12th Edition
Green Business Titan
ITC Limited – Green Business Titan
Category : Community Based Climate Action
WINNER : Global Growth Foundation of India
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises Global Growth Foundation of India under the category Community Based Climate Action for the initiative, ‘Sustainable Fish Farming for Climate Resilience in Coal Affected Areas’ in Dhanbad. GGFI has been revitalising 34 coal-impacted ponds through nature-based solutions, sustainable pisciculture, and income diversification for over 2,000 SHG members. Through community-led planning, pond rejuvenation, training and co-financing models, the initiative combines climate action with sustainable livelihoods. Over 15,000 people now benefit from improved water access and diversified rural incomes. By leveraging nature-based solutions, the initiative holds significant potential as a scalable, climate-resilient development in other degraded or resource-stressed regions.
SDG:
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 15: Life on Land
WINNER: BAIF Development Research Foundation
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises BAIF Development Research Foundation under the category Community Based Climate Action for the initiative, ‘Breakthrough Solutions for Natural Resource Management and Effective Water Use in Agriculture’ across Kutch (Gujarat), Buldhana (Maharashtra), and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Through watershed development, efficient irrigation systems, sustainable agriculture, and community-led micro-enterprises, the initiative has created over 6.46 billion litres of water storage potential and saved 9.90 billion litres of water. By fostering community ownership, training local paraprofessionals, and promoting women-led entrepreneurship, the initiative secures livelihoods, and strengthens long-term resilience at scale in climate-vulnerable regions. This forward-looking model lays the foundation for long-term climate adaptation, promising a resilient future for India’s most climate-sensitive regions.
SDGs:
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 13: Climate Action
WINNER: The Entrepreneurs Associates
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises The Entrepreneurs Associates (tEA) under the category Community Based Climate Action for the initiative ‘Trees for Wealth (TfW)’ across Nagaland and Manipur. Implemented in the challenging hilly terrains of North-East India, where community-led landholding systems define land use, the initiative stands out for mobilising indigenous communities towards climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods. Through the plantation of over 3 million fruit and non-fruit trees across 110 villages, covering approximately 533 hectares, tEA is effectively leveraging nature-based solutions to combat soil erosion and enhance biodiversity. The initiative’s long-term goal to plant 1 billion fruit trees and 2 billion non-fruit trees by 2050 is a testament to its vision of transforming local ecosystems.
SDGs:
- Goal 1: No Poverty
- Goal 5: Gender Equality
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 15: Life on Land
Category : Emerging Businesses in Climate Action Management
WINNER : Econovus Packaging Private Limited
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises Econovus Packaging Private Limited under the category Emerging Businesses in Climate Action for their ‘paper-based and pallet-less packaging solutions’. Econovus delivers innovative solutions that replace traditional wooden and plastic pallets, enhancing logistical efficiency while promoting sustainability. Their engineered paper composites ensure high strength, reduced weight, and moisture resistance. With a fully biodegradable and recyclable design, these solutions reduce up to 93% of carbon emissions and offer significant cost savings for their clients. Their growing adoption across industries and strong potential for global scalability position them as a frontrunner in sustainable packaging innovation.
SDGs:
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
WINNER : Recykal
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises Recykal under the category Emerging Businesses in Climate Action for its initiative, ‘Digital Deposit Refund System (dDRS)’. By integrating QR-code-based traceability, behavioural change, and digital refunds, the dDRS initiative successfully incentivizes consumers to return plastic packaging, reducing environmental degradation. Since its launch, the initiative has collected over 22 lakh PET bottles, preventing ~66 metric tons of CO₂ emissions, creating 110 new jobs, and led to a 37.5% income increase for informal waste workers in the Char Dham pilgrimage sites. With proven impact and ease of adoption, the dDRS model has already informed policy-level changes and holds immense potential to scale nationwide, redefining plastic recovery and recycling.
SDGs:
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 13: Climate Action
Category : Enablers for Urban-Centered Climate Action
WINNER : Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC)
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) under the category Enablers for Urban-Centered Climate Action for their initiative, ‘Pioneering Climate Action through Urban Waste Management and Sustainability’ in Indore. IMC’s initiative has transformed the city into a national model for climate-resilient development. Key interventions include advanced waste segregation, strong recycling systems, and large-scale waste-to-energy solutions, complemented by strong public-private-community partnerships that foster behavioural change and circular economy practices. Its institutionalised and integrated approach and measurable impact, has positioned Indore as a beacon of climate-smart urban governance in India.
SDGs:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
WINNER : Human and Environment Link Progressive Organization (HELP-O)
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognises Human and Environment Link Progressive Organization (HELP-O) under the category Enablers for Urban-Centered Climate Action for their initiative, ‘Collaborative Action for the Clean City’ in Galle. It is a community-led urban climate initiative that integrates plastic waste reduction, biogas-based clean energy, sustainable agriculture, and microplastic filtration to build a circular economy. By engaging municipal authorities, schools, hospitals, and local businesses, the initiative promotes climate resilience, reduces emissions, and drives environmental and social change. Operating in a coastal and climate-vulnerable context, HELP-O’s holistic and inclusive approach holds significant potential to inspire similar integrated climate actions across the Global South.
SDGs:
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-Being
- Goal 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 14: Life Below Water
- Goal 15: Life on Land
Category : Women Leaders in Climate Action
WINNER : Natasha Zarine
The 12 Earth Care Awards recognizes Natasha Zarine under the category Women Leaders in Climate Action for her exemplary work in nature-based solutions to tackle socio-environmental challenges and the climate crisis. As Co-Founder and Managing Director of EcoSattva Environmental Solutions and The Center for Applied Research and Peoples’ Engagement, she has led the development of inclusive and sustainable waste management systems, wetland restoration, and green-blue infrastructure to combat the heat island effect across India, Argentina, and Indonesia.
With a commitment to transforming cities, towns, and villages into clean, green, inclusive, and climate-resilient spaces, Natasha and her organisation have spent a decade crafting data-driven, scientific, and sustainable solutions to foster climate resilience and long-term ecological well-being.
SDGs:
- Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- Goal 13: Climate Action
- Goal 14: Life below Water