Celebrity-led brands in WROGN; faced with lackluster growth, consumer fatigue

Manish Tiwary to be Managing Director of Nestlé India; Suresh Narayanan to retire next year

Unearthing Mamaearth: Decoding consumer feedback

WPP and Omnicom bag Amazon's media account after marathon global review

Infosys, ITC, Titan, Biocon: Industry leaders join Storyboard18’s Share The Spotlight movement

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

In an age where businesses operate at the intersection of technology, consumer consciousness, and sustainability, the role of leadership is evolving rapidly. Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder and Executive Vice Chairman of InfoEdge, shares his insights on how next-generation leaders, institutions, and governments are shaping a purpose-driven future in an exclusive conversation with Storyboard18.


According to Bikhchandani, the current crop of entrepreneurs is far more committed to sustainability than their predecessors. Bikhchandani pointed to personal experiences with his own children, who exhibit a strong preference for sustainable living, opting for public transport over private cars, and questioning consumption patterns at home. He sees this shift extending to the business world, where younger leaders are making conscious decisions about sustainability.


A notable example is Zomato, the food delivery giant where InfoEdge holds a major stake. Zomato's commitment to sustainability is evident in its operations—35-40% of its delivery fleet now uses electric vehicles, and customers have the option to request no plastic cutlery when ordering. Bikhchandani noted that these changes were not prompted by external pressure but were driven internally by a belief that sustainability was the right path for the company and its stakeholders. For Bikhchandani, Zomato's actions are a perfect example of how the next generation of business leaders are proactively embracing the challenges of sustainability without waiting for regulations to mandate change.


<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5LPrsMoz9E?si=58C5q23ubTg7zbc5" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Bikhchandani stresses the crucial role of governments in fostering sustainability, particularly through policy and regulation. The Indian government's efforts to promote electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy sources are key examples of how public policy can accelerate the transition to a greener economy. Without such government initiatives, he believes, the widespread adoption of EVs and renewable energy would not have been possible.


In addition to policy, Bikhchandani emphasised the importance of building awareness and education around sustainability. He referenced to the successful movement of banning firecrackers during Diwali in Delhi, a campaign led by NGOs targeting school children. When the next generation takes ownership of these causes, they can drive significant change in society—something Bikhchandani sees as a hopeful sign for the future.


Below are the excerpts of the conversation.


Q: In your interactions with young business leaders today, companies that you're investing in, did you notice anything different in their approach to building businesses today? Do you see a little bit more of a sort of a sustainability consciousness creeping in? Or this idea of the new bottom line as well - which is people, planet, purpose, and of course, profits. Are you noticing any change?


Bikhchandani: I think the next generation actually is pretty much committed to sustainability and not just profit. They are a lot more conscious of the need to be sustainable than perhaps my generation and perhaps the generation before me.


I see that in my children as well. They and their friends talk a different language on sustainability. They are down to the fact that, I don't really want to own a car, I'm happy going by an Uber. I'm happy traveling by Metro, I don't need to use private transport, and that often happens. And I'm saying, there's a car, there's a driver, you can take it, but they are like no. And really, the agenda very often at home is driven by the children - what is to be consumed, what is not to be consumed.


But if I look at the business world, and I take a company like Zomato, where we are the largest shareholders, I'm about 20 years older than Deepinder Goyal, who is the founder of Zomato. We didn't have to tell him anything. We didn't think of it, actually. But down to little things like, 35%-40% of the delivery vehicles are EVs now, and that percentage is going up. You have the option of telling the restaurant when you're ordering, do not send any plastic cutlery. So no cutlery needed, I'll use my own. A lot of people do that. Down to recycling stuff. So Zomato is trying to be as sustainable as possible. And we didn't have to tell them these things, and neither did anybody else. They decided on their own because they felt it's the right thing to do. They felt their employees would prefer that and they felt that the customers would prefer that.


Q: But what is the role then of governments? We spoke earlier about you know starting young, inculcating that sense of responsibility in younger generations. Take that to the business world and tell me what is the role of institutions, of government, our education institutions, what is the role there and how will it eventually of course impact growth, profit, all of the things that we all care about?


Bikhchandani: I think the role of government is huge. Of course when you are running public sector companies or utilities owned by the government, then of course you have a direct sort of role and responsibility. But even when you're not, the kind of regulations you make, the kind of laws, the kind of tax policies, the kind of way you target your subsidies, all that the government plays a role. I don't think EVs would have been possible in India without a government taking an active role. I don't think in a country where more than 70% of our power source is thermal, if you want to shift it to greener more sustainable, without government policies, you can’t do that. So the government has a huge role and apart from these policies and regulations and taxation and subsidies, it's also about building awareness. The government has a huge role there. I think it's happening and I think there's actually a generational shift here like I said. The next generation is much much more responsible, I think, than my generation is or has been and I think that's a good thing.


So just to give you a case in point, the movement to ban firecrackers in Delhi during Diwali, that movement was led by NGOs who said we'll do it for school children because if the child in the family is saying it won't happen, it doesn't happen. So next gen is the answer.


Q: We are in a very high tech age, acceleration in technology. Tell me a little bit about what you're seeing in terms of career opportunities for the next generation in building this future and helping this transition to greener economies, to a better planet, safer communities?


Bikhchandani: I think career opportunities are many many more, career options are many many more than 20-30 years ago. I remember graduating from school, we would do engineering or you would do medicine and if you have to do a BA or BCom, that's not really a professional degree and then what will you do afterwards and you can't get a job and you know what's going to happen. So we were striving to get into some sort of professional course or qualification so that we can get a job. Middle-class India was like that. Of course there are people who are not middle-class, who are perhaps poorer, they had fewer options, they didn't have the education. But today we are seeing many many more career options.


Now when you're starting out in your career and you're from a poor family, chances are you won't worry a lot about sustainability and say I won't take this job, because it's not sustainable. You will say I'll take this job, I'm getting it and earning a salary and that will be the priority. But if I come back to the companies we talked about, one other aspect I want to talk about is, let's take our company InfoEdge. Until about five or six or seven years ago, sustainability was not a discussion for us. I remember I went to an investor conference, talking to investors and across the table I was asked, what's your ESG score like? I didn't know what ESG was. 


I said, ESG? He says, I've got a report which says you are B+, but on everything else you're A+ or A. So he gave me a report, somebody had done some rating. I had not seen it earlier. So I came back from the conference and I, you know, championed it internally, there's something called ESG. And we have to improve in this area. So very often it's led by governments, by next-gen employees, but also by investors and shareholders. The thought was planted in our head and we learned that actually we are not B+, we are probably A-. It's just that we haven't talked about it or disclosed the information. So that was an easy fix and then from A- to A and A+ we had to make an effort. But the point is that very often investors, foreign investors especially, and this was a foreign investor, they sometime are thought leaders and they ask these questions and then for listed companies it matters.

Next-gen entrepreneurs are leading the charge for sustainability, says Sanjeev Bikhchandani

The capital witnessed a gathering of purpose-driven minds debating how the young generation and business leaders are driving sustainability efforts in the country. The Storyboard18 and Network18 Group's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition held in New Delhi was graced by prominent industry leaders.

During a panel discussion, Ramnath Vaidyanthan, AVP & Head Of Sustainability, Godrej Industries, Ridhima Pandey, 16-year-old climate activist, Amar Nagaram- CEO and Co-founder, Virgio, and Saurabh Goenka, Director of Marketing, Pashupati Group discussed 'powering long-term sustainability and new bottom-line (people, planet and profit).

16-year-old climate change activist Ridhima Pandey whose sustainability journey began when she was 9 years old, said, "Most of my work has been in and around the perspective of young people; how we see the world and how we see what's been going on with different sectors. Being somebody who started at the age of 9, it was never a choice for me. I was conscious about the environment; my parents worked in the same field and I knew I had to respect it and conserve it, and be responsible."

"It was not a choice to be an activist. I saw the floods, felt it, struggled with nightmares and had this fear of dying someday due to a natural disaster. I am seeing a world where no one cares about future generations, more or less everybody has their own profit and agenda, most of the older generation, people responsible for majorly contributing to this crisis, never see what they are leaving behind for us. What's going to be left for me and the coming generations, when we become stakeholders and make decisions?," she added.

Pandey highlights the need for more transparency from the government and corporate sector, "to feel we are heard". 

"Young people are given a voice at the table, but what we say, is it really considered?," she asked during the discussion.

Coming from Haridwar, Pandey has seen nature, abundance, and biodiversity, but she has also seen it getting destroyed for profit. "The thing is I am living in a country where I see my future getting torn into pieces. I don't have much power, the only power I have is my voice. We need to do more than just using our voice," she stated.

Ramnath Vaidyanthan, AVP & Head Of Sustainability, Godrej Industries talked about the integration of sustainability into business models and how that's influenced different aspects of business, "Godrej has been integrating sustainability into its business for about 2 decades. What started off as a good-to-do initiative has literally become front and center of our business strategy. Companies that aren't doing all that right now are already late to the party. It's not about doing the right thing, it's about surviving."

Talking about resilience and how businesses can adapt to a changing climate is important, Vaidyanthan shared, "It's sad that even today I keep getting asked if there is a trade-off between profitability and sustainability. Companies that are strong on sustainability outperform on the financial front than other companies.

"Investors have understood if you have not embedded it in your strategy, you are not prepared for a climate concern in the future."

"It is purely a matter of de-risking yourself. Unless we look at the entire value chain of our ecosystem, we are still at risk. Take water as an example. Water is one climate risk. The toughest stakeholder for us is the consumer because fundamentally we need to rethink capitalism. How do I produce less and still keep stakeholders happy?," he added.

While addressing the plastic and mindset problem, Saurabh Goenka, Director of Marketing, Pashupati Group said, "We have been recycling plastic for the past two decades. We recognize the fact that while recycling has its own benefits, the ultimate goal to achieve sustainability is to reduce plastic consumption overall. But we need to look at the alternatives. Basically, we do have two approaches to it. The conventional approach is to go towards other materials like aluminum, glass, or paper."

Goenka said it's a myth that these materials are more sustainable. "Metal and paper are more energy-consuming, and have more emissions than plastics."

He highlighted the second approach - bioplastic and states that it also comes with its own drawbacks. "To replace bioplastic, we need 5 percent of the global production. The most sustainable way to truly handle plastic is to handle it responsibly. We are looking towards maximizing plastic waste in the stream. We recycle them to replace them with polymers. The need for newer raw materials goes down this way. If we responsibly handle plastic waste, it contributes to a circular economy."

Amar Nagaram- CEO and Co-founder, Virgio talked about sustainable fashion and how consumers are reacting to this, saying, "There is a huge gap between life on social media and life in society, when it comes to choosing sustainable fashion. A consumer cannot be blamed for their choices because sustainability in fashion has been just namesake. It has been told over and over that polyester is bad and cotton is good as a sustainable fashion. If we just talk about the usage of resources, cotton is nowhere good in terms of pesticide and soil erosion although I am not saying polyester is the way to go."

Nagaram talked about meriting a mission of not touching virgin plastic. "We wanted our journey to make fashion the right way."
While referencing N Chandrababu Naidu's quote, 'Why invest into picking up waste when you can avoid it in the first place,'Nagaram who hails from Tirupati shares that this has become the policy, at least in Tirumala premises."

"This also led us to think of it in our journey. Regardless of the fabric, when a pattern is cut, 25 percent of fabric is wasted. If you can save that, a lot of wastage is going away. This adds strength to my bottom line."

Pandey, who is also called the Greta Thunberg of India, also touched upon  sustainable fashion and said how the younger generation is cautious about it and concludes by saying, "We do campaigns, we speak out, we go on with petitions," while addressing the role of youth activism in holding corporations accountable for their environmental impact."

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/power-of-purpose" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Power of Purpose</a>

Storyboard18's Power of Purpose: People, planet and profit

In a compelling address at Storyboard18's 'Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition,' Mohit Joshi, CEO of Havas Media, emphasized the critical role of purpose in today's marketing landscape. 

Joshi reflected on Havas' long-standing commitment to promoting purpose through its meaningful brand study, which has been in place for 15 years. "We realized that 80% of the brands could disappear tomorrow, and consumers would not even care. It's only 20% of the brands that are actually making a meaningful relationship with their consumers," he stated, highlighting the necessity for brands to forge deeper connections with their audiences.

Joshi underscored the shift in marketing paradigms, asserting, "The P's of marketing have changed," with purpose now standing as a vital component. 

He cited successful collaborations, such as those with Swiggy, where Havas have partnered to develop meaningful initiatives, including the impactful project of taking Ma Durga to the Sunderbans. 

"Purpose in my view, is built into everything we do," he added, referencing their recent initiative, Samarth with Hyundai as a prime example of purpose-driven marketing.

The discussion at the event resonated with a broader industry sentiment, as Joshi noted, "Every client today is talking about associating in a more meaningful way with the consumer." He called upon agencies to deliver innovative, relevant, and scalable ideas that intertwine purpose with profit, marking a transformative moment for brands seeing to make a lasting impact in consumers' lives.

Read more: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/power-of-purpose">Power of Purpose</a>

Purpose has become a very important element in marketing: Mohit Joshi of Havas Media

New Delhi witnessed a gathering of purpose-driven minds debating how the young generation and business leaders are driving the sustainability efforts in the country. The Storyboard18 and Network18 Group's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition held in New Delhi was graced by prominent industry leaders. Leading the dialogues at the edition were Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Rohit Kapoor, CEO - Food Marketplace, Swiggy, Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International and Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder &amp; Executive Vice Chairman, InfoEdge, Alok Lall, COO, Microsoft India and South Asia, and Ramnath Vaidyanthan, AVP &amp; Head Of Sustainability, Godrej Industries, among others.

Speaking at Storyboard18's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition, Alok Lall, COO, Microsoft India and South Asia, talked about how at Microsoft, the ambition is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. "It's truly a defining moment for climate change. I often go back to "Gradually, then suddenly,” a phrase from Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises that is often used to describe the nature of climate change," he said.

"Technology in itself has the opportunity to help businesses transform themselves in line with their power, purpose, and ambition, and how they can be responsible citizens," Lall commented.

He shared, "Microsoft has been working on the sustainability front since 2009; in 2020, we became carbon neutral, and over the years we have continued to enhance our sustainability efforts. In 2020, we announced our sustainability goals, which were to be carbon negative, turn water positive and zero waste by 2030, and protect more land."

"By 2050, our goal is to remove all the carbon emissions Microsoft has generated since its founding in 1975," he added.

While addressing his insights as a tech player in the sustainability journey, Lall said, "You fundamentally need to rewire the organization in thinking, acting, and supporting the ecosystem. We need to understand what the ecosystem can do for us, how we fundamentally think about what we can do as organizations, what our customers can do, and what we can do globally. We honestly believe that we are not the only ones who can help make us carbon negative by 2030."

How is AI helping Microsoft's journey in sustainability?

In the ongoing race for AI dominance, tech giants are constantly showcasing their capabilities. However, the environmental impact of these advancements is a growing concern. As Lall points out, "AI's immense energy consumption raises questions about the accountability of companies using these services. We need to address both energy requirements and the heat generated by their infrastructure."

Microsoft, despite its significant AI strides, acknowledges this challenge. "We're reevaluating our infrastructure design," Lall explains. "How can we build data centers, systems, and cooling solutions that reduce electricity and water consumption? This is a key focus for us."

While discussing Microsoft's commitment to renewable energy, he shares, "In order for us to become carbon negative by 2030, we have to move all our infrastructure to renewable energy by 2025. By next year, 100 percent of our infrastructure will be on renewable energy, including solar."

He highlighted that Microsoft is exploring what AI can do to help businesses use less energy. "How do you use AI to predict weather? Our open-source model allows customers to take that data, incorporate it, and predict weather with a high degree of accuracy. How do you use AI for physics, chemistry, and biology? How do you create a battery that uses less lithium? We have been working with a laboratory to find a stable battery that uses 70 percent less lithium."

Sustainability goals

In India, Microsoft has recently signed a 440-megawatt contract with Renewable Power. "We are bringing down water usage by 70 percent in some of our data centers in Finland and Sweden. How do we use the minimal amount of energy that is carbon-based? Successful testing of hydrogen fuels in our data centers as backup generators presents an opportunity we can replicate across our 300-plus data centers," Lall states.

"Our collaboration with NGOs has focused on raising awareness about sustainability and its importance. Many people lack understanding of sustainability practices and their impact. We're also working together on disaster management initiatives, partnering with local agencies and communities. For instance, during cyclones, how can we identify the most vulnerable homes? Similarly, in Delhi's scorching summers, how can we determine which houses require protection? These are key areas within our ecosystem."

To bridge the gap between governments, NGOs, and tech companies, he highlights global initiatives we're involved in. These initiatives aim to standardize sustainability reporting and address challenges like carbon footprint measurement. For example, how can we quantify the carbon emissions associated with a two-day hotel stay? How can we simplify the process of standardizing such measurements for organizations?"

"As a tech company, we have to find every avenue to empower businesses and individuals to comply with what the government needs to do," he concluded.

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/power-of-purpose" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Power of Purpose</a>

Microsoft's Alok Lall on how tech fuels sustainability efforts

'We can afford but nature cannot' is very important for us understand when we talk of sustainability because of a simple fact that science, technology and economy can grow but the size of the planet, amount of water, soil and minerals cannot grow, said Solar Man of India - Prof Chetan Solanki, a professor of IIT Bombay at Storyboard18's Power of Purpose event on Friday, October 18, 2024.

Prof Solanki believes in the concept of three step approach, AMG, which he explains as avoid, minimize and generate. According to him, one-third of the energy in day to day life must be avoided, one-third to be minimized and one-third should be generated. "If you are not following AMG, you are going to say OMG- oh my god!," he exclaimed. 

He further said that the primary rule to use solar energy is to not use the solar energy as it takes a lot of the resources, including energy that goes into heating and mining to make a solar panel. He advised to use energy efficiently. For instance, light can be avoided in the day time and at night LED bulbs can be rather used. Why do we need four-door froidges, he asked to keep just some milk and veggies cool? Why do we have ACs at such low temperatures, cooling large rooms and halls, when we just need to cool a small human body in the room? Solanki gave the audience a lot of food for thought. 

He further highlighted that the current global temperature is 1.3 degree Celsius and it is estimated that by the end of this century it will rise to 1.7 degree Celsius. "If you are not going to avoid, the nature is going to avoid you," he stated.

Talking about his 'Energy Swaraj Yatra', Prof Solanki said that he lives in a bus with all necessities such as kitchen, bed, washroom, library, office, etc. He said that through this yatra, he understood that 99% people don't understand the idea of sustainability. He has been into this yatra for over 1400 days now. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/power-of-purpose">Read more: Power Of Purpose</a>

"If you won't follow AMG, you will say OMG," says Prof Chetan Solanki

Storyboard18's recent event in New Delhi, "Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition," brought together a diverse group of leaders to discuss the critical role of the young generation and business leaders in driving sustainable practices in India. On October 18, policymakers, industry experts, and frontline change-makers gathered to share their insights and experiences, shaping the roadmap for a more sustainable future. During the session on "Making sustainability the foundation of modern business," Rohit Kapoor, CEO, Swiggy Food Marketplace highlighted that the IPO-bound Swiggy is in the business of spreading joy, and not in the business of delivering food. 

While addressing Swiggy's upcoming IPO, Kapoor said his approach hasn't changed towards sustainability despite Swiggy intending to go public. "Whether you're a private or public company doesn't matter today, sustainability is more than just compliance. If we looked at it from a compliance point of view, it would have mattered as we are going public and seeking certain kind of investors. Today, our consumers, society, and employees have high expectations for corporate responsibility, placing significant scrutiny and pressure on businesses going public," Kapoor stated.

Kapoor compared Swiggy's IPO with a person turning 18 and getting their driving license. "I know there is a lot of excitement and we make a bit of public spectacle in India with IPOs. Hopefully it goes well. But, the IPO doesn't keep me awake at night," he shared. It's a 'pitstop', he added. 

When discussing "fast" delivery and sustainability, Kapoor emphasized that the biggest impact on a company's footprint is the distance traveled and the type of delivery method used. Fast delivery isn't about speed; it's about proximity. By ensuring supply points are located within a short distance of customer residences, electric vehicles (EVs) can operate efficiently.

Kapoor also shared his experience testing Bolt's delivery service. He noted that consumers often question the freshness of 10-minute deliveries and whether delivery partners are pressured to ride faster. However, the reality is that the same food items can be delivered in 10 minutes as in 30 minutes, as long as they are prepared quickly (e.g., samosas, chai). Pizza is the only category that hasn't been fully integrated into Bolt's fast delivery service.

There is no signal to delivery partners indicating that they are delivering a Bolt order, so there is no incentive to drive faster or slower, Kapoor emphasized.

"The most significant shift is occurring in the two-wheeler segment. By creating a larger fleet of electric vehicles from the outset, we can avoid the unsustainable practices of the past. Previously, large orders were often split among multiple motorcycles, leading to inefficiencies. With electric vehicles, we can carry much larger quantities in a single vehicle," he added.

Kapoor shared that recently, Swiggy delivered 11,000 vada pavs to a school in Mumbai in partnership with an NGO. This feat earned Swiggy a Guinness World Record for the largest single delivery ever made on the planet.

He also took the nostalgic route and shared how while growing up in Calcutta, Durga Puja had been a deeply ingrained part of his life. "Years ago, I learned about the discrimination faced by widows in pandals, particularly in the Sundarbans, where the term "tiger widows" refers to women who lose their husbands to tiger attacks. Many of these women, often in their 40s and 50s, had never experienced a Puja. This year, we created a pandal on a boat and traveled to the remote areas of the Sundarbans where these women live. We cooked bhog on the boat, allowing them to participate in a Puja for the first time."

Sustainability is driven by both corporations and individuals, he noted. Kapoor shared that his wife has been an environmentalist for 15 years, and he has learned a great deal from her. He emphasized the importance of caring for a wider ecosystem and shared that he has 10 pets and a plant creche at home.

"For widespread adoption, sustainability needs to be profitable. Just like learning and development, sustainability initiatives are more likely to be prioritized when there is a financial incentive. Being fact-based rather than opinion-led is crucial for anyone who cares about climate change," he said. Kapoor recommended Bill Gates' book on climate change as a valuable resource.

Kapoor on Quick-commerce

As competition in the quick commerce market intensifies, it's clear that quick commerce is currently a popular trend. The idea of delivering iPhones in 10 minutes is gimmicky, said Kapoor. He refers to Jeff Bezos's quote about people wanting things faster and cheaper and according to him, this is one thing that will never change. "While quick commerce companies are now labeled as such, the reality is that many things are already being delivered quickly to our homes, from milk to medicines. Who wants to go out and buy anything? It's inconvenient to leave your home, find a parking space, and shop," he stated.

Sustainability is not just a compliance for Swiggy, says Rohit Kapoor

From pledging to reach net zero emissions by 2070 to achieving 500 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reiterated India's commitment to environmental protection and the path towards sustainability, on various occasions.

Building further on his ambitious goals, Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan shared his of how India can lead sustainable growth in the food processing sector, at Storyboard18's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition on October 18.

Thanking Storyboard18 for the great initiative, in his opening remarks the Minister shared his dream of having more Indian and homegrown brands in the supermarkets, globally.

Storyboard18 and Network18 Group together have launched the marquee platform designed to spotlight critical conversations on sustainability and purpose-driven leadership.

Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition is a pivotal platform to foster dialogue on sustainability and highlight how today’s leaders are embedding purpose and environmental stewardship into their companies.

“I thank Storyboard18 and Network18’s Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition for giving me this opportunity— I aim to be the medium between the industry stakeholders and the government (via a platform like this)—the idea is to grow together. Today, we are the fifth largest economy in the world and aim to become the third largest in the next five years; we need government handholding all kinds of stakeholders. Instead of working in silos, all sectors need to work collectively and for the nation to grow and become self-reliant, we need to grow with sustainability,” the Minister said in New Delhi.

Paswan shared that the country will grow and develop further with positive competition, collective responsibility, and government efforts. 

“Everyone counts. Every individual counts,” he said.

The Union Minister started off his speech with PM Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat— to be a developed nation by 2047.
 
“As a youngster and looking at other developed countries, I used to wonder why my country is not a developed nation...with PM’s vision now, during this Amritkal we need to work towards making our country a developed nation- a self-dependent nation,” he said.

He also emphasised PM’s vision to manufacture most products within the country (that we import today) which further has helped open up so many new avenues. “Until five to ten years ago, the food processing department wasn't taken that seriously. However, today India has the potential to become a global food basket in the coming years.”

“We have enough in abundance to fulfil global food demand— we are now working towards converting this abundance into opportunity,” he said.

As a Food Processing Minister, Paswan shared that his dream is to have more and more Indian homegrown brands in global supermarkets. 

“We are an agri-based nation, so we have the potential to achieve this, while also ensuring our farmers are being fairly compensated. We haven't yet explored all the opportunities in the food processing sector—there is an endless scope in the processing sector given the diversity of the country which gives us the opportunities to have varieties of delicacies and innovations.”

However, Paswan added “As we aim to grow this sector, we need to ensure that it doesn't negatively impact the environment. Hence, we are ensuring not only to minimse the wastage but also add value to the sector.” 

To add value and minimise wastage, the government is actively exploring technologies. For instance, announcing the FY25 budget in July, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, announced financial support for 50 multi-product food irradiation units in the MSME sector— which helps perishable items whether they are vegetables, with longevity.

“The more we try to grow in an organised manner, the more this sector will grow,” Paswan concluded.

A gathering of purpose-driven minds, the event witnessed impactful stories and pivotal conversations to set the agenda for a sustainable future. 

Minister Paswan was joined by industry leaders such as Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder & Executive Vice Chairman, InfoEdge; Rohit Kapoor, CEO - Food Marketplace, Swiggy; Saurabh Kumar, VP- India, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet; Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI; Hisham Mundol, Chief Advisor, Environmental Defense Fund India; Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iFOREST; Ramnath Vaidyanthan, AVP & Head Of Sustainability, Godrej Industries; Alok Lall, COO, Microsoft India and South Asia; Ruchira Jaitly, CMO, Diageo India; Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International; Ridhima Pandey, 16-year-old climate activist; Prof Chetan Solanki, Professor, IIT Bombay and 'Solar Man of India'; and Sashidhar Vempala, Chief Sustainability Officer, HUL.

Need to grow with sustainability for nation to become self-reliant: Union Minister Chirag Paswan

According to the insights from PwC's latest Global CEO Survey launched at Davos, while executives may be less focused on short-term issues like inflation and economic growth for 2024, there is a growing consensus on the longer-term threats posed by climate change and artificial intelligence (AI).

So it comes as no surprise when one of the country's youngest and biggest food delivery companies, Zomato has up to 40% of its delivery fleet as electric vehicles (EVs). Among many other initiatives and growing focus towards sustainability, the platform’s users today can opt out of plastic cutlery while ordering food.

“Zomato is trying to be as sustainable as possible, and nobody (shareholders/investors) has to tell it these things. The next-gen is actually a lot more conscious of the need to be sustainable than perhaps my generation,” said Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder & Executive Vice Chairman, the largest shareholder of Zomato.

Speaking at the Storyboard18 and Network18 Group's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition on October 18, Bikhchandani delved deeper into the discussion on sustainability.

“The agenda very often at home is driven by children in terms of what at has to be consumed or what is not to be consumed. Today my children (below the age of 30) talk a different language about sustainability with their friends – down to the fact that 'I don't really want to own a car, I'm happy to opt for an Uber and travel in metro,' while there's a car in the driveway,” he shared. 

According to him, the next generation is much more committed to sustainability and it's not just for profit. 

Apart from the younger generation and business leaders, the role of government is huge to drive sustainability.

During the fireside chat with Storyboard18's Delshad Irani, Bikhchandani highlighted that awareness around EVs would not have been possible in India without the government taking an active role.
 
“In a country where more than 70% of our power source is thermal, if you want to shift it to a greener and more sustainable mode, it won't be possible without government policies. Other than providing subsidies and taxation policies, it's also about building awareness— the government has a huge role there.”

The InfoEdge Co-founder also spoke about the growing career opportunities in the sustainability sector. Additionally, he discussed how awareness around sustainability is often led by government, next-gen employees, investors, and shareholders.

“Until about five or seven years ago, sustainability was not a discussion for us at InfoEdge. I remember one of our investors once highlighted to us that our ESG (environmental, social, and governance) score stands at A-minus. Since then, we straightaway moved to supplement some of the energy sources with solar, replacing some of the transportation with EVs, and encouraging the use of public transport,” he shared.


“Investing in EV companies, but don’t own an EV”


Sharing his personal experience on the usage of electric vehicles or driving sustainability, Bikhchandani pointed out that he is considering buying an EV in the next few years.

“One can use the car for ten years before you replace it; so my car (at present) is seven years old and it is a hybrid car. The hybrid also is encouraged by the government- they can run all days of the week (despite the odd/even rule). So, while I don't own an EV, it's an active consideration to purchase one in the next three years,” he shared. 

“But it is not clear to me that a fully electric car right now is very stable... I have three years, I'll wait and watch,” he remarked.

His statement holds significance because of investments in battery-tech companies, EV finance companies, and EV companies like Matter, which is an Ahmedabad-based electric two-wheeler start-up.

“At least eight to 10 companies that we have invested in are directly in the sustainability space,” he said.


“Used AI to write an article on start-up ecosystem and I liked it”


Further steering the conversation around how AI has impacted businesses, Bikhchandani said that AI will go everywhere— it's about adding AI to your current business to improve customer experience, and to improve productivity.

InfoEdge began to invest in data science analytics in 2018 and now is investing in machine learning, predictive AI, and Gen-AI. In the last two years, it has launched 22 different features in Naukri alone using AI, which are making the site work better, which are improving user experience both for recruiters and for job seekers.
 
“Some of the start-ups in the AI space may cause job losses; there are start-ups where the telephonic sales process (inbound/outbound) is done by AI, so this may eventually end up replacing human beings. But that is something we have to understand and be willing to live with and perhaps make efforts to mitigate those job losses somehow.

But there will be other aspects where the AI will create jobs. In the long run, AI should create more jobs than the losses and job losses that are caused— although there will be a process of transition,” he pointed out.

Sharing his personal experience, Bikhchandani said that he once used AI to pen down an article on his behalf, which turned out to be error-free and to his likeability.

“Once one of my friends connected around 55 of my panel interviews, podcasts, and videos to an AI platform —which ingested all of the data to then answer questions on my behalf. So, when another friend of mine recently asked me to pen an article for him on 'the role of start-ups going forward in the Indian economy', I went ahead and asked that AI platform to share some thoughts...and it gave me a 1000-word article, which I didn't have to edit it and did a pretty good job,” he shared.

Towards the end of the chat, Bikhchandani emphasised the need for business leaders to be in touch with employees and users.

The conversation stemmed from the recent incident where Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal went undercover as a delivery agent for a day to experience the challenges faced by delivery workers.

“In the past, I've also spoken to job seekers. It is important that the senior leadership of any company is in touch with the frontline employees, is in touch with consumers and users,” he concluded.

Next-gen more conscious of being sustainable than previous: Sanjeev Bikhchandani of InfoEdge

The capital witnessed a gathering of purpose-driven minds debating how the young generation and business leaders are driving the sustainability efforts in the country. The Storyboard18 and Network18 Group's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition held in New Delhi was graced by prominent industry leaders.From policymakers and business leaders to individuals leading from the frontlines, they all came together to share impactful stories, and pivotal conversations to set the agenda for a sustainable future, on October 18.

Leading the dialogues at the edition were Union Minister Chirag Paswan, Rohit Kapoor, CEO - Food Marketplace, Swiggy, Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International and Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Co-founder & Executive Vice Chairman, InfoEdge, Alok Lall, COO, Microsoft India and South Asia, and Ramnath Vaidyanthan, AVP & Head Of Sustainability, Godrej Industries, among others.

The event was kicked off with the opening remarks from the Minister of Food Processing Industries, Chirag Paswan.

Paswan shared his dream of having more Indian and homegrown brands in supermarkets, globally and how the country needs to grow with sustainability to become a self-reliant nation.

In his keynote address, Paswan went on to share that the country has enough abundance to fulfil global food demand. He emphasised that "as we aim to grow food processing sector, we need to ensure that it doesn't negatively impact the environment. Hence, we are ensuring not only to minimse the wastage but also add value to the sector.”

He highlighted the role of technology in mitigating environmental waste.

The Minister's speech was followed by a special address by Angelo George, CEO, Bisleri International, who gave an exhaustive presentation on some of the company's efforts and initiatives towards being purposeful and sustainable.

"We are one of the first FMCG companies to become plastic-neutral and water-positive," he mentioned.

George's presentation was followed by a fireside chat with Bikhchandani of InfoEdge, who spoke about the role of the next-generation and young business leaders in driving more conscious choices toward being sustainable.

Recognising the government's efforts and policies in this direction, he pointed out that InfoEdge has recently accelerated efforts toward sustainability. 

He further shared the company's increasing efforts in investing in sustainable businesses, his plan of buying an electric vehicle, although he isn't sure how 'stable is an EV', and the growing significance of artificial intelligence.

Among the sponsors for the Storyboard18 and Network18 Group's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition, were Sustainability Apparel Partner- fashion brand Virgio and Sustainable Beauty Partner- the French luxury retailer L'occitane India.

Speaking on sustainability, Amar Nagaram, CEO and Co-founder, Virgio, said, "The use of tech to minimise the wastage to the effective usage of resources will drive straight to the point of sustainability. I would like to encourage all businesses to leverage technology to understand their respective bottlenecks."

Speaking on achieving tech-powered sustainable and profitable growth, Lall of Microsoft India, then delved into how Microsoft is helping consumers make conscious choices of opting for the cloud infrastructure to reduce energy requirements.

"At the end of the day as a tech company, we have to find every avenue to empower businesses and individuals to comply with what the government needs to do," he said.

His remarks were followed by the evening's first panel discussion on 'Policy Perspective: Sustainable Strategies and Innovations' and the panelists included Jyoti Vij, Director General, FICCI, Hisham Mundol, Chief Advisor, Environmental Defense Fund India; Chandra Bhushan, CEO, iFOREST and Samit Mitra, MD, Country Delivery, India, GEAPP.

During the discussion, Chandra highlighted that the kind of education required to solve the climate crisis is missing, at present. Mitra further shared that there are 9 million MSMEs in India in the food processing business, wherein 42% use diesel as their main source of energy.

The panel discussion was followed by a fireside chat with Ruchira Jaitly of Diageo India, who spoke on integrating purpose into core brand ethos and strategy.

She highlighted how the company is working towards water efficiency while being in the business of beverages. She even showcased some of their ad films, showcasing the company's objective.

Later, IIT Bombay professor Solanki took over the stage to share his two cents on how small acts and leave big impacts.

Known as the 'Solar man of India', Solanki delved into the conversation about energy consumption while he talked about his mission. He further highlighted how the majority of people 'don't understand the idea of sustainability'.

Towards the end of the evening, the second round of the panel discussion was held on 'powering long-term sustainability and new bottom-line (people, planet and profit). The panelists included Ramnath Vaidyanthan, AVP & Head Of Sustainability, Godrej Industries, Ridhima Pandey, 16-year-old climate activist, Amar Nagaram- CEO and Co-founder, Virgio, and Saurabh Goenka, Director of Marketing, Pashupati Group.

Concluding the event, Rohit Kapoor from Swiggy emphasised making sustainability the foundation of modern business. 

According to him, one thing that is quite aligned with sustainability is fast delivery. 

"When we look at our footprint on what we can impact, the biggest is emissions. Fast delivery happens not because of the speed but because of the point that supply is near your residence (within 2 km), which allows EVs to operate very well," he said.

He also mentioned that the larger shift in EVs is happening on the two-wheeler side.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/power-of-purpose">Read more: Power Of Purpose</a>

Policymakers, industry leaders map path to a sustainable future at Storyboard18's Power of Purpose: Sustainability Edition

India is emerging as a global leader in sustainable food practices, according to the WWF's 2024 Living Planet Report. 

As the world grapples with a climate crisis, India's plant-based diet and focus on traditional crops like millets could serve as a model for nations striving to balance nutrition and environmental sustainability.

India's Dietary Model: A Blueprint for the World

With the global food system responsible for significant environment degradation-ranging from biodiversity loss to freshwater depletion-there's an urgent need for nations to reassess their consumption habits. The WWF's report highlights a potential solution in India's traditional food practices.

According to the report, if the world followed India's consumption patterns, we would only require 0.84 of an Earth by 2050 to sustain global food production. This remarkable recognition showcases the potential of India's food systems in addressing the dual challenges of feeding the world and protecting the environment. 

India's Food Practices: A Sustainable Blueprint for the World

India's largely plant-based diet, which emphasizes grains, pulses, and vegetables, is less resource-intensive than heavy diets in animal products. The WWF report underscores that this sustainable food model could dramatically reduce the global demand for resources. Notably, the report reveals that by adopting India's food practices, the world could avoid a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to global climate goals.

Central to India's sustainable food practices is the promotion of millet, an ancient grain that the Indian government has rebranded as "Shree Anna" for its remarkable nutritional and environmental benefits.

Millets are now at the forefront of India's sustainability agenda, with initiatives like the National Millet Campaign and the government's partnership with the United Nations, who declared 2023 the International Year of Millets.

Millets: A Pillar of India's Nutritional and Environmental Strategy

Millets are not only nutritionally dense but also highly sustainable, requiring minimal water and land to cultivate. The Indian government has aggressively promoted these grains through initiatives such as:

Centre of Excellence: The Indian Institute of Millets Research in Hyderabad shares research and best practices worldwide.

Global Promotion Initiatives: Events like the G20 Millet Culinary Carnivals and ASEAN India Millet Festivals have placed millets on the global stage.

Production Linked Incentive Scheme: A ₹800 crore scheme supports millet-based products, boosting production and consumption from 2022-2027.

Millets have also been integrated into government nutrition programs like the Poshan Abhiyan and are now a staple in the Eat Right Campaign, which promotes them as a healthy, environmentally friendly choice. These efforts demonstrate India's commitment to improving nutritional security while protecting its natural resources.

Sustainable Agriculture: India’s Holistic Approach

Beyond millets, India has implemented numerous initiatives to promote sustainable agriculture. The National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) focuses on building climate resilience through programs like Rainfed Area Development and Soil Health Management. Meanwhile, the Jaivik-Kheti Portal connects over 6 lakh organic farmers with consumers, promoting environmentally friendly farming practices.

Other initiatives include the Namami Gange Programme, which combines sustainable agriculture with efforts to rejuvenate the Ganga River, and the Parampragat Krishi Vikas Yojana, which supports organic farming clusters across states. These programs illustrate India’s holistic approach to farming, which integrates ecological protection with economic development.

India’s investment in climate-resilient farming, including the development of over 2,000 crop varieties resistant to climate stress, and the certification of regions like Ladakh and Lakshadweep as fully organic, shows how the nation is leading the way in developing sustainable agricultural practices.

Global Food System at Crossroads

The WWF report warns that the global food system, responsible for 40% of all habitable land use and over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, is the leading driver of habitat loss and biodiversity decline. Livestock grazing alone uses 71% of global agricultural land, contributing to a sharp decline in crop diversity. This unsustainable model puts global food security and the health of the planet at risk, with food waste, water depletion, and overexploitation of fisheries compounding the crisis.

Yet, India’s example offers a pathway forward. By shifting toward more sustainable food production practices and promoting the consumption of resilient, eco-friendly crops like millet, the global food system can begin to reverse its destructive trajectory.

India’s Leadership in Global Sustainability

India’s recognition as a global leader in sustainable food systems is not only a testament to its rich agricultural traditions but also to its forward-looking policies aimed at reducing environmental impact. As the world grapples with the need to reform food production, India stands out as an exemplar of how traditional knowledge and modern policy can combine to create a healthier, more resilient planet.

The WWF Living Planet Report 2024 commends India’s efforts, noting that by embracing culturally grounded diets and reintroducing traditional foods, India is promoting both nutritional security and biodiversity. As other nations look to India’s example, the future of food systems may very well be rooted in the lessons of India’s past.

POWER OF PURPOSE