Time to Reshape the Tale of Our Planet on World Environment Day '23


Time to Reshape the Tale of Our Planet on World Environment Day '23

World Environment Day on 5 June 2023 is set to spotlight the need for solutions to combat plastic pollution. With the theme #BeatPlasticPollution, this global campaign aims to tackle the overwhelming issue of plastic waste that continues to plague our planet. Every year, a staggering 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced, with nearly half of it designed for single-use purposes. Shockingly, less than 10 percent of this plastic is recycled, leaving a substantial portion to end up in our lakes, rivers, and oceans. It is estimated that between 19 to 23 million tonnes of plastic find their way into these crucial ecosystems. As a result, our landfills are sucked with plastic, our oceans are contaminated, and the burning of plastic releases toxic fumes into the air, presenting a grave threat to our environment.

While these consequences are well-known, what is often overlooked is the infiltration of micro plastics into our food, water, and even the air we breathe. Hazardous additives present in many plastic products further compound this issue, posing a potential threat to our health. The encouraging news is that science has provided us with solutions to address this crisis, and progress is already being made. However, what is now crucially needed is a collective surge of public and political pressure to accelerate and amplify actions taken by governments, companies, and other stakeholders. World Environment Day 2023 emphasizes the significance of mobilizing global action from every corner of the world.

This year's event will serve as a platform to showcase the efforts of countries, businesses, and individuals in adopting more sustainable practices in plastic usage. It will provide hope that with continued dedication and innovative approaches, a future free from plastic pollution is within reach. World Environment Day 2023 stands as a call to action, reminding us that the responsibility to combat plastic pollution lies in the hands of every individual, community, and nation. By joining forces, we can create a world where plastic pollution becomes a thing of the past, and our environment can thrive once again.

Sunil Pathak, Sr. Group Director, Human Resource, Cadence Design Systems said, “In an era of rapid technological advancement and the intensifying impact of climate change, Cadence leads the way in sustainability, providing innovative solutions that revolutionizing sustainable electronics and optimizing energy performance. Achieving Carbon Neutral company certification and transitioning to 100% renewable energy are significant milestones, reflecting our commitment to conserving resources and making a positive environmental impact.

Our culture fosters employee engagement to enhance the sustainability of the communities where we operate and instilling environmental awareness and responsibility. One such initiative is Cadence's Birthday Tree Planting Program, which celebrates birthdays in a unique and environmentally friendly way. Collaborations with organizations like CARE India, Saahas, and Give Me Trees drive transitions to environment friendly alternatives, waste segregation, and extensive tree planting efforts. We believe that innovation and sustainability are intertwined, inspiring our employees, partners, and the entire tech industry to join us on the path towards a greener, more sustainable future. Together, we can make a lasting impact and build a better world for generations to come.”

Rafiq Somani - Area Vice President, INDIA and South Asia Pacific at ANSYS Inc said, The World Environment Day theme this year focuses on solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution. Sustainability is at the core of everything that we do at Ansys. Engineering simulation helps make sustainability a reality across the product life cycle by speeding time to market, ensuring resources are used efficiently, reducing product footprints, and thus saving costs at various stages of design and development. Simulation aids engineers in conserving resources and lowering emissions while designing, validating, and refining products. Simulation has the ability to reach beyond the design and development stage to enable efficient manufacturing practices. It thus helps in making operations and end-of-life processes more environmentally safe and responsible. Discovering and implementing efficient means of innovative product design and operation — with minimal yet optimal use of physical resources — is at the very heart of our vision of pervasive simulation.

Mosur Saisekar, Chief Country Executive – India, Carelon Global Solutions said, At Carelon Global Solutions we make an impact in our work environment and the communities we live in. Our sustainability efforts are focused on energy conservation, waste management, water conservation, indoor air quality, and reducing carbon footprint. Waste segregation at source, energy efficient lighting design, systems, water efficient fixtures, and daylight responsive designs are a few initiatives we have implemented in our facilities so far. We have a dedicated Think Green council led by our associates consistently putting efforts on environmental sustainability and making green living, a way of living.

In 2022, we initiated a plantation drive in Hyderabad where we partnered with the Telangana Forest Department and planted 1250+ saplings to develop a sustainable ecosystem. We also recycle our food waste to make notebooks for our associates. We have also set up green corners filled with plants in every part of our office. In 2023, we onboarded a growing fleet of electric vehicles to help our associates with the commute. By 2025, we aim to make 25% of our vehicles electric and make all our offices single use plastic free zones. We look forward to continuing our efforts towards a cleaner and greener future.”

Sooraj Balakrishnan, Head of Marketing, Acer India said, “On this World Environment Day, let us unite against the grave consequences of plastic pollution. It is an environmental crisis that devastates ecosystems, imperils marine life, and threatens human health. Urgent action is paramount, and technology companies play a pivotal role in combating this peril. Through eco-friendly technologies and responsible consumption, we can reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and champion the principles of a circular economy. Collaboration among industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and governments is vital for lasting change. As a frontrunner in technology, Acer embraces its duty to minimize plastic waste across our operations. We actively seek sustainable alternatives, integrating them into our products and processes to pave the way for a more sustainable future. Acer's Earthion initiative leads the charge in developing eco-friendly technologies and forging alliances with like-minded organizations. Together, we can spark innovation, raise awareness, and build a plastic-free future. Our collective actions today will carve an indelible legacy of sustainability for generations to come.”

“On this World Environment Day, let us unite against the grave consequences of plastic pollution. It is an environmental crisis that devastates ecosystems, imperils marine life, and threatens human health. Urgent action is paramount, and technology companies play a pivotal role in combating this peril. Through eco-friendly technologies and responsible consumption, we can reduce our reliance on single-use plastics and champion the principles of a circular economy. Collaboration among industry leaders, investors, policymakers, and governments is vital for lasting change. As a frontrunner in technology, Acer embraces its duty to minimize plastic waste across our operations. We actively seek sustainable alternatives, integrating them into our products and processes to pave the way for a more sustainable future. Acer's Earthion initiative leads the charge in developing eco-friendly technologies and forging alliances with like-minded organizations. Together, we can spark innovation, raise awareness, and build a plastic-free future. Our collective actions today will carve an indelible legacy of sustainability for generations to come.”

Shanthi Chandrasekar, Executive Vice President – APAC Strategic Business, Bahwan CyberTek. Said, Globally, Sustainability is at the forefront of enterprise agenda for the C-Suite. There is increased pressure from stakeholders to deal only with companies doing business in an ethical and socially responsible manner. The push for sustainable technologies is stronger than ever before and companies are embracing green practices that reduce GHG emissions and waste. Hence, we find that there is a strong necessity for the amalgamation of digital transformation and green transition to accelerate sustainable outcomes.

 We at Bahwan CyberTek are leveraging digital technologies (Artificial Intelligence, IoT, Digital Twins, Data Analytics, etc) and the power of data to develop solutions to address the ESG challenges and to foster sustainable development. Reducing e-waste, smart monitoring of energy/water usage, effective re-use of assets, recycling of waste, increasing transparency in the supply chain, adopting green procurement practices, being mindful of how we travel are some of our focus areas to reduce our carbon footprint.

Organisations need to prioritize Sustainability and must realise that it presents them with new opportunities for growth, innovation, increased collaboration, and long-term value creation.

Vipul Singh, Co-founder and CEO, Aereo (aka Aarav Unmanned Systems), a Bangalore-based B2B drone tech startup said, “On this World Environment Day, we need to uphold sustainable practices for a better future. Our planet faces unprecedented challenges, that demand bold action and innovative solutions. Aereo harnesses the transformative potential of geospatial data which is crucial in solving these issues. With high-resolution data and deep insights, we can understand our surroundings much better and take proactive and preventive measures. By helping develop watersheds, improving organizational efficiency, green cover management, flood simulation, and irrigation planning, we are able to drastically lower the carbon footprint and make industries climate resilient. Our mission is not limited to providing a service but generating an impact that can be felt by future generations. Today, we recommit ourselves to this noble cause, knowing that every drone flight, and every data point collected, is an opportunity to further this goal. Together, let us strive to be better and more vocal about these pressing concerns. With the right solutions and consistent effort, a brighter and sustainable world is well within our reach”

Prasad Rajappan, Founder & CEO, of ZingHR  said, “At ZingHR, we're committed to making a positive impact on our planet and helping organizations adopt sustainable practices. This World Environment Day, we take pride in the activities that shape our culture, such as Gemba Walks that identify non-sustainable practices, promoting green commuting, waste segregation, and eliminating single-use plastic. Our ESG Framework for Employee Adoption, coupled with tools like OKR and Reward and Recognition, seamlessly enables companies to implement their ESG goals.

In order to drive sustainable practices forward, it is crucial for organizations to foster a culture that acknowledges and rewards ESG achievements. By equipping employees with the requisite knowledge, skills, and mind-set to embrace sustainable practices, they can become catalysts for change within their roles. We firmly believe in the power of ESG-led performance management, providing robust tools for organizations to set measurable goals, track progress, and align performance with sustainability objectives. At ZingHR, our mission is to facilitate the seamless integration of ESG practices within organizations, empowering them to successfully achieve their sustainability objectives. We understand that building a sustainable future requires collective effort, and we're dedicated to supporting companies every step of the way.”

Anand Mahurkar, Founder and CEO, Findability Sciences said, "In today's discourse, the emphasis on enhancing profitability often overshadows the discussion on AI's potential for achieving sustainability goals. However, by effectively harnessing the power of AI, organizations can accelerate their progress towards sustainability objectives. The transformative capabilities of AI extend to diverse areas, including enhancing energy efficiency, optimizing resource management practices, streamlining complex supply chains, facilitating sustainable product designs, and aiding in climate change adaptation efforts. Through these AI-driven advancements, organizations can generate a positive ripple effect that extends beyond their immediate operations, ultimately contributing to the creation of a more sustainable future for our planet and society at large. By broadening our focus to encompass the sustainable applications of AI, we can unlock its true potential and usher in a new era of environmentally conscious business practices."

Kunal Nagarkatti, CEO, Clover Infotech said, “The world has realized the importance of moving to renewable sources of energy. Across all aspects of life from travel to power consumption to industrial usage and smart cities, there is a very strong thrust on adopting ‘green’ technologies. Our government has introduced many favourable policies to ensure that green technologies are embraced by all. At Clover Infotech, we have been using our resources judiciously and have been designing processes to optimize the consumption of electricity, water, paper, etc. We have moved our own financial systems to the cloud in our endeavour to reduce the per-user carbon footprint. We have been accredited with the relevant ISO certifications for our ESG practices. As a responsible corporate, we have been publishing our ESG report to our customers as well. I believe every organization and individual must leverage the power of new-age digital technologies to accelerate India’s mission of attaining carbon neutrality and creating a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future for all.”

Rajesh Kabra, Managing Director, RR Parkon said, "World Environment Day serves as a powerful reminder of the need to safeguard our planet from pollution and the devastating effects of climate change. As pioneers in the automated car parking industry, we recognise our responsibility to contribute to global efforts to preserve the environment. Our smart parking systems have a profound and positive impact on reducing carbon emissions and mitigating environmental degradation. By revolutionising how we approach parking, we address the pressing challenges of urbanisation, resource depletion, and air pollution. Our solutions not only provide efficient and secure parking spaces but also prioritise eco-friendly practices. By optimising parking space utilisation and reducing idle driving time, our smart parking systems help minimize traffic congestion and its associated environmental harm. Let us seize this opportunity to inspire change and make a lasting difference. Through embracing innovative solutions, we can pave the way for a greener, healthier, and more sustainable future. Together, let us make every day an ‘environment day’ and preserve our planet for generations to come."