Jagat Pharma, a prestigious name in the Ayurvedic healthcare sector, continues building social impact with its inclusive goals, spreading the light of vision far and wide. This time, Jagat Pharma has opted to conduct a free eye care camp at Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi (IIIT-Delhi) to cater to all the students and faculty members on the Institute’s 15th foundation day.
This unique eye care camp aimed to provide comprehensive eye care solutions to the students, alumni, and faculty members of IIIT-Delhi. Beyond routine eye check-ups, attendees were privileged to consult with seasoned eye specialists who provided personalized recommendations tailored to their unique needs. The one-on-one interaction gave participants invaluable insights and guidance for maintaining optimal eye health.
Dr. Mandeep Singh Basu, Director of Jagat Pharma, expressed his enthusiasm about this transformative initiative. He stated, “At Jagat Pharma, our mission has always been to enhance the quality of life through Ayurvedic Eye solutions. Collaborating with IIIT-Delhi for this eye care camp aligns perfectly with our commitment to promoting holistic health for all without any surgery. We firmly believe that good vision is the foundation of a productive and fulfilling life, and we are honored to have been a part of this enlightening endeavor. The free eye check-up camp had a profound impact, benefiting several attendees and making them aware of how to take regular eye care. It provided them an invaluable opportunity to detect and address potential eye conditions that might have gone unnoticed.”
An IIIT-Delhi spokesperson shared their thoughts on this collaboration, saying “IIIT-Delhi is dedicated to the well-being of its students, alumni, and faculty members. This collaborative eye care camp with Jagat Pharma has provided our community with preventive eye care services and reinforced our commitment to holistic education. . We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Jagat Pharma for organizing a complimentary eye check-up camp in commemoration of our 15th anniversary.”
Hightown Housing Association (HHA) has increased its commitment to working with Waste King to improve the efficiency and cleanliness of its waste collection and disposal processes, while also being environmentally friendly and keeping the charitable housing association’s carbon footprint to a minimum.
HHA currently manages over 8,000 homes – supporting over 16,000 residents – including operating more than 90 care and supported homes for people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and people facing homelessness. Having completed a successful trial, HHA is now expanding its use of Waste King’s on-request collection and recycling service – especially for waste that’s particularly bulky. All the waste goes to Waste King’s Transfer Site for processing and recycling.
Waste King, the environmentally friendly waste collection and recycling services specialist, regularly recycles 98% of HHA’s waste – so very little of it goes to landfill. This contributes to significantly reducing Hightown’s carbon footprint.
According to Waste King’s Managing Director, Glenn Currie, this is the next stage in a relationship that has existed for many years, with HHA’s caretakers bringing waste from the association’s homes to Waste King’s Waste Transfer Site and recycling facility.
“Unfortunately, none of Hightown’s properties has the space to instal one of Waste King’s recycling pods,” he explained. “So, instead of these pods, all Hightown sites have bin stores – but these can be subject to fly tipping if, for example, bulky furniture proves too large to go into the bin.
“Faced with the issue of how to improve the efficiency and cleanliness of its waste collection and disposal processes while also being environmentally friendly and keeping its carbon footprint to a minimum, HHA asked Waste King to collect waste – especially waste that’s particularly bulky – on request from its sites.”
“Preserving our environment and ensuring our business practices are sustainable are key priorities for Hightown,” said Paul Hunt, one of HHA’s caretakers. “That’s why we’re pleased to be getting such polite, friendly and highly professional environmentally-friendly waste collection and recycling services from Waste King.”
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, is hosting hundreds of employees’ families this week through its ‘Proud Families’ initiative, commencing its celebrations on the occasion of International Day of Families. Indicative of the company’s culturally diverse teams, family members are arriving from across India for a special visit, courtesy of the company, to its operations across Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Here, the family members will be able to observe high-quality aluminium being produced at world-class aluminium complexes, see the state-of-the-art facilities set up to care for their loved ones, and create lasting memories through several fun-filled activities.
The visits, which will take place over the week, are an exclusive experience put together for the parents of employees across the locations of Vedanta Aluminium. These include a world-class alumina refinery at Lanjigarh, Odisha, one of the world’s largest aluminium smelters at Jharsuguda, Odisha, and BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium producer at Korba, Chhattisgarh. Since the onset of the pandemic, this is the first time that the family members of employees have been able to visit Vedanta Aluminium’s plant locations as part of the ‘Proud Families’ outreach initiative, making it even more significant and memorable for each participant.
Sharing his thoughts, Mr Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we believe that our employees are our biggest assets, and their families play a very important role in supporting them. Encouraging institutionalised initiatives such as these curated plant visits offer our family members a better understanding of the importance of the work their loved ones work undertake, and also of the comprehensive measures we have implemented to ensure their safety, comfort and well-being. Together, they showcase our strong commitment to providing a world-class, enriching work environment to every employee.”
At Vedanta’s mega aluminium manufacturing plant in Jharsuguda, the parents of young employees who recently completed their probation period were invited to visit the operations. They were taken on an immersive tour of the core areas within the plant such as the smelting potline where alumina is processed into aluminium, the casthouse where molten metal is cast into primary aluminium products, and the power plant area that powers the entire operations.
They also visited several community welfare projects undertaken by Vedanta Aluminium to see first-hand the positive socio-economic transformation arising out of the company’s operations. The parents were introduced to the employee amenities available, which include high-quality housing, recreational areas, swimming pools, gyms, stadiums, movie auditoriums, day care facilities, supermarkets, hospitals, community halls and several others. Culminating the visit, the parents were treated to a musical performance by the in-house band comprising of musically talented employees, and also mementoes made out of our same high-quality aluminium that has customers in 50+ countries.
At Vedanta BALCO, Chhattisgarh, a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, the children of employees and community members kicked off the celebrations with a week-long summer camp. An annual initiative by the company, the camp features fun yet educational sessions on cookery and culinary art, social etiquette, pottery-making through women from our self-help groups, self-defence classes and movie screenings. The summer camps at Vedanta BALCO are an opportunity for kids to interact with their peers and try out new interests, greatly aiding their long-term holistic development and providing them with useful life skills.
In addition, employees’ parents are also being hosted on a special visit to the plant, where they get to experience the operations of one of the nation’s finest industrial operations. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the Vedanta BALCO Museum, where the proud parents could absorb its rich legacy from the time the plant was incorporated in 1965 as one of the first industries of free India.
At Vedanta’s alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, several family members were invited for a plant-wide visit, where they were shown around the refinery’s critical operational areas, interacted with members of the leadership team, and participated in fun activities organised to mark the occasion.
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
Marico Innovation Foundation (MIF) announced the latest milestone achieved by its Scale-Up Program member, S4S Technologies, as they hit an annual revenue of INR. 100 cr. S4S Technologies is India’s only full-stack food-processing platform that has created a solar-powered dehydration system to unlock value for farmers, industrial customers, and the environment. Sin MIF’s Scale Up Program has worked closely with S4S Technologies since 2019 to help solve their key business challenges. The first innovation to have achieved the soonicorn milestone from the MIF portfolio was Atomberg Technologies in year 2021.
Incepted in 2016, MIF’s rapid acceleration program Scale-Up, provides hand-picked innovations with equity-free support, bespoke mentorship and access to capital and markets. Over the years, the program has supported 50+ innovations to achieve exponential growth.
“Innovations are a vital driver in creating a positive social, economic, and environmental impact for the country. Through MIF’s flagship program – Scale-Up, our goal is to catalyse the growth journey of disruptive innovations like S4S Technologies that are paving the way for India’s new age economy.” said Harsh Mariwala, Founder, Marico Innovation Foundation & Chairman, Marico Ltd.
On its INR 1-100CR growth journey, the Scale-Up Program helped S4S Technologies overcome multiple business challenges through deep rooted strategic and functional mentorship, which helped them build capacity and revenues. The interventions successfully addressed challenges ranging from packaging and procurement inefficiencies to increasing their manufacturing capacities, new product launches to business pivoting from B2C to B2B model.
Vaibhav Tidke, Founder and CEO, S4S Technologies, commented “With Scale-Up program’s deep-rooted intervention and strategic guidance, we are thrilled to have achieved this breakthrough. This association played a critical role in shaping the trajectory of S4S Technologies’ exponential growth. Using this as a steppingstone, we hope our innovation can further disrupt the agri-tech sector through digitalisation and expansion.”
Speaking on the success of S4S Technologies Suranjana Ghosh, Head, Marico Innovation Foundation said, “The bespoke interventions designed by MIF’s Scale-Up Program for S4S Technologies have accelerated their growth and resulted in a direct impact on sustainability and livelihoods. At MIF, we are intentional about the innovations we work with, for each of them to have a similar potential to grow exponentially through our strategic support and contribute to the need of the hour – a sustainable future.”
In addition to the success of S4S Technologies, the foundation also announced the addition of six game-changing innovations that were onboarded to the Scale-Up Program in FY 22-23. The Program works with innovations across sectors like agriculture, food supply chain, circularity in plastics, healthcare, education, and clean technology. These members are driven by a common goal of creating social, environmental, and economic impact at scale.
The six new members in MIF’s Scale-Up Program are:
A pioneering innovation focused on creating 100% renewable water from air, Uravu Labs harnesses the power of atmospheric moisture and intends to address water scarcity challenges and provide clean, safe drinking water to communities in need.
Committed to sustainable water management through their advanced techniques and comprehensive solutions, Indra Water is focused on conserving water resources, improving water quality, and ensuring a sustainable water supply for future generations.
Dedicated to reducing food waste and its environmental impact by transforming waste food into high-quality animal feed, Wastelink offers an innovative solution that not only mitigates waste but also addresses the challenges of feeding livestock sustainably.
An inclusive insurance provider focused on rural India with a mission to protect farmers and vulnerable populations from climate risks, Gramcover offers accessible and affordable insurance solutions tailored to the unique needs of rural communities.
This innovation specializes in sustainable refrigeration solutions for perishable food items. By implementing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly technologies, New Leaf Dynamic aims to reduce food wastage and ensure the freshness and safety of food throughout the supply chain.
The start-up provides cost-effective post-harvest solutions to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables during storage and transport. They are committed to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste by 2030
Vedanta Aluminium, the largest aluminium producer in India, reached out to over 2300 women to raise awareness around women’s health as part of Menstrual Hygiene Week across its operations in Odisha and Chhattisgarh. Aligned to this year’s UN theme of ‘Making menstruation a normal fact of life by 2030’, the company launched a series of crucial initiatives in an effort to improve rural women’s health, including the establishment of a sanitary napkin production unit, the installation of sanitary napkin dispensing machines at its plant premises, and several awareness sessions on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM).
Vedanta Aluminium’s initiatives are in continuation of its longstanding commitment to promoting rural women’s health and well-being in the areas around its operations, towards helping them make informed, safer choices and dispelling myths. The company is also fostering transformative socio-economic impact through the local production and supply of affordable and eco-friendly feminine hygiene products from women-led microenterprises in the communities.
Sharing his views, Mr Rahul Sharma, CEO, Vedanta Ltd – Aluminium Business said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, we consider the health and well-being of local communities and our employees as our utmost priority. Our initiatives during Menstrual Hygiene Week reflect our continued focus on enhancing the well-being of women in our communities, who, as the primary caregivers of children in rural areas, are crucial to ensuring the overall being of entire communities as well. By strengthening the healthcare ecosystem, raising awareness, challenging stigmas, and providing necessary resources, we aim to help women in making safer choices, while also enabling the socio-economic transformation of rural India.”
At the township at Vedanta Jharsuguda, one of the world’s largest single-location aluminium plants, the company organized several activities on women’s health and hygiene. The company announced its collaboration with Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar to launch the ‘Saukhyam’ initiative. The collaboration will establish a state-of-the-art biodegradable sanitary napkin production unit, fostering livelihood opportunities and advocating hygienic practices and products for local girls and women. 100 sanitary dispensing machines have also been installed in the washrooms of the plant, providing 4000 biodegradable napkins every month for its employees. The enthused volunteers of Vedanta Aluminium performed a ‘Nukkad Natak’ that raised awareness about menstrual hygiene and dispelled misconceptions. Gynaecologists shared compelling information on Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) protocols and ran health check-up camps for the local women. Employee volunteers facilitated meaningful discussions with the community, emphasizing the advantages of sanitary napkins over cloth.
BALCO, India’s iconic aluminium producer at Korba, Chhattisgarh and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, installed more than 30 sanitary napkins dispensing machines in female washrooms at the plant on this occasion. In a powerful campaign to transform prevailing misconceptions surrounding menstrual health, the company conducted the “Safe Spaces Campaign” which sensitized hospitals/clinics and local shopkeepers on menstrual health, to foster a supportive environment through oath-taking and pledge letters. The engaging “Saas Bahu – Maa Beti Sammelan” introduced fun activities like Period Ludo to educate women on feminine health & hygiene. Activities like “Menstrual Hygiene Management Rally & Wall Painting” raised awareness through spirited rallies and colourful murals. “Ratri Chaupal- Chale gaon ki Aur” offered infotainment evenings with the screening of topical films such as ‘Sarika – Dondro ki Nayi Kiran’ to spark discussions around prioritising women’s health. Additionally, expert health talks delved into menstrual and mental well-being, complemented by creative activities.
Vedanta Aluminium’s world-class alumina refinery in Lanjigarh, Kalahandi district Odisha, launched a new project on Menstrual Hygiene called ‘Pehli Udaan’, focused on menstrual health education for adolescent girls. The company hosted Ms. Payal Patel, popularly known as ‘Pad Woman of Odisha’ for the launch of the project. She has, notably, worked towards raising awareness on feminine hygiene, setting up a sanitary pad manufacturing unit using biodegradable products and making reusable napkins available to rural women. The initiative will sensitize community women about menstrual health and provide them access to affordable products, ensuring hygienic menstrual practices. The project will also offer training sessions on reusable sanitary napkin making, providing support and opportunities for growth to local women through Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Vedanta Aluminium, a business of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest producer of aluminium, manufacturing more than half of India’s aluminium i.e., 2.29 million tonnes in FY23. It is a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. Vedanta Aluminium ranks 2nd in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) 2022 world rankings for aluminium industry, a reflection of its sustainable development practices. With its world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery and power plants in India, the company fulfils its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow. www.vedantaaluminium.com
Today, adidas is unveiling Move For The Planet; a new global initiative that will harness the collective activity of sporting communities across the world.
adidas is encouraging people to turn activity into action as it pledges to donate €1 to Common Goal for every 10 minutes of activity logged across 34 sports in the adidas Running app between 1 June – 12 June –up to €1.5m. The contributions will support projects around the globe that educate and engage communities on sustainability through sport.
Ashley Czarnowski, Senior Director, Global Purpose Marketing at adidas said:“Move For The Planet is an opportunity to harness the world’s love of sport to support some of the communities that need it most. The impact of the climate crisis is being felt more severely in some places than others, however, the one thing that unites us all is our love for sport. So, in between 1 June and 12 June, we’re encouraging our global sporting community to join the movement and move for the places we play – it doesn’t matter how we move, just that we move to make a difference.”
Common Goal will direct contributions raised by Move For The Planet to projects in countries including Colombia, Greece, South Africa and Pakistan. Whether it’s renewing a community’s sports pitch using recycled materials or providing training on how to reduce plastic waste in sports facilities, the varied programs that have been selected focus on some of the places most impacted by the effects of climate change.
Move For The Planet is part of adidas’ wider sustainability initiatives as the company continues its mission to make what’s best for the athlete better for the planet. Earlier this year, adidas announced that it is ahead of schedule in its journey to replace virgin polyester with recycled polyester in its products wherever possible by the end of 2024. In 2022, 96% of all the polyester adidas used was recycled.
However, using recycled materials does not mean that the problem is solved, and Move For The Planet represents a broadening of adidas’ focus beyond its 2024 recycled polyester goal.
