New Delhi, Oct 19, 2024: Advancing towards net zero, low carbon materials and technologies, with an emphasis on promoting eco-labelled products, materials, and technologies that are performance-tested and environmentally sustainable were discussed in the Confederation of Indian Industry's (CII) 7th Annual GreenPro Summit held here recently.
This year's focus areas of the summit, held on October 16, included enhancing circular economy which is essential for addressing global environmental challenges while fostering economic resilience and innovation. The conference also focused on green procurement – policies and advocacies which helps in fostering sustainability, protecting the environment, and driving both economic and societal benefits.
Public procurement can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy by creating demand for Green products, materials and technologies, the participants opine.
CII GreenPro signed mutual recognition agreement with Eco Choice New Zealand. The MoU signals a strategic partnership focused on promoting sustainability through Ecolabelling. This collaboration aims to harmonize ecolabel standards, enabling easier cross-recognition of products that adhere to sustainable practices, and increasing Green Trade between India and New Zealand.
GreenPro is a Type - 1 Ecolabel which enables the end users in the building sector and manufacturing sector to choose sustainable products, materials and technologies for reducing the environment impacts during the construction, operation and maintenance of their buildings and factories. GreenPro Ecolabel is accredited by Global Ecolabelling Network (GEN) through GENICES - GEN’s Internationally Coordinated Ecolabelling System.
A product which bears GreenPro Ecolabel has lower environment impact and contributes significantly for enhancing the performance of Green Buildings and Green Companies. GreenPro empowers end users with product sustainability information and steer them towards purchasing of sustainable products.
The Inaugural Session was also attended by Isabella Huang-Loh, Chairman, Singapore Environment Council, Dr Ulf D Jaeckel, Head of Division of Sustainable, Consumer Protection, Federal Ministry for Environment, Germany; Jamshyd N Godrej, Chairman, CII Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre; and Unnikrishnan, Chairman, Green Products and Services Council.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Jamshyd N Godrej said, “We are proud to see the rapid progress of the green movement in India, with over 12 billion square feet of rated green buildings and the growing adoption of eco-labelling like GreenPro. This demonstrates the collective commitment of industry, government, and communities to building a sustainable future. However, the challenge remains to scale up these efforts and ensure that green practices become the norm. Collaboration will be key to accelerating our progress towards net-zero and addressing critical issues like air pollution."
Unnikrishnan said, "GreenPro Summit 2024 is a platform where insights into sustainable practices are shared, inspiring more companies to join the green movement. With over 450 companies already adopting the GreenPro Ecolabel, the summit fosters an environment that incubates and encourages innovation. By bringing together industry leaders, we drive discussions on the future of eco-friendly technologies and solutions, helping shape a greener, more sustainable tomorrow. Our goal is to inspire, innovate, and build a global network of green partnerships that empower businesses to reduce their carbon footprints and make sustainability the new norm."
The GreenPro Summit brought together industry leaders, architects, engineers, manufacturers, and policymakers to discuss advancements in low-carbon solutions and technologies that can support the journey toward a more sustainable future.
The Summit also witnessed the launch of GreenPro Ecolabelling for Facility Management Services as well as the 5th edition of the GreenPro Directory. GreenPro Ecolabelling for Facility Management Services is designed to promote sustainability in the management and operation of buildings, reducing their environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency.
It allows Facility Management Services (FMS) demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, aligning with global green standards and contributing to broader environmental goals like carbon neutrality and resource efficiency.
Over 60 organizations, from across a breadth of industries, were also given GreenPro Ecolabelling Awards for their products which are playing a crucial role in driving environmental sustainability, responsible consumption, and supporting green market practices. VOLVO Group India was one of the prominent winners.
Kamal Bali, President and Managing Director, Volvo Group India, while accepting the award, said, “At Volvo Group, we believe that true leadership in the green transition lies in partnership and innovation. No single entity can drive this transformation alone, nor can it be achieved by relying on traditional methods. It is through strong collaborations and forward-thinking solutions that we pave the way toward a sustainable, fossil-free future.”
 Prof Srinivasan Raghavan, Chair of CeNSE IISc, Prof Govindan Rangarajan, Director IISC, Siddharth Jain, Director - INOX Group, Diganta Sarma, RBH - INOXAP and Dr Dhavala Suri, Asst Prof, CeNSE.JPG)
