Earth Day on April 22 has started getting more buy in from corporates. Going beyond customary tree plantation under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, companies are now increasingly marking the annual day with the launch of green products and services. The emphasis is also on striking partnership between governments, companies and NGOs.
Of course, awards stay all time favourites to mark the day. This year Indian-American venture capitalist Vinod Khosla got the top UN green award. Earth Day also witnessed Ingersoll Rand unveiling its last mile refrigeration solution, which is not only energy efficient, but is also expected to help preserve perishable agricultural products. A new eco-friendly paint from Kansai Nerolac Paints launched to mark the occasion cuts down on the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can be harmful for eyes and respiratory system.
Paharpur Business Centre took the opportunity to engage the Climate Project-India, an NGO, and the Delhi government to set up an online platform for people to send in their green ideas in run up to the upcoming Commonwealth Games and sensitise schoolchildren on climate change. And Himachal government, in its quest to become the first carbon neutral state in the country, committed to use plastic waste for building roads.
Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla bags UN award
One of the highlights of the day this year was IndianAmerican venture capitalist and green energy entrepreneur Vinod Khosla winning an award at the 2010 Champions of the Earth during the Business for the Environment (B4E) global summit held at Seoul. Other award winner are Guyanese president Bharrat Jagdeo, Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, Japanese earth scientist Taro Takahashi, Chinese actress and green lifestyle guru Zhou Xun, and Afghanistan national environmental protection agency chief Prince Mostapha Zaher.
The awards are given for showing commitment and creativity for transitioning to a Green Economy by the United Nations. Each winner got a trophy designed by celebrated Chinese artist Yuan Xikun and a cash prize of $40,000. Though the awards are being given since 2004, its for the first time they carried a cash prize, given with the help of LG Electronics.
Known as Mr Green in Silicon Valley, Khosla has been recongised for backing renewables and green technology even during the slowdown. He believes that the new energy revolution will be bigger than the Internet revolution. Khosla raised $1.1 billion for investment in renewable energy and other clean technologies in 2009. Bill Gates too invested in the fund.
Ingersoll launches cold solution for food transportation in summer
Diversified industrial company Ingersoll Rand unveiled a last mile refrigeration solution designed for transportation of perishable food items like fruits and vegetables in hot Indian conditions.
Launching the product, Venkatesh Valluri, chairman & president, Ingersoll Rand India, said, “Millions continue to starve in India, whereas almost 35% of India’s agricultural produce is wasted, often due to lack of a proper cold chain infrastructure. Our new refrigerated transportation solution addresses a critical part of this problem by avoiding large scale wastage of perishable food items.”
R&D to develop the energy efficient product has been going on for one year and the company expects local product innovation to cater to not only the domestic market, but also to other emerging markets. Ingersoll has two R&D centres in Bangalore and Chennai. Now, the company is setting up its Centre for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability (CEES) at Bidadi, near Bangalore.
Kansai Nerolac comes out with an eco-friendly paint
Kansai Nerolac Paints launched new eco-friendly product, Nerolac Impressions Eco Clean. Its is a low volatile organic compound (VOC) product. VOC fumes can cause eye and respiratory irritation.
Speaking on the occasion, H M Bharuka, managing director, Kansai Nerolac Paints, said, “We are concerned about our environmental impacts and are consciously making efforts for efficient utilisation and conservation of energy and other resources. We are a responsible and socially aware organisation and will continue to drive such macro issues with a concerted and dedicated approach.”
The 1,900-crore company claims to be engaging its stakeholders like employees, customers, suppliers, painters, dealers and the community to adopt and promote usage of eco-friendly paints, tree plantation, and water and energy conservation.
For example, the company has taken steps to deploy new technology to eliminate the baking step to save energy and resources, use biomass-based boilers, replace environmentally hazardous chromium with pre-treated aluminum, set up zero-discharge plants, eliminate the use of lead and VOC, and replace environmentally hazardous chromium with pre-treated aluminum.
Nerolac has been already recognized for its green initiatives and bestowed with Greentech Environment Award, National Energy Conservation Award, Golden Peacock Environment Management Award and DSIR National Award.
PBC turns a midwife for green ideas
Paharpur Business Centre & Software Technology Incubator Park has launched GreenSpaces Ideas, an online platform for people to submit green ideas in run up to the Commonwealth Games, 2010.
Launching the programme, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said, “Delhi is one of the greenest capitals in the world and we are trying to inculcate good clean habits among kids. We are looking forward to a clean and green Commonwealth Games.”
In a complementary initiative, Paharpur Business Centre is also supporting the Climate Project-India, an NGO, to make schoolchildren in Delhi aware about the challenge of climate change and its impacts by training teachers in every school before the Commonwealth Games, 2010.
Speaking on the occasion, Kamal Meattle, trustee, Climate Project-India and CEO, Paharpur Business Centre, said, “We need to act and make green living a way of life. We need to organise huge grassroots awareness in our city and in our country over what is happening to our environment and do something about it, and not simply talk about it.”
The Government of Delhi, AMCHAM, American Center, ASSOCHAM, CII, IndoAmerican Chamber of Commerce and IndoGerman Chamber of Commerce are supporting the programme.
Himachal govt to use plastic waste to build roads
Himachal government launched a pilot road project, which seeks to use polythene material like plastic bags instead of asphalt as a glue. The state government has estimated that solid waste includes 5% plastic waste.
The government will buy back such waste from general public at Rs 3/kg. Government collection agencies will be paid Rs 1 as handling changes. The target is to buy 140 tonnes of waste. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal made the announcement during Plastic Hatao Paryavaran Bachao campaign.
Dhumal aspires to make Himachal Pradesh the first carbon neutral state in the country. The ongoing eco-drive in the state is being led by the environment, science and technology department headed by additional chief secretary Sarojini Ganju Thakur.
Source: The Financial Express
Published on 28 April 2010