As sustainability commitments gain global urgency, Indian commercial and industrial players are increasingly shifting to renewable energy—not just for environmental reasons, but for bottom-line benefits. With power cost savings of up to 30% and rising pressure from global markets demanding cleaner production, green energy is fast becoming a strategic necessity.

Industry experts discussed the latest scenario recently at the eighth session of 5th edition of the NextGen Chemicals and Petrochemicals Summit 2025 themed ‘Preparing for the future' in Mumbai on June 18-19, 2025.

The session titled ‘Sustainability, Renewable Energy, and Circular Economy’ was moderated by Nitin Sharma, CEO & General Manager, Clariant IGL Specialty Chemicals Pvt. Ltd.emphasized the growing urgency for sustainability and circular economy practices in light of accelerating global environmental pressures.

“Global trends are driving the need for sustainability and circular economy. With the global population expected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050 and we would require three planet earths to sustain our existing standard of living. According to Inter-governmental panel on climate control, we have time until 2030 become climate change will become irreversible. The global temperature will rise by two egress by the end of this century. The chemical industry is actually central to providing the solutions for global challenges such as resource scarcity and climate change. The Indian chemical industry is already processing towards sustainability goals. More and more companies are aligning themselves with science based targets initiatives where they are talking about reducing the SCOPE 1 and SCOPE 2 emissions. Even our prime Minister has outlined the target of achieving net zero by 2070. However, there are challenges such as technological gaps, high production cost due to renewable feedstocks, supply chain and regulatory and compliance issues.”

R. G. Krishnan, Jt. President and Head – Safety, Sustainability, Tech. Knowledge Development, Chemicals Fashion Yarn & Insulators Business, Aditya Birla Group, noted a significant shift in how Indian companies are approaching sustainability.

“A few years back sustainability wasn’t taken so seriously but not anymore. The Indian companies are taking baby steps or increasing efforts at least in the direction where they see value. We are attacking all the elements of environment, social and governance (ESG). At the moment, we are focusing more on environmental part and need to do more on social and governance. On the environmental side, we are focusing on decarbonisation and water management, waste management such cutting down on hazardous waste by 50%. On social front, we are focusing on corporate social responsibility and gender diversity. For us, sustainability is a business value capture and we are going for a five years term as that is more realistic. For Aditya Birla Group, sustainability is not just a compliance metric but a business value driver. We are taking a pragmatic five-year planning approach, which allows for realistic, measurable progress. The important thing is that sustainability is now being mainstreamed into business strategy  and that’s an encouraging sign of where the industry is headed.”

Dr. Mritunjay Chaubey, Global Vice President – Environment & Sustainability, UPL Ltd. highlighted the company’s commitment to driving sustainability across its global operations, especially in its mission to support farmers in over 38 countries to feed growing populations responsibly.

“As an agrochemical company, our mission goes beyond crop protection, we are helping farmers in 38 countries grow food sustainably and feed their populations responsibly. Over the past several years, UPL has aligned its business with four core sustainability goals that guide our global operations. The first goal is to reduce our environmental footprint, particularly at the manufacturing level. Across our 58 operational plants worldwide, we have adopted ambitious targets to cut emissions and resource consumption. I am proud to share that from our 2020 baseline, we have achieved a 52% reduction in overall waste, a 59% reduction in water usage, and a 36% reduction in carbon emissions. The second priority is to contribute meaningfully to global food security. We are focused on expanding a diverse, sustainable product portfolio that empowers farmers to improve yields, reduce losses, and adapt to changing climatic conditions—all while minimizing ecological impact. The third pillar is sustainable sourcing, where UPL is collaborating closely with suppliers to reduce Scope 3 emissions. Finally, the fourth area is community well-being. We are not only focused on what happens inside our plants, but also on improving the lives of people around them. Our community engagement programs, especially in rural areas, are designed to support education, health, water access, and women empowerment. We believe sustainability must be inclusive to be truly impactful.”

Santosh Kumar Pandey, Head – HSEF, Deepak Phenolics, emphasized the company's leadership in India’s phenol market and their continuous efforts toward safer and more sustainable operations.

As India’s largest phenol producer, holding nearly 70% market share, we recognize the challenges associated with handling and transporting phenol—a chemical that is both toxic and corrosive. These inherent difficulties add to operational costs, but we are focused on optimizing energy and water use, as well as minimizing waste. The phenol production typically generates minimal waste, and Deepak Phenolics has taken a proactive approach by developing standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contributing to CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) guidelines to ensure safer industry-wide handling practices. We have implemented advanced process improvements at our phenol plant, such as the deep-frision process, which reduced phenol residue levels from 300–400 ppm down to just 35–40 ppm. Similarly, ATP levels have been brought down right at the source.” We recycle water within the plant and operate at 75% of power capacity using advanced process control systems. We have also deployed AI tools to run operations in an auto-pilot mode, improving both efficiency and safety. For the first time in India, we are using railcart tankers for phenol transportation—enhancing both logistics efficiency and safety standards.”

Samir Rawal, Vice President – APAC, Australia & New Zealand, Indorama Ventures – Indovinya, outlined the company’s comprehensive sustainability roadmap aimed at driving impact through 2030.

“Our sustainability strategy is structured around three core pillars, each backed by measurable targets and regular reviews. The first pillar focuses on decarbonization and eco-efficient operations. Under this, we have set clear benchmarks: reduce water intensity by 10% by 2025 and 20% by 2030; cut energy intensityby 5% by 2025 and 15% by 2030; lower GHG emissions by 12% by 2025 and 25% by 2030; and achieve a 10% reduction in waste. The second pillar is innovation and sustainable product development. We had set a goal for 15% of our revenue to come from sustainable products by 2025 and I am proud to share we have already reached this milestone in 2024. Going forward, all new product launches will be designed with sustainability at their core. The third pillar prepares the organization to be future-ready, with a strong emphasis on people and community. We are committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), with a bold goal of having 50% of our senior leadership positions filled by women by 2030. We are also investing in community engagement around our manufacturing facilities and reinforcing practices like responsible sourcing, safety, and regulatory compliance. Indovinya’s 2030 strategy isn’t just a vision but a roadmap under constant evaluation. We’ve put in place a structured quarterly review mechanism to track progress and keep ourselves accountable.”

Kavishwar Kalambe, Vice President – Technical Manufacturing, Crystal Crop Protection Ltd., shared how the company is integrating sustainability across its operations while supporting Indian farmers with environmentally responsible solutions..

“At Crystal, our goal is to empower farmers through sustainable practices. We offer an end-to-end portfolio—from synthesis and technical manufacturing to formulation and distribution. We've also developed patented agricultural equipment that helps reduce the use of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides, contributing to safer and more sustainable farming. In terms of processes, we prioritize green chemistry by replacing non-biodegradable components and reducing batch size and variability, which in turn helps minimize energy consumption and waste. For example, we faced an issue where fine particles were entering our wastewater treatment system. Initially, we treated the problem at the plant level, but eventually adopted a source-level treatment strategy, which has proven far more effective. Installing energy-efficient equipment and planning for renewable or cleaner fuels at the outset is key. When building a new plant, if you consider sustainability during the design phase itself—rather than retrofitting later—it saves cost and complexity in managing emissions and resource recovery. We have committed to sourcing 70% of our energy from renewable sources within the next two years, as part of our four-year sustainability roadmap. Additionally, we’re aiming to achieve a 10% reduction in carbon emissions by 2027. Designing sustainability into the foundation of your operations is not just efficient—it's essential for long-term success.”

Capt. Pankaj Mehrotra, CEO – Shipping Agency, Samsara Group, India, emphasized the critical role of logistics in supporting the chemical industry’s sustainability goals.

“At Samsara Group, we manage logistics across all cargo segments—including liquids, bulk, chemicals, oil & gas, and LPG. Through our initiative Zodiac Tank, we are working to support the chemical industry’s shift towards environmentally responsible practices. We are currently the only company offering professionally managed and regulatory-compliant road tanker cleaning services, ensuring that sustainability extends beyond the factory gates and into the supply chain. When it comes to standard practices, most companies focus on internal compliance, but external vendor and logistics compliance is often overlooked. While chemical manufacturers are making strides in compliance within their premises, the same level of oversight is lacking in the external logistics chain. Vendors and transporters frequently operate without structured, compliant facilities, which undermines the sustainability effort. Procurement, quality, and operations teams often work with different objectives, leading to fragmented approaches. India is moving steadily towards becoming a US$1 trillion chemical industry in the next 15 years. The country also targets a US$1 million semiconductor ecosystem by 2030. If we are serious about tripling our growth, industry must adopt a holistic, unified approach to sustainability. To contribute to this vision, Samsara is expanding its network of compliant facilities. We actively setting up state-of-the-art infrastructure in South Gujarat and North India to bring greater transparency and sustainability into the logistics chain.”

Krishnamoorthy Sitaraman, CEO & Founder, GloGreen Energy Solutions, highlighted the growing importance of renewable energy for commercial and industrial clients, both from a sustainability and profitability perspective.

“Our focus is on delivering sustainable renewable energy solutions tailored to corporate clients, particularly those in the commercial and industrial sectors. While earlier, going green was largely about brand positioning, today it offers tangible economic benefits up to 30% savings in power costs. The shift to renewables is not just a matter of meeting internal ESG targets. In global markets like Europe, using green energy is now a prerequisite to export products. Companies that fail to transition risk losing competitiveness. On the other hand, those who embrace renewables early stand to gain both in terms of margins and market access. For effective transition, companies must be familiar with the types of renewable energy available—whether solar, wind, or hybrid models—and how to navigate state-specific regulations and compliance frameworks. Achieving ambitious goals like RE100 (100% renewable energy) requires detailed planning and customized strategies. GloGreen has already partnered with over 50 clients across India, designing optimized renewable energy solutions that fit their specific operational needs. We help clients evaluate and implement the most effective mix of renewable sources, often starting with 10% of their power requirement, and then scaling toward full RE100 compliance. The outcome is not just greener operations, but also maximum cost savings and improved bottom lines. Renewable energy is now a business lever as much as it is an environmental one. With the right approach, companies can future-proof their operations while enhancing profitability.”

The 5th edition of NextGen Chemicals and Petrochemicals Summit 2025 themed ‘Preparing for the future' witnessed massive attendance by leading industry experts and stakeholders from pan India. The 12 sessions at the two-day event were attended by a total of 85 speakers and more than 500 delegates. 

The Country Partner of the event was Flanders Investment & Trade. The State Partner was Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board (EDB). The Principal Partner was DCM Shriram Chemicals. The Gold Partners included Revvity Signals, Ingenero, Tubacex, GloGreen, BTG (A Voith company), Gujarat Fluorochemicals, Excel Industries, Epsilon Carbon, Aquapharm, HPCL, BPCL, and WoodField.

The Associate Partners were Zodiac Tank Container Terminals, ReGreen Excel and AnalytikJena. The Supporting Partner was Archroma. 

Industry Association Partners of the event included AMAI, CropLife, Gujarat Chemical Association, and Agro Chem Federation of India.