WeWork Sustainability Summit 2023 was a roaring success

The first-ever Sustainability Summit at WeWork Galaxy brought together industry leaders to discuss key environmental issues such as solid waste management and biodiversity conservation, emphasizing collaborative solutions for a sustainable future.

On October 20th, WeWork hosted its first-ever Sustainability Summit at WeWork Galaxy in Bangalore. The event served as a platform for companies in the sustainability space to connect, network, and raise awareness around critical issues like solid waste management and biodiversity conservation.

Solid waste management:

We delved into sustainable waste management practices aimed at minimising environmental impact, focusing on recycling, upcycling, and effective waste reduction strategies.

Biodiversity preservation:

The summit offered insightful discussions on the crucial role of biodiversity in maintaining balanced ecosystems, highlighting its significance in fostering a sustainable future.

Paving the way for a sustainable tomorrow

A panel discussion moderated by Karan Virwani, CEO of WeWork India

This insightful conversation offered a deep dive into the multifaceted concept of sustainability, as viewed from diverse industry perspectives. The panellists shared their personal definitions of sustainability and explored how it directly applies to their respective sectors, highlighting the unique challenges they've encountered in integrating sustainable practices. The conversation also turned toward the future, examining emerging trends, innovative solutions, and the evolving role of sustainability in driving long-term business success and environmental stewardship.

Esteemed panellists

• Ankur Garg, Country Director, BBC Action Media
• Anurag Pradap, VP Digital Inclusion and Sustainability
• Manisha Thakur, Rainmatter Foundation
• Kaushik Raju, Founder of FarmLore

Navigating solid waste management

A panel discussion moderated by Myriam Shankar, Managing Trustee of TAICT

The panel discussion brought together a diverse group of service providers and bulk waste generators to address the complexities of waste management within the real estate industry. The conversation delved into the sector's unique challenges, such as handling large volumes of operational waste, compliance with regulations, and the need for innovative solutions. The panellists shared practical strategies and insights on optimising waste management practices, highlighting the importance of collaboration, awareness, and sustainable approaches to reduce the environmental impact of real estate operations.

Esteemed panellists

• Shekar Prabhakar, CEO, Hasiru Dala Innovations
• Arun Murugesh, VP Sales, Saahas Zero Waste
• Saarang Ganapathi, Country head for Property Management, Embassy Services Pvt Ltd.

Bridging gaps in biodiversity conservation

A panel discussion moderated by Myriam Shankar, Managing Trustee, TAICT

This discussion focused on the key challenges faced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in implementing preservation projects and explored how the real estate industry can play a vital role in supporting these efforts. Experts shared insights on measuring the impact of such preservation projects, emphasising the importance of data-driven approaches and community engagement. The discussion also highlighted strategies for sustaining these projects in the long term, underscoring the need for collaboration between public and private sectors to create lasting environmental impact

Esteemed panellists

• Preeti Gehlot, Special Commissioner Estate, Horticulture, Forest
• Dr. Vishnupriya, WCS
• Shaina Ganapathy, Head of Community Outreach, Embassy Group
• S. Vishwanath, Biome Environmental Solutions

Biomimicry learning session with Alok Shetty

In this session, we deep-dived into how nature-inspired principles can fuel creativity and innovation for sustainable development. The session explored the core concepts of biomimicry, demonstrating how emulating natural processes and systems can lead to groundbreaking, eco-friendly technologies. Participants gained insights into applying these principles to drive sustainable innovation across various industries. The session also featured compelling case studies of successful bio-inspired technologies, showcasing real-world applications of biomimicry and its potential to solve complex challenges in an environmentally conscious way.

Learning session on REITs ESG strategy 

Led by Amit Shetty, Co-head, Commercial Leasing, at Embassy REIT

This session provided valuable insights into the comprehensive ESG framework adopted by Embassy REIT. Amit shared best practices on how the company integrates sustainability into its core operations through a strategy built around three fundamental pillars: Resilient Planet, Revitalised Communities, and Responsible Business. The discussion highlighted how these pillars guide their approach to environmental stewardship, social impact, and governance, creating a holistic ESG strategy that aligns with both business growth and sustainable development goals.

What made our event truly sustainable

• Upcycling, recycling, and circular economy focus: The event featured 25 vendor showcases centred around upcycling, recycling, and promoting a circular economy.
• Carbon footprint fully offset: We calculated the total carbon footprint of the event and successfully offset it, ensuring a net-zero impact.
• Minimised travel emissions: About 70% of attendees travelled less than 6 km to reach the venue, significantly reducing the travel-related emissions for the event.
• Personal carbon offsetting: Eight attendees neutralised their average monthly carbon footprint, offsetting a total of 4,229 KgCO2e.
• WeWork's total emissions neutralised: WeWork offset a total of 19,582 KgCO2e, equivalent to the impact of growing 324 tree seedlings for 10 years.
• Efficient waste management: Neo San incinerators managed to reject waste on-site, preventing 3.5 kg of CO2 from being released, comparable to driving an SUV for approximately 30 km.
• Zero waste to landfills: All 143 kg of waste generated during the event was processed; 96 kg was recycled, and 47 kg was composted, ensuring nothing ended up in landfills.
• Launch of the zero-waste workplace guide: We introduced a comprehensive guide to achieving a zero-waste workplace, reinforcing our commitment to sustainability.