MUMBAI: Kia India, a leading mass premium carmaker, has strengthened its sustainability vision with the launch of ‘Kia Drive Green’ – a sustainability-focused engagement platform on the Kia Connect app. This initiative affirms the brand’s commitment to creating deeper user connections with EV owners while promoting environmental awareness.

The Drive Green feature, currently available with the Kia Carens Clavis EV and accessible through Kia Connect under the ‘New Services’ tab, will be progressively rolled out to all upcoming Kia EVs. With Drive Green in the Kia Connect App, a virtual tree will be planted each month, which grows through five stages based on kilometers driven. The app rewards users with five eco-badges — Green Explorer (2,500 km), Eco Champion (15,000 km), Carbon Crusher (25,000 km), Forest Guardian (50,000 km), and Planet Protector (100,000 km) — while also displaying the CO₂ savings achieved. For instance, driving 100 km saves about 13.2 kg of CO₂*, and 1,500 km saves nearly 197.6 kg of CO₂*.

Atul Sood, Senior VP, Sales & Marketing, Kia India, commented, “At Kia, our vision for mobility goes hand in hand with our responsibility to the environment. With the Kia Drive Green initiative, we are taking a decisive step toward embedding sustainability across every touchpoint—from product innovation and cleaner technologies to our operations and customer engagement. This initiative reflects our long-term commitment to making clean mobility part of everyday life.”

The Drive Green initiative exemplifies Kia India’s broader green mobility vision, setting a direction for how value beyond vehicles can be delivered, thereby building both loyalty and environmental awareness through digital experiences.

*Editor’s note: The Carbon Dioxide (CO2) savings and images displayed here are for representational purposes only. Actual CO2 savings may vary depending upon various factors such as driving behavior, terrain, weather conditions, and vehicle load. This information is intended to provide an estimated comparison and should not be considered as an exact measurement of a real-world comparison.

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The festival at the National Museums of Kenya addresses the growing plastic pollution crisis by demonstrating practical, culturally rooted solutions that create jobs, reduce environmental harm, and cut the billions governments spend on clean up, incineration, and health costs associated with throwaway plastic culture.

KEY EVENTS:

1. MEDIA BRIEFING

Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Venue: National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi

2. REFILL AND REUSE FESTIVAL DETAILS

Day 1 – Policy Dialogues
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

Program Highlights:

• Media Briefing
• Panel Discussions
• Refill and Reuse Exhibition

Day 2 – Public Festival: “Experience, Refill, Reuse: A Sustainable Lifestyle for All”
Date: Saturday, November 15, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Target Audience: General public, families, schools, artists, innovators

Program Highlights:

• Hands-on refill stations and zero-waste exhibitions
• Children’s upcycling art competitions
• Live music performances and poetry sessions
• Storytelling circles and interactive refill challenges with prizes
• Demonstrations of traditional African reuse practices

Admission: Free and open to the public

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At the core of the facility is an integrated pilot plant, enabling the replication of large-scale manufacturing processes in a controlled environment. This capability empowers Haber’s scientists to test, validate, and refine formulations prior to market launch, thereby mitigating risks and enhancing scale-up efficiency between laboratory and industrial-scale production. Designed as a next-generation R&D hub, the center focuses on developing pioneering green chemistry formulations for key industries, including pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, and water treatment.

Vipin Raghavan, CEO & Co-Founder of Haber, remarked, “Innovation has always been at the core of Haber. With this new AI-driven lab and pilot plant, we are shortening the journey from concept to commercial deployment. This facility empowers our team to rapidly prototype smarter chemistries, minimize risk, and deliver solutions that help industries improve efficiency, reduce waste, and scale up sustainable practices faster than ever.“

Over the past two years, Haber has also introduced a range of AI-enabled analyzers and sensors, strengthening its position at the intersection of chemistry and technology. The company is now advancing into next-generation solutions driven by computer vision, with a sharp focus on enhancing precision and efficiency in data collection. By integrating the latest innovations in sensor design, Haber aims to achieve more accurate sampling and richer datasets, leading to smarter insights and improved process control. The aim is to build an optimized ecosystem of intelligent monitoring sensors and SaaS-powered platforms, seamlessly complemented by application-specific chemistries fine-tuned for performance.

This milestone demonstrates how AI can redefine the speed and scale of chemistry innovation. Dr. Raghunath A. Mashelkar commended Haber’s vision, “The energy, curiosity, and drive I see in this team are truly infectious. By harnessing artificial intelligence and coupling it with a world-class pilot plant, Haber is not just creating new chemistries; it is creating new possibilities. This lab shows how India can lead the world in combining science, technology, and sustainability to deliver solutions with global impact.”

Through this expansion, Haber will bolster its capability to serve core industries such as pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, and water treatment. Haber commits to spending over $10 Mn towards research and development. These sectors, often dealing with water-intensive and chemical-intensive processes, stand to benefit from Haber’s advanced solutions that combine smart chemistry with AI-driven automation.  To date, the company’s solutions have helped industries save over 97,000 MWh of energy, conserve nearly 30 million cubic meters of water, and cut more than 92,000 tons of emissions. These achievements highlight the transformative potential of combining AI with smarter chemistry, and the new lab is set to amplify this impact even further.

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LONAVALA: Tata Power, one of India’s largest integrated power companies, conducted its annual employee-led trekking and plantation drive at Walwhan Garden, Lonavala. The initiative saw over 200 participants, including Tata Power employees and colleagues from other Tata Group companies, come together to strengthen the green cover of the region by planting more than 250 native saplings and over 1000 seeds.

Employee volunteering has been at the heart of Tata Power for over a century, with the company today recording one of the highest per capita volunteering hours across Tata Group companies. Over the last five decades, this collective spirit has shaped the plantation journey at Walwhan, transforming it into one of India’s few recognized biodiversity hotspots. The Garden now nurtures orchids, reptiles, amphibians, bird species, and aquatic life, while serving as a hub for biodiversity conservation and environmental learning. It provides a living platform for students and researchers in botany, zoology, and allied sciences, and has hosted national seminars on mahseer conservation and field studies documenting diverse flora and fauna. More than a plantation site, Walwhan stands as a living demonstration of how sustained corporate volunteerism can drive conservation, education, and community participation.

Since 1970, Tata Power has planted more than 15 million seeds and saplings across hydro catchment areas with active involvement from employees and community volunteers. In the current monsoon season alone, nearly two lakh native saplings have been added in these catchment landscapes. These efforts have restored habitats, enhanced biodiversity, and supported seasonal livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Tata Power’s plantation efforts have always centred on native species endemic to the Northern Western Ghats, chosen for their role in restoring habitats, enriching biodiversity, and strengthening ecosystem resilience. This year’s drive also included complementary seed sowing in steep terrains, extending regenerative impact across wider landscapes. Alongside ecological restoration, the effort deepened community participation and strengthened collective ownership of sustainability.

Guided by its environmental policy, Tata Power will continue to expand native-species plantations and ecological monitoring at Walwhan and other project sites. The initiative reflects the company’s sustainability vision #SustainableIsAttainable, reinforcing its commitment to climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and building a greener future for India.

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To promote mindful festivities, the NGO organized an eco-friendly idol-making workshop where families sculpted Ganpati Bappa idols from shaadu mati, a natural clay that dissolves easily in water, leaving behind no harm to the environment. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, music, and the joy of creating, as parents and children shaped their idols with their own hands.

“This was more than just an art activity,” shared Dimple Somji, Founder of With Love NGO. “It was about helping the younger generation understand that true devotion honors not just the deity, but also Mother Earth. Watching families connect through this was deeply moving.”

The workshop welcomed patients from Prakash Holistic Health Care Center, for whom the experience became a therapeutic way of engaging with both culture and nature. “It was a healing activity,” remarked Dr. Nidhi, “allowing participants to celebrate while embracing sustainability.”

But the celebration did not stop at clay and colors. For every idol created, one Joybag—a bundle filled with essential food grains- was gifted to families from marginalized communities. These Joybags reached children and parents from schools and neighborhoods struggling to make ends meet, ensuring that their festive season, too, was filled with dignity and cheer.

A school owner, whose students received the Joybags, expressed, “For many of these children, Ganesh Chaturthi would have passed without celebration. Now, thanks to this thoughtful initiative, their homes are filled with joy.”

“This initiative represents the true spirit of festivity,” Dimple added. “When we teach children that their joy is tied to the joy of others, we create a ripple of kindness that lasts far beyond the festival.”

With Love NGO continues to offer customized workshops, combining creativity with compassion. To collaborate or support, connect with them on Instagram @withlovengo and be part of this journey where tradition, sustainability, and philanthropy come together.

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PUNE: Reinforcing its leadership, Kinetic Green, India’s premier Electric two and three-wheeler manufacturer, has today detailed an aggressive growth roadmap for its electric two-wheeler business. Bolstered by the resounding success of its iconic E-Luna, launched a year ago, the company is now gearing up to launch three high-performance Born-Electric scooters over the next 18 months, poised to blend global design finesse with robust Indian engineering.

The first model in this exciting new expansion is a premium, stylish, and tech-forward family scooter, set to launch before the 2025 festive season. With a host of state-of-the-art features, the E2W is thoughtfully designed to blend timeless retro aesthetics with ultimate convenience for the users. It will be equipped with a vibrant TFT display, advanced IoT capabilities, and an intelligent digital platform co-developed with Jio Things, ensuring a connected and seamless riding experience. Offered in multiple battery variants and backed by fast-charging technology, this E-scooter is thoughtfully designed to meet a wide range of consumer preferences and budget segments.

Taking its design game a notch higher, Kinetic Green has partnered with Torino Design, the legendary global design house based in Italy, to co-create a new range of ultra-futuristic scooters. These next-generation models will feature radical styling based on the Born Electric design philosophy, signalling a new direction in mobility design and lifestyle. The design language is intended to create a disruptive elegance and be trend-setting and youthful.

At the same time, the vehicle engineering and detailing will be based on a unique philosophy coined by the company as “Thoughtful Engineering.” This philosophy ensures a synergy of intelligent design, advanced IoT-based connectivity, and various features aimed at ultimate comfort, convenience, and safety, creating a new benchmark in electric mobility. At the heart of this vision lies the unparalleled legacy of Kinetic Group, which has shaped the evolution of scooters in India for decades. Kinetic Green is drawing on its rich heritage and deep consumer insights to develop products that not only elevate design but also redefine utility and performance in the era of electric mobility. The E-scooters being designed in partnership with Torino Design are expected to hit the market next year.

Speaking on the announcement, Dr Sulajja Firodia Motwani, Founder and CEO of Kinetic Green, said: ” We are truly excited about our upcoming range of Born-Electric scooters from the house of Kinetic Green. With over a decade of experience in the EV space, we have built deep expertise in electric mobility design and engineering, backed by robust EV R&D and strategic partnerships for fast charging, battery swapping, and proprietary software-driven platform solutions.  We are greatly enthused by the success of our E-Luna and E-scooters recently launched in India. Having sold over 80,000 E2Ws in this initial phase, created a strong manufacturing infrastructure and a network of 400 exclusive dealers for E2W in the country, we are ready to aggressively expand our E2W business. Now, with our design alliance with Torino Design of Italy, a global leader in design and engineering, we aim to redefine electric scooters in the coming months. With a foundation built on ‘Thoughtful Engineering,’ our upcoming scooters will sport a fresh and futuristic styling language, incorporating innovation and a purpose to offer a delightful ownership experience to our customers.”

Kinetic Green has been at the forefront of India’s electric vehicle revolution. It began its EV journey in 2016 with a range of “Make in India” electric three-wheelers.  In 2022, Kinetic Green entered the two-wheeler space and launched its iconic E-Luna in 2024. The E-Luna has seen remarkable success across both B2C and B2B segments, standing out as the only EV suited for both personal and commercial use, across urban and rural India. Encouraged by this response, Kinetic Green is now on an ambitious path to expand its electric two-wheeler portfolio blending its rich legacy with future-ready innovation, design, and technology.

The move by Kinetic Green of an aggressive expansion of the E2W business comes at the right time, when the country is witnessing increasing adoption of electric scooters. During 2024-25, 1.15Mn E2W were sold in India, 1.03Mn (~90%) of them were E-scooters. The E-scooter market is expected to scale rapidly in India over the next 5 years, with increased E-scooter penetration expected to grow from 15% to 70%*. It is expected that by 2030, the size of the E-scooter market in India will be Rs. 40,000 Crores. Kinetic Green is well-positionedKinetic Green Accelerates Growth in E2W Sector with New Born Electric Scooter Lineup to tap this opportunity with its EV R&D and engineering expertise, deep insights into Indian EV consumers, a strong manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem, the well-regarded Kinetic Green legacy brand, and a nationwide dealership network. The differentiated E-Luna, along with the range of E-scooters, will position the company to tap into this opportunity comprehensively and aggressively.

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NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Training (DGT), under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), in collaboration with Shell India, has launched a Green Skills and Electric Vehicles (EV) training program aimed at equipping students and faculty with future-ready capabilities in green energy and e-mobility. This initiative will be implemented by Edunet Foundation, training partner of Shell, across select Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and National Skill Training Institutes (NSTIs) in Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.

Under the DGT–Shell India collaboration, green skill training will be delivered through a structured multi-tier model across select NSTIs and ITIs. In the first phase, the program includes a 240-hour advanced EV Technician course at 4 NSTIs, a 90-hour job-oriented EV skills course at 12 ITIs equipped with Shell-supported labs, and a 50-hour foundational green skills module at additional ITIs without physical labs. The curriculum, jointly developed by Shell, Edunet Foundation, and DGT, covers EV systems, diagnostics, battery technology, digital tools, and safety protocols. The initiative also includes Training of Trainers (ToT) for over 250 instructors, certification co-branded by Shell and DGT, and structured placement support to enhance industry readiness.

A key highlight of the initiative is the establishment of specialised EV skill labs within select ITIs and NSTIs. These labs are designed to offer hands-on training and expert-led sessions aligned with industry standards. Beyond lab-based learning, the program also provides placement support and co-branded certifications to successful participants, enhancing their employability in the green energy and EV sectors.

The Government of India has been actively advancing Green Energy and Electric Vehicle (EV) adoption in line with its net-zero ambitions. Flagship initiatives like the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) scheme have played a pivotal role in accelerating EV uptake, enhancing infrastructure, and offering targeted incentives. Complementing these national efforts, states like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have introduced their own EV policies to fast-track the transition to electric mobility, foster local ecosystems, and generate green jobs. These developments underscore the growing demand for a skilled workforce in the green energy and EV sectors.

As the apex national body for vocational training, DGT will play a crucial role in this initiative by mobilizing students and trainers and supporting the institutional ecosystem to ensure alignment with national education and skill development standards.

Speaking on the importance of this initiative, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE and Minister of State for Education, said, “Our collaboration with Shell India reflects the government’s deeper commitment to aligning skilling with sustainability. Green energy, electric mobility, and the broader climate transition are not just environmental imperatives—they represent a generational opportunity for India to lead through innovation, talent, and enterprise. This initiative is part of our larger vision to create a workforce that is not only job-ready but climate-ready. We are equipping young Indians with the skills to shape—and not just participate in—the global green economy.”

Smt. Trishaljit Sethi, Director General, Directorate General of Training (DGT), MSDE, stated, “This partnership with Shell India is a focused step in bringing cutting-edge training infrastructure and industry-relevant curriculum into our ITIs and NSTIs. By integrating Electric Vehicle technologies into vocational training, we are ensuring that our students gain hands-on experience aligned with real-world demand. With joint certification, trainer upskilling, and placement support built into the program, this initiative will significantly strengthen the employability of our youth in the green mobility sector.” 

Speaking on the partnership, Mansi Madan Tripathy, Chairperson, Shell Group of Companies in India & Senior Vice President, Shell Lubricants, Asia-Pacific, said, “At Shell, we aim to support local communities by enabling future employment opportunities. Equipping youth with green energy skills is an important step towards building a lower-carbon future. Through our collaboration with DGT and Edunet Foundation, we are providing students with practical and future-ready expertise in green energy and electric mobility. This initiative empowers young people to thrive in an evolving energy landscape and contribute towards India’s net-zero ambitions”.

This collaboration between DGT and Shell India is a robust move in preparing India’s youth for careers in the future green economy. By offering a comprehensive curriculum, specialized labs, and industry support, the initiative will equip students with hands-on skills and certifications, enhancing their employability and positioning them to lead in a sustainable, innovation-driven future.

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This project fund raising will support their “Young Youth Leadership Programme” enabling it to plant saplings, establish kitchen gardens and conduct climate education trainings with domain experts with an outreach and benefit to over 45,000 student earth leaders.

The successful fundraise marks a significant milestone for both Council for Green Revolution and the NSE SSE platform as it has attracted over 150 retail donors contributing to the issuance with as small as Rs. 1,000/- This is a testament to the SSE’s potential to unlock large pools of retail investment and democratise philanthropy.

NSE-SSE has recently enabled e-IPO via both ASBA and UPI mechanisms. Following the same, this ceremony also acknowledged and felicitated the efforts and initiatives of one of trading members – Fyers, which has championed this initiative by developing and enabling the UPI mechanism on NSE-SSE, resulting in over 50 organic donations in the current issuance. This will inspire and encourage other trading members to enable the UPI mechanism and donation seamlessly.

Speaking on this momentous occasion and the impact of the project of Council for Green revolution, Shri Sriram Krishnan, Chief Business Development Officer, NSE elucidated, “To contribute to the vision of the Government of India to bring capital markets closer to the masses and to facilitate social inclusion through NSE’s SSE, the exchange platform under the guidance of SEBI has been taking steadfast and concrete steps to this effect. The listing of the Council for Green Revolution is a significant milestone, as it represents the first environment and climate action-focused initiative on the platform, reinforcing our dedication to sustainability and social impact”.

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Suhana Warehouse, Yavat was honoured with the achievement of ‘Net Zero Energy’, by IGBC Pune. Chief Guest, Pankaja Munde, Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Maharashtra, presented this certificate to Anand Chordia, Director, Technology & Innovation, Suhana Masala, & Founder, The Eco Factory Foundation (TEFF), in the presence of Dr. Poorva Keskar, Chairperson, IGBC Pune Chapter, Hrishikesh Manjrekar, Co-Chair, IGBC Pune Chapter & other committee members from IGBC  Organised by CII – IGBC Pune Chapter, the ceremony was held at HYATT Pune.

This project, conceptualised and designed by Anand Chordia, ranked first in the country under the Warehouse and Industrial Category. The Net Zero Energy Certification is a testament to the Suhana Masala team’s commitment to environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and the community’s overall well-being. This achievement underscores Suhana Masala’s dedication to creating spaces that meet the highest standards of quality and design and contribute positively to the environment.

“Suhana Warehouse follows the basic principles of Reduce, Regenerate, Renew, and Repurpose and stands completely on renewable sources of energy generation, runs 100% on solar power for building and process requirements”, shared Anand Chordia proudly.

Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Anand Chordia added, “Receiving the Net Zero Energy Certification from IGBC is a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability. All our current and future projects shall stand as a model for responsible and eco-conscious development, showcasing how innovation and environmental consciousness can coexist seamlessly.”

Such efforts, if taken by industry, will lead to make India become net zero in no time and achieve our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Narendra Modiji’s vision of Net Zero India soon, and reduce the carbon footprint of our nation.

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PUNE: Furthering its strategic focus on building long-term, high-impact partnerships, Suzlon has just consolidated its largest partnership with NTPC Green Energy Ltd. (NGEL) to 1,544 MW, with a recent award win of a 378 MW wind energy project. This win strengthens Suzlon’s undisputed market leadership and commitment to sustainable, large-scale growth.

As part of this contract, Suzlon will supply 120 S144 Wind Turbine Generators (WTG) with Hybrid Lattice Towers (HLT), each with a rated capacity of 3.15 MW, and also undertake foundation, erection, and commissioning for the project, and will provide maintenance and services.

Girish Tanti, Vice Chairman, Suzlon Group, said, “We are honored to be a strategic partner in NTPC’s ambitious vision to accelerate India’s clean energy transition. As NGEL aims to expand its renewable energy portfolio to 60 GW by 2032, this partnership lays a crucial foundation for showcasing the key role of wind in powering India’s largest PSUs’ renewable journey by providing high-quality, affordable power. From our first project in Gujarat to expanding into Karnataka, our shared commitment to advancing India’s leadership in the global clean energy movement continues.”

JP Chalasani, Chief Executive Officer, Suzlon Group, said, “Securing major and high-quality projects in the PSU sector is a key part of our growth strategy, and our order with NGEL highlights the success of this approach. It shows our ability to deliver reliable solutions while supporting India’s clean energy goals. This partnership strengthens our role as a trusted partner in India’s renewable energy journey.”

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