At the Innovating for Sustainability Transformation event, sustainability and tech experts explored innovative options to drive India's sustainability agenda
When senior sustainability officers and technology specialists convened recently to deliberate on the theme of ‘Innovating for Sustainability Transformation’, it not only led to knowledge sharing by the key actors but also exploration of solutions to address sustainability challenges. The deliberations were enriched with Amazon Web Services (AWS) leaders sharing their bouquet of sustainability solutions and experiences.
The event began with keynote addresses by Sundar VG, Worldwide Specialist Org and Cloud Migration, and Dr. Ramnath Subramaniam, CEO, TVS Industrial & Logistics Parks. Sundar VG spoke about Amazon's sustainability work and emphasised their commitment to achieve net-zero carbon by 2040. Dr. Subramaniam provided insights into India's industrial evolution, highlighting the role of technology and data in responsible manufacturing and supply chains.
Speakers in subsequent sessions discussed their sustainability experiences, walking audiences through their roadmaps, and also highlighted the role of sustainability as a driver of competitive advantage and positive change. Some speakers dwelled on issues like efficiency gains, reputation enhancement, and the responsibility to contribute to a better world. Common themes emerged, stressing collaboration, continuous improvement, and the importance of going beyond mere compliance.
In the session on Amazon Showcase under the topic of Amazon Sustainability Framework, Mathsy Kutty, APAC Leader—The Climate Pledge, Amazon India, detailed the company's sustainability approach, which has delivered across sectors, geographies, and economies.
Under the topic of Enterprise Sustainability Roadmap - Challenges and Path to Success, Anne Ascharsobi, Digital Sustainability Lead, AWS APJ, discussed the challenge of translating ambitions into practical steps. She presented a structured approach to identifying tangible actions and using AWS cloud resources as a sustainability toolkit.
The discussions also delved into advanced technology and cloud computing services, tackling business challenges through IoT, data capture, analytics, and (Gen) AI. Additionally, the sessions highlighted how AWS can fulfil the sustainability needs of a wide range of companies through a variety of tools and readily available solutions.
The session on Sustainability Solutions Partner Showcase focused on innovative tech solutions. IBM's Envizi and MeghaAl, which offer advanced software solutions for streamlining data and generating actionable insights for sustainability performance, showcased their innovative solutions, providing in-depth perspectives about their experiences. Attendees gained practical insights on leveraging AI, sensor technology and analytics for measurable impact.
In the first panel discussion on the topic of Driving Sustainable Innovation – Lessons from Industry Leaders under the Leaders Showcase, speakers like Abhejit Agarwal, SVP- Sustainability & CSR, Axis Bank; Gayatri Divecha, Head- CSR & Sustainability, Godrej Industries Limited & Associate Companies; and Bipin Odhekar, Head- Sustainability, EHS & Operations Excellence, Marico Limited, shared their rich experiences. The discussion was moderated by Rajiv Tikoo, Consulting Editor - Sustainability, Outlook Group.
The second panel under the Leaders Showcase witnessed discussion on Measuring Success of Sustainable Innovation – Industry Reputation, New Products, Operational Efficiency by Pravin Jadhav, Head- E&S Risk, RBL Bank; Harsha Vardhan Sharma, Associate General Manager - Sustainability & Excellence Cell, Jindal Stainless; and Tejashree Joshi, Head- Environment & Sustainability, Godrej & Boyce. The session was moderated by Anne Ascharsobi. The speakers highlighted their sectoral experiences.
As the event concluded and attendees left with the knowledge of latest developments in the space, there was a palpable belief in the business world's potential to lead India towards a greener future. Collaborations and connections were initiated, leaving participants with a renewed sense of empowerment.
The event organised on 9th February 2024 in Mumbai was powered by AWS and presented by Outlook Business. Working on the premise that sustainability is not just a cost, the event was a small step towards building a sustainable future for all.
The event was not just about learning what Amazon does in this space, but a reminder that business working with the true spirit of collaboration has the power to address sustainability challenges and be part of solutions.