, sustainable alternatives in their daily routines. Aakash Ranison integrates travel with sustainability messaging, using his journeys to create awareness around climate change. Urban sustainability efforts are also seeing individual leadership. Vani Murthy, active on Instagram, promotes composting and home gardening as tools for environmental stewardship. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Similarly, Nayana Premnath, with a background in architecture, has championed green living through design and community engagement. On the civic participation front, Ripudaman Bevli has led clean-up campaigns across Mumbai, mobilising citizens to take part in reclaiming public spaces. Malhar Kalambe, too, has been conducting regular beach clean-up drives to tackle marine pollution. Entrepreneurship and communication are emerging as tools of sustainability. Prerna Prasad turned to business to support environmental goals, while Mike Pandey, a veteran filmmaker, uses cinema to raise awareness on wildlife and conservation. In eco-tourism and conservation, Pradeep Sangwan has led expeditions focused on cleaning up high-altitude trails and spreading the message of responsible travel. Peepal Baba, founder of Give Me Trees Trust, has overseen the plantation of trees across India, working to restore green cover. Some are leveraging art and activism. Pravin Mishra has been recognised for his work in raising ecological awareness through creative platforms. Meanwhile, Prachi Shevgaonkar, founder of Cool The Globe, is helping individuals track and reduce their carbon footprint, one action at a time.
