All posts tagged: sustainability

CPCL has cut water footprint by 20% in two years, says MD H. Shankar

CPCL has cut water footprint by 20% in two years, says MD H. Shankar

Published by Parlour News

H. Shankar, Managing Director, CPCL, in conversation with N. Ravi Kumar, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, at The Hindu Sustainability Summit 2025 | Photo Credit: R. Ragu In the last two years, our water footprint — a strong indicator of the efficiencies we have built into our systems — has reduced by more than 20%, H. Shankar, Managing Director of Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd (CPCL), said. “From the very beginning, we have been the only refinery that has not used any groundwater for our requirements,” he said during a fireside chat with N. Ravi Kumar, Senior Deputy Editor, The Hindu, at The Hindu Sustainability Summit 2025. “Our entire water requirement is fulfilled through the desalination and sewage reclamation plants we have set up,” he said and added: “We are a zero fresh water consuming refinery.” Highlighting the firm’s retail business, Mr. Shankar said: “Retail outlet is an interesting and challenging business; as of now, we have not been at the forefront of public interface. Retail brings us directly to the public.” CPCL has got 300 …

‘Forget Shark Tank’: Harsh Goenka applauds Bengaluru kids’ startup pitch in viral post

‘Forget Shark Tank’: Harsh Goenka applauds Bengaluru kids’ startup pitch in viral post

Published by Parlour News

Published on: Nov 02, 2025 01:09 pm IST A video of three Bengaluru children presenting their eco-friendly startup, Eco Wala, has gone viral, garnering praise for their creativity and confidence. Industrialist Harsh Goenka, Chairman of RPG Enterprises, took to X to share a heart-warming video of three young entrepreneurs from Bengaluru presenting their innovative startup idea, Eco Wala. Internet users including Harsh Goenka lauded the kids from Bengaluru for fostering entrepreneurship and environmental responsibility.(X) ALSO READ | Bengaluru man gets footpath fixed without paying a bribe; shares simple 5-step guide in viral post In the video, the children are seen enthusiastically explaining their business concept, making eco-friendly paper bags without using any glue or scissors. Their model also includes a ₹10 monthly subscription service, allowing customers to regularly receive these sustainable bags, they said in the video. Goenka, clearly impressed by the young minds’ creativity and confidence, captioned the post, “Forget Shark Tank, forget Ideabaaz, this pitch stole my heart….” ALSO READ | Bengaluru couple killed on spot after speeding ambulance rams bikes at Richmond …

IIT-Madras ties up with Energy Systems Catapult UK

IIT-Madras ties up with Energy Systems Catapult UK

Published by Parlour News

The Indian Institute of Technology Madras has partnered with Energy Systems Catapult UK to work on net zero innovation and sustainability. The partnership will open opportunities for knowledge exchange, applied research and commercialisation of clean energy technologies.  ESC is a UK-government backed innovation centre launched in 2015 and is part of a network of nine technology and innovation centres established by Innovate UK. Catapult Network fosters collaborations between industry, government, research organisations and academia to transform ideas into valuable products and services. Manu Santhanam, Dean, ICSR, Satya Seshadri, faculty head and Nikhil Tambe, chief executive officer, the Energy Consortium, represented the institute while Brendan O’Neill, advisor, innovator support and international, represented Energy Systems Catapult UK and Babita Sharma, senior net zero advisor, British High Commission, were present.  The collaboration aims to facilitate joint innovation programmes in renewable energy, smart grids, energy storage, electric mobility, green hydrogen, green ports and maritime. Joint workshops and studies tailored to Indian and UK context will be undertaken. The MoU will enable greater access to global innovation networks, especially for Indian startups …

‘AI Is Fundamentally Incompatible With Environmental Sustainability’

‘AI Is Fundamentally Incompatible With Environmental Sustainability’

Published by Webster

Image: Galyna_Andrushko/Envato Elements Generative AI is energy-intensive, and the ways in which its environmental impact can be calculated are complex. Consider the downstream effect of generative AI on the environment when examining your company’s own sustainability goals. What side effects might not be immediately visible but could have a major impact? When does most of the energy consumption occur: during training or everyday use? Do “more efficient” AI models actually address any sustainability concerns? The impact of generative AI on electricity generation, water, and air quality AI’s impact on air pollution In December 2024, the University of California, Riverside, and California Institute of Technology calculated that training Meta’s Llama-3.1 produced the same amount of air pollution as more than 10,000 round trips by car between Los Angeles and New York City. The increased air pollution from backup generators at data centers running AI caused regional public health costs of approximately $190 million to $260 million a year, the UC Riverside and Caltech researchers found. AI’s impact on electricity use A 2024 report from the International …

How Paris saw big change in air pollution after bidding goodbye to cars | World News

How Paris saw big change in air pollution after bidding goodbye to cars | World News

Published by Parlour News

Paris has changed a lot over the last 20 years not just in the way it looks, but in the way it breathes. The French capital has taken big steps to cut car traffic, swap roads for bike lanes, and build more green spaces. As a result, the air has become much cleaner. According to The Washington Post, a group that monitors air quality in the region, Airparif, reported this week that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) has dropped by 55 percent since 2005. Nitrogen dioxide, another harmful pollutant, has fallen by 50 per cent. These changes, they said, are thanks to “regulations and public policies,” such as cutting down traffic and banning the most polluting vehicles. Heat maps from 20 years ago showed much of Paris glowing red with nitrogen dioxide, meaning nearly every neighbourhood was above the EU’s safe limit. But by 2023, the red had faded, showing only a few lines of pollution along major roads and highways. Story continues below this ad Health experts call air pollution a “silent killer” because it …

From Tarun Tahiliani to Kutch artisan designers, here’s the summer lookbook | Eye News

From Tarun Tahiliani to Kutch artisan designers, here’s the summer lookbook | Eye News

Published by Parlour News

ZaiD Khatri from Ajrakhpur, a tiny village in the craft-rich Kutch district of Gujarat, didn’t think much about continuing the family tradition of block printing. The 21-year-old loved painting but it was only during the pandemic lockdown that he had fun with it and got so good at it that he subsequently joined Somaiya Kala Vidya, a skilling school for artisans that helps them contemporise design. “I never liked geometry, so I deconstructed, horizontal, vertical ko tod diya, added the fluidity of my paintings and did asymmetrical designs,” says the young designer who has just set a new grammar that scorched the ramp at the recent Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. Taking block printing, tie-and-dye and the wax-resist dyeing technique of batik, he has given a fluidic and most contemporary interpretation to ajrakh that’s not only set to resolve the debate of tradition versus modernity but is expected to rule the summer fashion trends both at home and the world. Be it on summer pantsuits, headgear, kaftans, long summer dresses, capes, wraps and separates in …

Adani Group, ‘Pehle Pankha Aayega’ Film Win 4 Awards For Creative Excellence In Communicating Sustainability

Adani Group, ‘Pehle Pankha Aayega’ Film Win 4 Awards For Creative Excellence In Communicating Sustainability

Published by Webster

New Delhi: The Adani Group, India’s largest and fastest-growing integrated infrastructure conglomerate, shines at the IAA Olive Crown Awards by winning four Gold awards across different categories. The Group was honoured with the award for the Corporate Social Crusader of the Year, the Green Advertiser of the Year, and the Pankha film was crowned with two Gold awards for being the best film in the categories TV/Cinema (Corporate) and Digital by the Olive Crown Awards, which solely recognises and celebrates creative excellence in communicating sustainability. Established in 1938, the International Advertising Association (IAA) is the only global association that represents marketers, advertisers, advertising agencies, and the media. It comprises 56 chapters with members from 76 countries, including the top 10 economies in the world, and is headquartered in New York. “Our green initiatives demonstrate our businesses’ critical role in safeguarding the planet for future generations. The Corporate Social Crusader of the Year award is a testament to our unwavering commitment. It underscores the positive impact of the Adani Group’s dedication to clean energy in enhancing …

‘Global Model For The Future’: Bill Gates Lauds India’s Leadership In Innovation, Health, And Sustainability

‘Global Model For The Future’: Bill Gates Lauds India’s Leadership In Innovation, Health, And Sustainability

Published by Webster

Last Updated:March 19, 2025, 21:40 IST Looking ahead, Bill Gates reaffirmed the Gates Foundation’s commitment to working alongside Indian innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to scale breakthroughs in AI, healthcare, and sustainable development globally The platform brought together global industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to accelerate India’s role in driving scalable, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions for global challenges. Image/News18 Future Forward, a high-impact global forum hosted by the CII in collaboration with the Gates Foundation and the Women’s Collective Forum, convened on Wednesday at PM Sangrahalaya, Teen Murti, New Delhi. The platform brought together global industry leaders, policymakers, and investors to accelerate India’s role in driving scalable, sustainable, and technology-driven solutions for global challenges. The forum featured a keynote address by Bill Gates, Chair and Board Member, Gates Foundation, who highlighted that India is building the future with its pioneering role in affordable healthcare, AI-powered diagnostics, and digital public infrastructure. He reinforced the importance of scaling India’s innovative solutions globally to address pressing challenges in emerging economies. “India is not just building for itself; it is …

Scientists Find Wastewater Bacteria That Break Down PET Plastic, Aiding Pollution Control

Scientists Find Wastewater Bacteria That Break Down PET Plastic, Aiding Pollution Control

Published by Webster

Our environment continues to grapple with plastic pollution, with microplastics infiltrating the air, food, and water. Scientists are actively seeking methods to break down this persistent material. A new development has identified bacteria in wastewater that can degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a plastic widely used in packaging and textiles. The discovery has raised hopes of reducing PET waste, which contributes significantly to microplastic contamination in water bodies. Research efforts are now focused on understanding and enhancing the plastic-degrading ability of these microbes. Microbes Capable of Breaking Down PET Identified According to a study published in Environmental Science and Technology, bacteria of the Comamonas genus have been found to degrade PET. Comamonas bacteria, commonly found in wastewater, were already known to grow on plastics in aquatic environments. This prompted Dr. Ludmilla Aristilde, an environmental biochemist at Northwestern University, and her team to investigate whether these microbes consume plastic as a source of energy. The study revealed that Comamonas testosteroni could break down PET, leading to the release of nano-sized plastic particles into water. Enzyme Responsible for …

Data Centres Can Cut Energy Use By Up To 30% With Just About 30 Lines of Code, Research Shows

Data Centres Can Cut Energy Use By Up To 30% With Just About 30 Lines of Code, Research Shows

Published by Webster

Research has found that data centres can reduce their energy usage by up to 30% simply by altering around 30 lines of code in the Linux kernel’s network stack. Scientists from the University of Waterloo in Canada identified inefficiencies in the way servers process incoming network traffic. The breakthrough comes from interrupt request suspension, a technique that optimises CPU power efficiency by reducing unnecessary interruptions during high-traffic conditions. Typically, when a new data packet enters the network, it triggers an interrupt request, causing the CPU core to pause its current task to process the data, slowing things down.  The new code reduces interrupt requests by allowing the system to actively check the network for new data packets when needed instead of waiting for each individual interrupt. However, since this approach is power-intensive, the system reverts to interrupt handling when traffic slows. By refining how the kernel handles IRQs, data throughput improves by up to 45% while ensuring tail latency remains low. In other words, the system can handle more traffic without delays for the most …