The second day of Eco Sustain Expo 2025 zeroed in on water management and recycling — two of India’s most pressing sustainability challenges. With less than one-third of the country’s wastewater currently treated, the focus on innovative water solutions was timely.
In a panel on The Role of Innovation in Water Management, Dr. Nupur Bahadur of TERI highlighted new technologies to reclaim wastewater. “We must treat wastewater not as waste but as a resource,” she said, describing a pilot project turning sewage into irrigation-quality water. “Innovation in water tech is vital, but equally important is policy support for implementation,” Dr. Bahadur noted in an interview, acknowledging that regulations and funding must keep pace with technology.
Recycling was another focal point on Day 2. During an Advanced Recycling panel, experts discussed India’s journey toward a circular economy. A representative from ITC’s Well-being Out of Waste (WOW) initiative shared how community programs are boosting recycling rates. “One city collected over 500 tons of recyclables in six months once citizens were incentivized,” the representative said, underscoring the impact of public engagement. Startups also demonstrated solutions, from machines converting plastic into fuel to digital platforms connecting waste collectors with recyclers.
Day 3 was devoted to business matchmaking and live demonstrations. Firms like Recykal and METSAR pitched their innovations to prospective investors and government agencies during the expo’s showcase sessions. “For the firms like ours, this expo is very useful — we’ve connected with people who can pilot our technology,” said one clean-tech founder from Hyderabad. Attendees noted that with over 100 exhibitors, the event became a vibrant marketplace for green innovation. Still, industry veterans cautioned that meaningful impact requires sustained collaboration beyond the exhibition halls. As the expo closed, participants departed with new partnerships and renewed resolve to turn these innovations into real-world solutions.
– Raja Aditya
