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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
From clean water to clean energy: Industry leaders mark World Environment Day with climate action plans
New Delhi: On the occasion of World Environment Day , leaders across sectors—from hospitality and clean energy to industrial explosives and electric mobility—reiterated their commitment to sustainable growth , underlining initiatives ranging from zero water waste to nitrate-free explosives and circular technology in renewables. Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager, ITC Maurya said, 'Continuous efforts in the areas of water conservation and efficiency have put ITC Hotels in a league of its own. As an endorsement of ITC Hotels' credo of 'Responsible Luxury', we have commissioned numerous initiatives across our hotels. Every drop of water is vital the future, and recycling is a responsibility we must uphold to ensure a sustainable future.' He added that ITC Mughal in Agra was the first hotel globally to receive LEED® Zero Water certification. 'ITC Rajputana, Jaipur, is the third hotel in the world to receive the LEED® Zero Water certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Further strengthening ITC Hotels' commitment to sustainable practices, SunyaAqua — which processes and bottles international-quality drinking water across our hotels, including ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram — significantly reduces carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and by replacing Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items with eco-friendly alternatives, thereby mitigating the use of Single-Use Plastic.' Kidwai noted that the company is 'striving towards a greener future' with initiatives such as LEED® Zero Water certification and stage-by-stage process improvements. In the industrial explosives segment, Shubham Choudhari, Chief Technology Officer, SBL Energy Ltd, said, 'Sustainability is fast becoming the foundation of industrial decision-making, and the explosives sector is no exception. Electronic detonators, designed for precision blasting, are reducing over-break, ground vibration, and dust generation, making operations safer and more environmentally conscious.' He added, 'Nitrate-free explosives, such as hydrogen peroxide emulsion formulations, are emerging as viable alternatives that help cut carbon emissions and eliminate nitrate contamination. At SBL Energy, we believe this is the direction the industry must move in.' From the wind and solar sector, Praveen Kakulte, CEO, POWERCON Group said, 'The Renewable Energy business which fundamentally appears to be clean, also has a huge room for enhancing sustainability measures. Disposal of fibre reinforced plastics used for wind turbine rotor blades, spinners and nacelle, upon completion of its useful life are posing a challenge.' He added, 'Disposal of Solar PV panels is the biggest challenge that humans are witnessing. Putting the said pollutant to an alternate use is a secondary solution when one surrenders the competency to innovate. Sustainability isn't just a goal, but it's our moral responsibility.' D.V. Manjunatha, Founder & Managing Director, Emmvee said, 'This World Environment Day, as the global focus turns toward land restoration and building resilience against desertification and drought, we are reminded that clean energy is not just about reducing emissions; it's about restoring balance.' He added, 'At Emmvee, our commitment to solar innovation is rooted in the belief that renewable energy can empower communities, revive degraded landscapes, and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.' Akshit Bansal, Founder & CEO, Statiq emphasised EV adoption as a pathway to clean air. 'On World Environment Day, we express our vision of an India where people choose electric vehicles confidently, without having to compromise on convenience or sustainability.' Bansal added, 'Our commitment is to make EV charging as seamless and accessible as refuelling a traditional vehicle, ensuring that sustainability and convenience go hand in hand.' He said Statiq aims to power India's EV journey with 'state-of-the-art, reliable charging infrastructure'. Industry voices across sectors echoed the urgency of adapting technology, policy, and innovation in unison to deliver sustainable outcomes aligned with climate goals.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
ITC Hotels sets new benchmarks in sustainability with LEED Zero water certification and eco-friendly initiatives
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): ITC Hotels continues to redefine the hospitality industry's approach to sustainability. With a strong commitment to 'Responsible Luxury,' ITC Hotels has implemented numerous initiatives across its properties to minimise its environmental footprint. Notably, ITC Mughal in Agra and ITC Rajputana in Jaipur have achieved the prestigious LEED Zero Water certification, showcasing the brand's dedication to water conservation and sustainable practices, said Mr. Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) and General Manager. LEED Zero Water certification, offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), recognises buildings that achieve a net zero potable water use balance over 12 months. This means the building's total water consumption is balanced by water recycling and reuse, effectively offsetting potable water usage. ITC Hotels' innovative approach to sustainability includes rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and the use of eco-friendly alternatives to Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items. The brand's SunyaAqua initiative processes and bottles international-quality drinking water at its hotels, reducing carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices. As part of its sustainability journey, ITC Hotels has also adopted a stage-by-stage approach to make sustainable living accessible and the norm for its guests. With LEED Platinum-certified buildings and a focus on eco-friendly design and operations, ITC Hotels is setting new benchmarks in sustainable luxury. According to Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager ITC Maurya, 'Our efforts towards sustainability are driven by our commitment to responsible luxury and a greener future.' According to the company, ITC Hotels pioneered the concept of 'Responsible Luxury' in the hospitality industry, drawing on the strengths of ITC Groups' sustainability practices. Responsible Luxury personifies an ethos that integrates world-class green practices with contemporary design elements to deliver the best of luxury in the greenest possible manner. The Responsible Luxury commitment of ITC Hotels blends elements of nature to deliver a unique value proposition to guests, conscious of their responsibility to be planet positive. (ANI)
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Earth Day: Leaders flag water recycling, circular economy, and battery storage as climate priorities
New Delhi: As India marked World Earth Day on Monday, industry leaders and sustainability-focused organisations highlighted key developments in solar power, water conservation, and circular economy , while calling for structural interventions across sectors to meet environmental targets. India's solar energy capacity is expected to reach 293 GW by 2030, comprising around 58 per cent of the renewable mix, according to Ayush Patodia, Associate Vice President, Avalon Consulting. He said nearly 64 per cent of India's total installed power capacity will come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, led by solar, wind, and large hydro. 'India's solar module manufacturing capacity has already crossed 100 GW, yet much of it remains assembly-driven, with domestic solar cell production still below 10 GW,' Patodia said. 'With ~200 GW of solar projects announced or under implementation, domestic manufacturing is projected to support 60–70 per cent of future capacity additions — signaling a shift towards a more self-reliant and sustainable energy ecosystem,' he added. Patodia said battery energy storage systems (BESS) are expected to grow from 0.11 GW currently to 3.9 GW by 2030, creating opportunities for Indian manufacturers in chemicals, materials, and technology. Hospitality group ITC Hotels reported that ITC Mughal, Agra, was the first hotel globally to receive the LEED® Zero Water certification. ITC Rajputana in Jaipur became the third hotel in the world to be awarded the same by the U.S. Green Building Council. ITC Maurya in New Delhi also continues planet-positive initiatives, according to Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager, ITC Maurya. 'As we commemorate Earth Day, continuous efforts in the areas of water conservation and efficiency have put ITC Hotels in a league of its own,' Kidwai said. 'As an inspiration to build and continue sustainable practices at ITC Maurya, New Delhi with planet positive initiatives and LEED® Zero Water certification, we are striving towards a greener future,' he added. He said ITC Mughal meets water requirements by capturing rainwater and treating it for appropriate consumption. 'Further strengthening ITC Hotels' commitment to sustainable practices, SunyaAqua — which processes and bottles international-quality drinking water across our hotels, including ITC Grand Bharat, Gurugram — significantly reduces carbon footprint by eliminating the need for transportation and by replacing Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items with eco-friendly alternatives,' Kidwai added. He said the LEED Platinum-certified hotels follow global standards in eco-friendly design and operations. 'By adopting a stage-by-stage approach for all our business processes, we have not only made sustainable living accessible for the guests, but also the norm,' he said. Abhishek Agashe, Co-founder & CEO of circular economy platform elima, said India generates over 3.5 million tonnes of waste per day, but only 25–30 per cent is effectively recycled. 'This World Earth Day, as India accelerates toward the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, it is crucial to place circularity at the heart of our economic and environmental agenda,' Agashe said. 'We're not short of waste, but we are short of systems that can turn that waste into value,' he said. Agashe proposed a Recycling-Linked Incentive (RLI) scheme to boost private investment in recycling, similar to the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) model. 'Mandating the use of secondary raw materials — such as recycled plastics, metals, and glass — within mainstream supply chains can create assured demand, lower emissions, and reduce dependency on virgin extraction,' he said. 'One of the most powerful levers to close this gap is a robust Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework,' Agashe said. 'When implemented effectively, EPR can incentivize sustainable product design, enable traceability of materials, and fund end-of-life recovery systems.' Divya Prakash Choraria, CEO and Co-founder, Wattpower, said, ' Renewable energy , particularly solar power, offers a clear and powerful path toward a more sustainable and resilient world. By adopting smart, scalable clean energy solutions, we can accelerate the global shift away from fossil fuels.' Dr. Sangeeta Srivastava, Executive Director, Godavari Biorefineries Ltd, said, 'The environment grows more fragile with each passing day, and it's essential that we all take action. Every organization — and every single person, like you and me — can make a meaningful difference, whether by conserving energy, reducing waste, or improving everyday practices.' Powercon Group CEO Praveen Kakulte said 80 per cent of global energy still comes from fossil fuels. 'Renewable energy is central to this transition, but adopting it at scale is only part of the solution. We must also focus on improving efficiency, storage, and accessibility,' Kakulte said. 'Governments must take decisive action through forward-thinking policies, targeted incentives, and robust infrastructure investments to create an enabling environment for sustainable growth,' he said. 'This year's theme, 'Our Power, Our Planet', reinforces that sustainable change requires a shared commitment.'
