Ms. Malvika Poddar, MD & Chairperson, Matterhorn Sustainability Reality

12 Apr 2023 , 03:17 PM

Can you please elaborate on Matterhorn Sustainability In Reality? How is it helping in achieving India’s sustainability goals? 

Some of the areas ‘Matterhorn Sustainability In Reality’ is delving into are sustainable packaging, urban water management, carbon capture and sequestering and food waste management. These are key areas that we’ve identified in which we need to make progress if we are to be on track to meeting the National Action Plan for Climate change, specifically in the areas of ecological sustainability, and the development of technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as well as strategies that mitigate climate change. For us, the path to reach these goals is partnering and supporting innovative organizations and disruptive technologies that reduce pollution and waste, leading to an ecologically sustainable future for our nation and the planet. This is the need of the hour, in our opinion.

What are your plans regarding tech integration in these sustainability efforts? Is there any special technology that you are using? 

We partner with and support companies that are developing innovative, proprietary technologies to biodegrade plastic. This includes a new biotransformation technology that ensures plastic that escapes into the environment will fully return to nature without creating any microplastics if not first recycled. Another example is our work with intelligent wireless water tank monitoring and automation systems that reduce energy consumption and water costs — this is how tech, rather than creating more energy costs, can in fact reduce energy costs. We also invest in startups developing innovative carbon capture and sequestering technologies to reduce emissions from power plants. Sustainable packaging is another area we’re working in. With the rise of food apps we are seeing a lot more plastic waste generated, and we’re committed to doing what we can to reduce this. These are just some of the diverse ways technologies can be used to solve the problem, rather than exacerbate it, and create a more sustainable world. We believe much more is possible.

Why is there a need for collaboration and government support to promote sustainable practices and reduce plastic pollution? How can this be ensured?

In the year India is hosting the G20, this is India leading by example. 

India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules are world-leading in their vision, and is the way forward. I believe the Gazette is the Montreal Protocol of its time and if adopted internationally would be a huge step forward in UN efforts to combat plastic pollution. 

At the heart of these Rules lies the concept of promoting innovative alternatives that do no harm to the environment, and is very direct in laying responsibility for end of life disposal. Two ideas are central to these rules. Firstly that producers of plastic have responsibility for the environmentally sound management of the product until the end of its life – and therefore have the responsibility to recycle, or find ways in which plastics can be used to generate energy, or be recycled, for example, in road construction. Secondly that innovative materials and technologies are used which redesign the plastic to leave no trace in nature by being fully biodegradable in the environment. 

One recommendation we have is that Government could start by issuing Provisional Certificates in line with these rules for technologies that can demonstrate full biodegradation of  plastic in ambient conditions – without creating microplastics or toxic residues. This will provide a vital lifeline for the industry and the environment. 

Collaboration between the private sector and public; established industry, the government and startups; is essential to meeting these guidelines. We have to work and partner together to realize this vision.

How can waste prevention and recycling help in bringing the required sustainable change to the environment? 

By conserving resources, managing them more efficiently and reducing pollution, we minimize our impact on the environment. Recycling also generates a circular economy, which is key to sustainably using resources/. 

How can technology become an enabler in the contribution towards a better environment?

Technologies like carbon capture and biodegradable plastic will become a significant enabler in addressing climate change by reducing pollution and wastage. If the use of such technologies becomes the norm, we can drive sustainable change and create a better environment for future generations.

How is innovation essential to a circular economy?

We have to reimagine new ways to use the waste from one industry to generate new products – so the same resource is reused, over and over again. The same resource is reborn in different forms – a piece of plastic packaging is redesigned into a handbag, or a piece of jewellery. Fabric from an old garment is repurposed in new ones. Imagination, innovation, redesign is essential to this – not just in terms of products, but also in the kinds of partnerships that are possible between producers, and new kinds of business models. Technology is part of this process – developing new disruptive, innovative technologies may help us imagine new kinds of products, and uses for waste. Creativity is part of this process. Instead of thinking linearly,, we all will have to learn to ‘re-think’ circularly.