Bengaluru: WeWork India, India’s largest and leading flexible workspace provider, hosted its inaugural Sustainability Summit today in Bengaluru, with a focus on solid waste management and biodiversity conservation. Sustainability is a powerful force that has the potential to revolutionise entire sectors, and WeWork India is committed to driving positive change through this vital initiative. Through the summit, they aim to drive conversations and sensitise members, employees, and industry leaders on the importance of integrating sustainable measures.
The summit gathered a distinguished audience, including policymakers, corporate sustainability leaders, NGOs, and government officials, all committed to shaping a more sustainable future. Notable attendees included Preeti Gehlot, Special Commissioner, BBMP, and sustainability heads from various organisations including Embassy Group.
Commenting on the Sustainability Summit, Karan Virwani, CEO of WeWork India, stated, “As the largest flexible workspace provider in India, our commitment to sustainability aligns with our core value. Recognising the substantial environmental impact of the real estate sector, we have proactively integrated sustainability across our operations as well as hosting our first ever sustainability summit. We have implemented various steps including saving water up to 40% per tap through low flow aerators, sourcing non-toxic materials for our spaces, using air filters for pollution free workspaces, and implementing zero plastic plan that led to WeWork India being a plastic free environment. WeWork India is the only flexible workspace provider to commit towards being sustainable by setting actionable goals.”
From energy optimisation to predictive maintenance and eco-friendly products, WeWork India is setting new industry standards while transforming the workspace experience. With an intent to become and environmental champion, they have created a sustainability policy and long-term sustainability goals which include –
- Divert 90% of waste from landfill by 2027
- Source 100% of energy from renewable sources by 2027
- Reduce and maintain consumption of water to just 20 litres per person per day by 2027
- Adoption of the Tharahunise lake and village in Karnataka, and running skill development programs for women – ‘Threads of life’, waste management and awareness sessions in the village.
- Through ‘Living with Leopards’, WeWork India has directed efforts towards leopard conservation, in collaboration with the Sanjay Gandhi National Park which has enabled identity profiling of 20 leopards from this landscape.
Multiple panel discussions were conducted with a key focus towards addressing pressing issues such as solid waste management and biodiversity conservation, advised and moderated by Myriam Shankar, Managing Trustee, TAICT. Industry experts, including Shekar Prabhakar, Co-founder, Hasiru Dala Innovation; Dr. Vishnupriya Sankararaman, WCS; and Rajesh Krishnan, CEO, United Way Bangalore shared their insights for building a greener future. Additionally, Alok Shetty, Founding Principal, Bhumiputra Architecture conducted a session on Building Sustainably for Emerging Economies, to inspire participants to find sustainable solutions.
WeWork India is doubling down on its sustainability goals, and actively working towards building a greener future. Sustainability has emerged as a crucial pillar for enterprises and organisations in recent years due to a growing awareness of environmental and social issues. WeWork India’s commitment towards sustainability makes them the preferred choice for their members. With this summit, WeWork India has taken a significant step towards creating awareness, fostering collaboration, and encouraging innovation for a sustainable future.
