World Environment Day serves as an occasion for organisations across sectors to share their perspectives on sustainability and environmental responsibility. This year, leaders from the water, energy, and manufacturing sectors spoke about the role of safe drinking water, energy efficiency, and technology-driven innovation in addressing sustainability challenges.

Ankur Garg, Country Director, EAII Advisors, Evidence Action's technical partner in India

"We often speak of sustainability in terms of carbon emissions and ecosystems. But there is another dimension we cannot ignore. It is the quality of water billions of people drink every day. Unsafe water is an environmental failure with direct, measurable human cost. Evidence Action's work in rural India shows that chlorination, when delivered through existing water infrastructure, can reduce diarrheal mortality significantly and cost-effectively. On World Environment Day, I want to steer the needle to the fact that safe water is an environmental imperative, and evidence-backed solutions at scale are how we honor that commitment."

Gaurav Bali, Co-Founder & CEO, Enlite

"The biggest opportunity sitting in front of most businesses right now is their own building.

Commercial real estate accounts for nearly 30 per cent of India's total electricity consumption, and most of it is wasted on empty floors and systems running on outdated schedules. That waste has a cost attached every single month.

When buildings respond to actual occupancy and real-time conditions, energy consumption drops by 20 to 30 per cent. Pair that with on-site renewable integration, and businesses are no longer just consuming less. They are generating and managing energy on their own terms, reducing grid dependence and insulating themselves against rising tariffs.

Businesses that treat buildings as active energy assets rather than passive overhead will cut costs, cut emissions, and build long-term resilience, all at once."

"India adds roughly 300,000 square feet of commercial real estate every single day. For years, the concern was that this growth would lock in inefficiency at scale. What I see now is that developers are asking smarter questions at the design stage itself, from building orientation and material choices to EV charging infrastructure and rooftop solar integration.

Occupiers are evaluating buildings on energy predictability and ESG readiness alongside rental cost. Investors are pricing operational performance into valuations.

India's smart building market is growing at over 24 per cent annually, reflecting genuine recognition that the built environment is one of the fastest places to make meaningful sustainability gains.

We still have ground to cover. But the direction is right, and the momentum is real."

Kajal Shah, CEO and Co-founder, Dreamfly Innovations

"Sustainability in manufacturing is no longer just about reducing emissions – it's about creating more value with fewer resources. Technology is at the heart of this transformation. Advanced automation, AI-driven production planning, digital quality control, and real-time monitoring systems enable factories to optimise energy consumption, reduce material wastage, improve yields, and minimise downtime. Smart manufacturing also enables predictive maintenance, extending equipment life and reducing unnecessary resource consumption.

At Dreamfly Innovations, we apply these principles to battery manufacturing, where precision and reliability are critical. Through data-driven process control, advanced battery testing, traceability systems, and intelligent manufacturing practices, we continuously improve product performance while reducing scrap rates and material losses. Every improvement in battery efficiency, manufacturing yield, and product lifespan contributes directly to lowering the overall resource footprint.

As industries such as drones, aerospace, defence, and energy storage scale rapidly, the manufacturers that will lead the future are those that can combine productivity, quality, and sustainability through technology. The objective is not simply to manufacture more but to manufacture smarter, safer, and more responsibly."

"Many companies view sustainability as a long-term goal, but the most impactful changes often begin with improving operational efficiency. Technology can help businesses take practical, measurable steps today without requiring massive investments. Simple measures such as real-time energy monitoring, digitised production tracking, predictive maintenance, and data-driven inventory management can significantly reduce waste, lower energy consumption, and improve resource utilisation.

For manufacturers, technologies such as automated quality control and process analytics help identify inefficiencies early, reducing material losses and rework. Digital traceability systems also provide greater visibility across the supply chain, enabling companies to make more informed decisions about sourcing, production, and lifecycle management.

At Dreamfly Innovations, we believe sustainability and efficiency go hand in hand. When companies optimise processes, extend product life, improve reliability, and reduce wastage, they not only lower their environmental footprint but also strengthen their competitiveness. The key is to start with data, measure what matters, and use technology to drive continuous improvement rather than treating sustainability as a separate initiative."

These perspectives highlight how organisations across sectors are approaching sustainability through initiatives focused on water security, energy efficiency and resource optimisation.