Every June 5, World Environment Day reminds us of our collective responsibility toward the planet. For the IT industry—often seen as a “clean” sector—the environmental calculus is changing. Data centers now account for nearly 1% of global electricity demand, and e-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide. Yet, within this challenge lies an unprecedented opportunity for innovation and enterprise growth.
The new mantra is “Green by Design.” Leading tech enterprises are moving beyond carbon offsets to re-architecting software and hardware for efficiency. From energy-aware algorithms that reduce server loads to AI-driven cooling systems in hyperscale data centers, innovation is decoupling digital growth from environmental harm. Edge computing, for instance, minimizes data travel, slashing energy use while improving latency—a win for both sustainability and user experience.
For enterprises, green IT is no longer a compliance cost but a competitive lever. Cloud providers offering low-carbon compute instances are winning multi-billion-dollar contracts. Circular economy models—such as modular hardware design and rare-earth material recycling—are opening new revenue streams. Startups building carbon-aware software development kits (SDKs) are attracting venture capital at record rates.
This World Environment Day, the message for IT leaders is clear: sustainability and profitability are not opposing forces. By embedding environmental thinking into product lifecycles and business models, enterprises can drive innovation, reduce operational risk, and capture emerging green markets. The future of growth is regenerative—and the IT industry holds the blueprint. Let’s code for the planet, not just the cloud.
Sandeep Chandna, Chief Sustainability Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, “World Environment Day underscores the urgent need for collective action, innovation, and accountability in addressing climate challenges. At Tech Mahindra, we believe technology is a key enabler in accelerating sustainability outcomes and driving responsible growth. As we progress towards our commitments of achieving SBTi-validated Net Zero by 2035, a 90% renewable energy mix by 2030 and Water Positivity by 2030, we remain focused on embedding sustainability across our operations. We are also actively supporting enterprises in their sustainability journeys by leveraging digital innovation to help them meet their ESG goals. By integrating technology with responsible business practices, we are committed to delivering long-term value for our stakeholders while contributing to a more resilient, inclusive, and resource-efficient future.”
Manisha Dubey, Head of IDEMIA India Foundation, said, “World Environment Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is a call to every industry, including ours, to examine not just what we build, but how we build it, and what we leave behind. At IDEMIA Secure Transactions, sustainability is not a parallel workstream or an annual commitment we revisit in June. It is embedded in the way we innovate. From eco-conscious payment cards to greener connectivity and SIM solutions engineered to reduce environmental impact, to Hardware Security Modules designed to deliver robust cryptographic protection while consuming significantly less power, we are constantly asking how secure digital experiences can be delivered with a lighter footprint on the planet. But responsible business cannot stop at that. We believe companies have a genuine obligation to the communities and ecosystems around them. That belief is what drove the IDEMIA India Foundation to transform 3.8 acres of industrial wasteland in Noida into a living biodiversity park, home to 15,000 trees spanning over 70 species. What was once barren ground is now a functioning urban ecosystem, built for future generations and maintained with the same rigour we bring to our technology. Across everything we do, the cards in people’s wallets, the SIMs connecting their devices, the land we have restored, the question is the same: are we creating something that lasts, and does it leave the world in better shape than we found it? That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and it is one we intend to raise further.”
Sriram Kannan, Founder & CEO, Routematic, said, “This year’s World Environment Day theme, ‘Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future,’ is a powerful reminder that meaningful climate action requires us to rethink how we live, work, and move. As India accelerates its transition towards cleaner mobility through the growing adoption of EVs, it is equally important to focus on making transportation more efficient, accessible, and sustainable. The future of mobility will be shaped not only by electrification, but also by smarter utilization of resources through shared and technology-driven transportation models. At Routematic, we have been committed to advancing this vision by helping organizations optimize employee mobility through intelligent route planning, shared commuting, and data-driven fleet management solutions. By reducing the number of vehicles on the road and improving operational efficiency, we are enabling businesses to lower their carbon footprint while creating better commuting experiences. Building climate-resilient cities will require collective action, innovation, and long-term commitment, and we believe sustainable mobility will remain a critical pillar in creating a cleaner, greener future for generations to come.”
Vasudha Madhavan, Founder & CEO, Ostara Advisors, said, “This World Environment Day, the signal from the market is unmistakable. India sold over 2.3 million electric vehicles in 2025, about 8 percent of all new registrations, and now runs over 100 compressed biogas plants (with a 5000 plant target by 2030) backed by a blending mandate that turns climate goals into guaranteed demand. Climate tech funding rose close to 2 billion dollars in 2025, up roughly 40 percent year on year, proof that capital is returning. But almost all of it stops early. Barely 3 percent of India’s climate tech startups reach Series B or beyond. The technology and the policy are ready. What the transition needs now is growth-stage, patient capital, and closing that gap is the work in front of us.”
Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India, said, “Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity today, driving rising temperatures, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss, and increasing threats to food, water, and public health systems. In India, these risks are amplified by diverse climatic conditions, rapid urbanization, and dependence on climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water resources. Addressing these challenges requires identifying vulnerable populations, understanding when and how they are affected, and determining where interventions can achieve the greatest impact. GIS provides this critical spatial intelligence by integrating environmental, social, and infrastructure data into a unified decision-making framework. Combined with AI and real-time monitoring, GIS enables proactive risk management, helping governments, businesses, and communities build resilience, optimize resources, and ensure that climate adaptation and mitigation efforts are targeted, effective, and equitable.”
Nakul Kumar, Co-Founder & CMO, Cashify, said, “The environmental impact of a smartphone begins long before it reaches a consumer’s hands; nearly 80% of a smartphone’s carbon footprint is generated during manufacturing, through raw material extraction, component production, assembly, and global logistics. Which means every device that gets reused instead of replaced avoids a significant environmental cost before a new phone is ever produced.
This is why recommerce matters. The phone you already own is the most sustainable phone you can have. The phone someone else already owns is the second most sustainable. Every time a device finds a second life instead of a landfill, we avoid the full environmental cost of manufacturing a new one.
A single refurbished smartphone can save up to 85 kg of CO₂ emissions, equivalent to driving nearly 500 kilometres in a petrol car. It can prevent the extraction of approximately 243 kg of raw materials and conserve nearly 13,000 litres of water otherwise consumed in manufacturing a new device. That’s the logic of recommerce, and at the scale India operates, it is one of the most consequential climate actions we can take as a country.”
“India is at a defining inflection point. Data centres already consumed 0.5% of India’s electricity in 2025, and that figure is projected to more than double by 2030 – powered largely by an AI boom that shows no signs of slowing. The challenge is acute because over 70% of India’s grid still runs on coal, meaning every AI workload we run today carries a real carbon cost. This is not a future problem – it is today’s responsibility. At Fulcrum Digital, we believe the answer lies in building AI that is efficient and sustainable by design – through leaner models, smarter inference, and conscious architecture choices. India has the ambition to lead in AI. The question is whether we will lead responsibly,” said, Sachin Panicker, Chief AI Officer, Fulcrum Digital.
“The digital infrastructure powering our world today is responsible for a significant and growing share of global energy consumption. That is a reality we at Vertiv take seriously, not just as a footnote, but as a defining challenge for our industry. On this World Environment Day, we renew our commitment to designing infrastructure that does more with less by reducing thermal waste, improving power efficiency and partnering with customers to meet their net-zero ambitions. The planet cannot wait for perfect solutions. Progress, made urgently and on a scale, is what the moment demands,” said, Jaideep Roy, Director, Business Development, IMS, Vertiv.
“Nature has always been the most efficient engineer. It cools, conserves, and regenerates without waste. As India scales its AI ambitions, the industry must ensure that technological progress does not come at the expense of the environment.
The AI revolution requires immense computing power, making it imperative for data centres and digital infrastructure providers to adopt sustainable solutions such as liquid cooling and clean energy. At RackBank, we believe innovation and sustainability must go hand in hand. Through technologies like our Varuna Immersion Cooling system, we are demonstrating how high-performance AI infrastructure can significantly reduce energy consumption, water usage, and carbon emissions while supporting the growing demands of AI workloads.
This World Environment Day, the focus should not just be on reducing our footprint, but on reimagining how we build. Sustainability must be embedded into every decision, ensuring that India’s digital future is both technologically advanced and environmentally responsible,” said, Narendra Sen, Founder & CEO, RackBank and NeevCloud.
Mohan Krishna Pathalapati, Chief Operating Officer, Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Limited, commented, “World Environment Day is a timely reminder to rethink how we build and operate digital infrastructure. As demand for AI and data processing continues to grow, sustainability must remain a priority. At BCSSL, we are focused on developing energy-efficient AI data centres that incorporate eco-friendly cooling technologies designed to reduce water consumption and improve operational efficiency. By adopting smarter, resource-conscious infrastructure and supporting renewable energy integration through initiatives such as Blue Energy, we aim to minimise environmental impact while building future-ready digital ecosystems that are powerful, resilient, and responsible by design.”
Picture Courtesy: Pixabay.com
