Monthly Archives

March 2023

ProductsWellness

Death Wish Dark Roast’ Coffee from Bevzilla

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

Take a sip  and explore the world of rich, darkly roasted coffee that is gluten-free,

vegan-friendly, and free of any additional preservatives, additives, or sugar. Bevzilla, the connoisseur of flavourful coffee in the Beverage industry is emerging as an innovative instant coffee brand with indigenous flavors. The brand has introduced newly curated ‘Death Wish Dark roast coffee’ to their expansive coffee line, promising a rich experience of premium and delicious breakfast beverages.

Bevzilla coffee is made up of finest coffee beans, roasted to absolute perfection with notes of dark chocolate and black cherry. These dark roast coffee beans have a powerful flavor and are five times stronger than regular coffee. These premium beans are crafted only by using 100% pure Arabica beans that have been perfectly roasted to be rich and never bitter. Its low acidity makes it gentle on the stomach, adding to its benefits. Notably, the coffee mix is FDA & FSSAI approved.

Availability : www.bevzilla.co

About Bevzilla:

Bevzilla was founded in September 2020 by its co-founders Divisha Chaudhry and Anurag Chhabra. Launched as an alternative to unhealthier options, Bevzilla made India’s first Instant Coffee Cubes that not only cut time but made a cup of coffee healthy. The cubes consist of pure Date Palm Jaggery which are sustainably sourced from the farmers of Tamil Nadu making it not just the finest cup of coffee but also a brand that offers products which are indigenous and sourced using methods that do not cause any imbalance in nature or animal habitat.

Along with coffee cubes, its product range also deals with Instant Coffee Powder, Instant Iced Tea and Hot Chocolate. In the coming days, Bevzilla plans to roll out products in several markets across various GCC countries including Dubai, to expand their reach.

Get your pick at [https://www.bevzilla.co/]

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Skin-Care

Tamanu Balm by Kamree

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

An organic balm from Kamree known as Tamanu Balm is an antioxidant-rich skin product that repairs damaged skin and provides nourishment to stretch mark-prone skin. The balm relieves those suffering from serious skin issues such as psoriasis, eczema, hyperpigmentation and skin burn caused by UV rays, as well as minor skin concerns such as premature ageing, open pores, stretch marks, pigmentation and cracked heels. It reduces collagen growth, protects against almost all skin issues, and helps in healthy skin cell growth.

Kamree Tamanu Balm is made up of organic products, where each ingredient has its own unique skin healing properties. It is made from Tamanu Oil which has anti-inflammatory properties along with cocoa and butter that help in hydration and skin nourishment. Common issues such as skin itching, cuts, and bruises are cured by shea butter, another ingredient is Kokum butter which helps in the production of healthy skin cells.

The balm also includes Raspberry and Almond oil, which is the richest source of Vitamin A, repairs the skin texture, and helps in collagen growth. Vitamin E in the balm protects the skin against the harmful effects of UV rays and also against the effects of free radicals. The presence of Cranberry oil in the Tamanu balm strikes out skin inflammation and irritation by nourishing and toughening up the protective skin layer. Jojoba Oil is another ingredient that has hydrating and nourishing properties that moisturize the skin and provides relief.

This balm is also safe for kids and helpful in treating nappy rashes and insect bites. It is natural and has no side effects on the baby’s skin. Price: INR 999/-

Availabe at Amazon

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CSR

NAVYA: Building a self-sustaining ecosystem for Rural women

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

An initiative by Apollo Tyres Foundation, Women’s Day Special – “The beauty of empowering others is that your own power is not diminished in the process”- Barbara Colorose 

A woman, if provided with the opportunity to learn and grow, is a change agent of the society. Education and income-generation opportunities are essential fundamentals to achieve economic independence and establish one’s identity in the society. So much so, that these fundamentals are now legal rights etched within the overall ambit of Human Rights. However, there still lies a gap between granting rights and monitoring their rightful implementation. Much of our rural India still limits women to the four walls of their homes. The occupational segregation is so much prevalent due to the age-old patriarchal norms, women even if educated are discouraged to work.  

The falling rate of engagement of women in labour force participation in India is quite alarming, and this decline is greater in rural workforce than the urban workforce. According to International Labour Organisation, the labour force participation in India fell from 35.8 percent in 1994 to 20.7 percent in 2019. This was further deteriorated during COVID times. India is ranked 11th from the bottom among 131 countries, in its comparative index of female workforce participation.  

Agriculture is the major income source of rural India, with 71% of female workers employed in the sector. But these field are distant from the concept of “level playing fields” for women. Apart from handful work opportunities, the poorest of the community in rural India, works as daily wage labourers. Here women may be given work but are paid less compared to their male counterparts and go through extreme levels of harassment, on routine basis.  

“We at, Apollo Tyres Foundation (ATF), believe in leading a change to drive and increase women participation by building a self-sustaining ecosystem for all. Amongst ATF’s multitude of programmes, Navya is a flagship programme for rural women of India. The beneficiaries of the programme are women from disadvantaged communities or economically weak families of rural India. Programme Navya assisted these women in forming self-help groups, livelihood training and income generation, along with government linkages and access to markets. The Programme has directly outreached to over 15,000 women through livelihood initiatives, and as an extension to the initiatives we have linked over 24,000 women beneficiaries with the Government schemes”, says  Rinika Grover, Head Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Apollo Tyres Ltd.

Today, these beneficiaries are earning and supporting their families. Many of them have established their livelihood unit and are now providing income opportunities and trainings to other women. Some of them are also engaged in philanthropy.  

Our beneficiaries have not just limited their journey to their self-growth but are helping as many as possible. That thought is the torch bearer of the concept of our campaign, EkNaam, which marks its 5th edition this year. There are numerous success stories of Programme Navya and of other external organisations who are contributing to livelihood enhancement projects. The annual campaign is to honour our beneficiaries who are trailblazers and are now playing an influential role in society.  

“For the year 2023, aligning with International Women’s Day theme #EmbraceEquity, our EkNaam campaign identifies and felicitates 8 women who have worked as change agents in women empowerment and gender equality”, adds Grover.

Amongst our numerous beneficiaries, we have picked a handful of inspirational stories.  

Asha Karunakaran from Tamil Nadu
 BEFORE - Asha came from a family of four and her husband was the only earning member of the family. His income was inconsistent as he was a daily wage labourer and their life entailed challenges for everyday needs. They could not enroll their daughters to school as well.  
HER JOURNEY - Asha aspired to be financially stable and support her family during the adversities. She learnt about ‘Clean My Village (CMV)’ project of ATF and enrolled herself for training in solid waste management. Thereafter, she was selected as a member of Nirmala Brigade (cleaning staff) under CMV. Subsequently, she tapped the potential of transforming waste flowers to wealth (Potpourri). Her innovation brought strides of sustainability in solid waste management, and she became the key responsible person of the project leading a team.
AFTER - To this date, she has conducted 25+ awareness sessions on solid waste management, advocating over 1,500 people. Today, she earns a monthly income of INR12,000 and is financially supporting her household.  To this date, she has conducted 25+ awareness sessions on solid waste management, advocating over 1,500 people. Today, she earns a monthly income of INR12,000 and is financially supporting her household.  

“My initiative to valorise waste dedicates my determination to make economic opportunity out of waste. Today, I am paving path of sustainable development for my community”

– Asha Karunakaran
Ramilaben Parmar from Gujarat

BEFORE - Ramilaben’s family of three was economically weak. Her husband, who was then a daily wage labourer, earned less than INR100/day. With this minuscule income, their situation was hand to mouth throughout the year. Her husband was an alcohol addict and physically abused Ramilaben every now and then.  
HER JOURNEY - Ramilaben took it upon herself to uplift her family from extreme poverty and educate her daughter, so that at least her daughter could live a life with dignity. She enrolled in ATF’s organic farming programme and learnt the Systematic Rice
AFTER - Today, her monthly income accounts up to INR25,000 and she is educating her daughter with her income. Her daughter has completed her schooling and is enrolled in a vocational course.  

“My firm belief that times will change, if you work for it- paid off. Today I am the secretary of Waghodia Women Credit Co-operative Society and the nucleus of financially secure and happy family!” 

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Sustainable Startup Stories

Minus – crafting plastic waste

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

A young team headed by an IITian and Niftian, launched Minus Degre, with a wish to change the perception of plastic to the world. As the name suggests,  Minus Degre, Minus stands for Reducing the impact of plastic pollution While Degre for Closing the loop by recycling of Plastic waste.

“The plastic that we use every day and throw can yield as products and profit like gold. If the resource is channelized by recycling and upcycling. We want to create product keeping in mind the aspect of sustainability, a community which is of the people for the people and by the people”, says the duo Rahul & Vikas. Everyone at Minus Degre firmly believes in a beautiful quote by WILL.I.AM that “Waste is not until we waste it”

The Motivation

There was a time, plastic was not in trend. We used fabric bags, glass bottle, tin cans and what not. That was the time when people were believers of reuse, regenerate and recycle. My grandmother is example of it. she used to craft product out of the single use plastic like plastic wrapper & shopping bags, old clothes and also she used to use single use items till the time it’s not usable like using plastic bottle for storing oil & salt, coconut shells for storing spices etc.

Now things have changed, we moved to a faster culture, where we left behind the “Regeneration” culture. That is what we plan to bring with Minus degre “Regeneration culture”. In India we generate 25940 tonnes of plastic waste every day, making us largest contributor of the plastic waste in packaging sector. More than 1/3rd of total ” branded plastic ” ends up in the landfills: milk pouches, wrappers, etc. which is majorly from household.

At Minus, the short-lived household plastic waste is converted into product which can help not letting the plastic to end-up in landfills. We aim at reducing the genesis of virgin plastic by replacing it with reused and recycled plastic products of superior quality. We believe in a more realistic approach to the plastic problem. Plastic is not waste as long as we create value from it. Which is why we believe that the world should move from the misuse to reuse of plastic. It is the wiser thing to do – for our planet, for our businesses, for our communities. We want build sustainable future around it.

The Process

It all starts with collecting plastic waste from industries, ragpickers and kabadiwalas, washing them to remove dirt’s & label, drying, and then segregating based on grade of plastic and colour. Then these are shredded into small flakes which are again properly cleaned to remove left-over dirt. They are dried to remove every bit of moisture from it. These flakes are then moulded into required shape and products are then sanded and polished to give smooth finish.

The Inspiration

Before the COVID plastic pollution was high but with the onset of COVID there have been drastic increase in the plastic consumption in form of mask, PPE kit, food packaging as we preferred safety over environment concern. That is not the problem, the real problem is that we disposed them irresponsibly and this irresponsible behaviours of ours that is mounting additional stress on already stressed situation of plastic pollution.

Plastic is one of the most versatile material that we have ever developed. It uses expanse from simplest one like spoon, toys to most intricate one like parts of airplane. It takes around 400 years breakdown plastics so why not utilize its durability rather than just letting rot and pollute the environment.

We see this situation as an opportunity as thing that is trash for other is gold for us. The vast untapped potential in current situation, durability & versatility of plastics and the positive impact that our initiative will bring to environment and society inspire us in present moment and is also wiser thing to do – for our planet, for our businesses, for our communities. We want to build sustainable future around it.

The Accomplishments

Now, we have an online community of 1k+ people, our own live website, and our products are listed on 10 sustainable e-com platforms. Our solution has already given us a footprint in India as well as in Europe, UAE, and North American countries. And our recent collaboration with the US Retailers- Anthropology and with KIA helped us venture into corporate giftings. Moreover, Minus has been featured in numerous prestigious newspapers like The Indian Express, Platform Magazine, etc. for our work.

We are quite positive about the coming future because people are realizing how our activities impact the environment. Most importantly the “culture of Regeneration” is back. We have been seeing the shift toward the sustainable approach and this gives us hope.     

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EnvironmentMedia Coverage

Joshimath Crisis– Natural or Man made, Is it Landslide or land subsidence?

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

The reason behind the recent damage to buildings and other structures in Uttarakhand’s Joshimath is yet to be ascertained, whether it is land subsidence or land slide.  It has  led to dangerous cracks in over 863 houses of the around 4500 buildings the houses in the Himalayan town of India, since October 2021. At least 181 of the buildings have been placed in the unsafe zone, and 275 families have been moved out to safer areas.

The vulnerable nature of the natural habitat combined with over development have played havoc.

The town which was built on an ancient landslide debris, being landslide prone and vulnerable, combined with the pressure of development, have triggered the havoc.  It is yet another example of over exploitation of the natural and vulnerable resources. Thousands of pilgrims stay in Joshimath – known as the gateway to Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib pilgrimage sites – as they halt in the town on their way to Badrinath

Also, there was  February 2021 floods in Uttarakhand that resulted in over 200 dead and missing due to  an avalanche that dropped about 27 million cubic metres of rock and glacier ice from the nearby Ronti mountain.

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in their concluding report on Uttarakhand floods stated, “In India, this is a unique, unprecedented and first reported incident of glacier ice and rock having a cascading impact on debris flow. But, similar types of rock falls and glaciered ice avalanche events took place in European Alps, the Russian Caucasus, Canada, and Nepal in the past. The effect of climate change and global warming are evident in Himalayan glaciers and mountains. Therefore, it is urgently needed to share and learn from the best practices available nationally and internationally to minimize the impact of future hazards and risks in the Indian Himalayan regions. It is also recommended that existing and future HEPs (Hydro-Electric Power Project) must follow recommendations/ suggestions and implement all necessary safety measures during all phases of activities including planning, feasibility studies, construction, and operation.”.

Source: https://ndma.gov.in/sites/default/files/PDF/Reports/Detalied_report_UK_Disaster.pdf

Infact, there are several other regions in the Himalayas facing a similar situation. Take for example, Rudraprayag’s Marora village, about 100 kms from Joshimath, also developed cracks in the houses in the year 2021. And as a result, out of 43 families of the village, 13 have shifted and the locals blame these cracks on the 125km long Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail project. While there are cracks reported from Karnprayag and Mussoorie as well.

“Unlike many mountain chains in the world, the Himalayas are the youngest and most unstable and are prone to natural disasters. Moreover they have a much lower carrying capacity than plains and thus cannot sustain more human pressure.  Himalayas should stop copying the plains – wider roads, high-rise buildings and big infrastructure projects”, says Chandra Bhushan, CEO, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability and Technology (iFOREST).

Joshimath: Landslide in the Joshimath of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. Cracks started appearing in the houses due to landslides causing panic spread in the whole city. (PTI Photo) (PTI01_06_2023_000012B)

“Switch to sustainable tourism, follow the example of Bhutan, which has capped the number of travellers by imposing a sustainable development fee of $200 per day. A part of this fee goes into environmental protection and enhancing livelihood for local residents.  Create jobs in the environment sector- biodiversity conservation, high-value organic farming, sustainable forestry, glacier and water body protection, etc. And they can be incentivised by the rest of the country to do this. This is because they are major water sources that sustain the plains and their glaciers, forests and biodiversity are essential for country’s ecological security. While some progress has been made on payments for ecosystem services, a lot more needs to be done so that these states can develop and prosper without destroying themselves”, adds Bhushan.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that ecology and environment need to be protected for future generations, at the same time, development projects cannot be stalled, which are necessary not only for development, but at times for safety of citizens as well.

Half the Himalayan population at risk of multiple natural disasters

A study published in January 2022 by researchers in India, Canada and the US found that human settlements in the Himalayas are disproportionately concentrated in areas where the risk of hazards like landslides, floods and wildfires is high. Low-risk regions, in contrast are disproportionately unpopulated. Nearly half the population in the Himalayas lives in areas that face the risk of more than one type of hazard. The study found that areas that are susceptible to multiple hazards are also major corridors for migration and urban development, which are contributing to the rising risk of living in these regions.

Source: “Multi-hazard susceptibility and exposure assessment of the Hindu Kush Himalaya” by Jack Rusk et al, published in Science of The Total Environment

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Events

KAIZEN 2023: A vow to celebrate mankind at its best

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

An initiative by IIT Delhi chapter of National Service Scheme, NSS

Kaizen is a gathering of sociocultural enthusiasts, coming together for good causes and great times – a fest that promises to be exquisite in every sense of the word. Occurring from the 31st of March to 2nd of April, 2023, it is organized by the IIT Delhi chapter of NSS (National Service Scheme) – a highly innovative and inspired bunch who work tirelessly throughout the year on various projects which span across a wide ambit of education, awareness, health and battling stigmas in society. Kaizen occurs as the glorious manifestation of a year’s worth of efforts and countless people’s spirits; a vow to celebrate mankind at its best, when it’s empathetic and generous – the most humane it can be!

Biggest Social Fest of its kind

Attracting a footfall of over 10k, and active outreach to more than 200 universities and colleges all across the country, Kaizen isn’t only the biggest social fest of its kind, but strives to be better every year. The events spanning a multitude of fields and several eminent personalities have been in attendance, such as Justice DY Chandrachud, The Chief Justice of India, Naveli Deshmukh, Miss Universe India 2nd Runner up and NSS Brand Ambassador, Geeta Thatra – a feat we can boast of, purely on account of our consistency and deliberate hard work. This year, NSS is working with 25+ NGOs and CSRs to make Kaizen possible. And it is this enthusiasm that distinguishes it from other fests – the will to grow, learn from the past and capitalize on our mistakes, and constantly be on an exponential slope onwards and upwards.

Perfect platform for budding Sociopreneurs

Some of our most popular events last year included Sociopreneurs, an event that was targeted at the budding race of social entrepreneurs in our country, which attracted a lot of crowd from both IITD and beyond, owing to quality competition and an esteemed panel. There was also Bazinga, a stand-up comedy event, which opened the stage up to everybody from amateurs to stalwarts and other events targeted at tech-enthusiasts as well or those who aim to look at science as a medium for social betterment. This year, as well, Kaizen will include events for people from all arenas and those beholding a variety of interests.

There are workshops being conducted by NGOs covering a broad spectrum of topics such as gender sensitization and the inclusion of LGBTQIA+, as well as guest lectures and panel discussions involving eminent figures such as Jayant Sinha, activist and Member of Parliament, and Mihir Vatsa, Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar holder. In our exclusive flagship event, Social Convention, we’ll attempt to provide a stage to youth with innovative ideas for societal change for pitching to investors, and bridge the gap that exists between the two in the status quo. And on the more scientific side, there’s Social Samadhaan, a case-study competition and Ingenious Geeks, a science exhibition aiming to inculcate the seed of thinking and experimenting in school students from a young age.

An array of exciting activities and handicraft exhibition

There will also be fun, student-driven competitions, such as Satirical Spardha, a parody-making comp, and The Social Sawaal, a wide-scale quizzing event with exciting cash prizes for the winners. In addition to this, there is Rangreza, an event to highlight sustainability in the textiles industry, by setting up flamboyant displays of our own interpretations of fashion. Similarly, Influencers United will provide a platform for bringing together those who have gained traction publically on account of their social work and give them a space to discuss their experiences and contributions, and inspire us all with it. Concluding the line-up with exciting stalls, ranging from products and handicraft by self-help groups to food and cuisine from all corners of the country – Kaizen promises to be a must-see, and of course, a must-attend!

Mark your Calendar

So, mark your calendars for Kaizen, and get ready to see it in its fully offline glory from the 31st March to 2nd of April, and unfold into the biggest and brightest proportions yet. Join in, and get a chance to participate in exciting events, interact with dignitaries, and have a marvelous time in this bonanza of social celebration!

Register through unstop and the insta handle of NSS, IIT Delhi (@nssiitd).

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Environment

From COP26 to the G20: How the LiFE Project is Driving India’s Net-Zero Emissions Efforts

by Team Conscious Carma
written by Team Conscious Carma

Anup Garg, Founder, and Director, World of Circular Economy (WOCE), a Delhi-based climate solutions start-up

India is a rapidly growing economy and one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the world. With its rapidly increasing population, urbanization, and industrialization, India’s carbon footprint is only expected to grow, making it all the more imperative to take action toward reducing emissions and achieving its Net Zero Mission 2070.

The Indian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the LiFE project at the COP26 conference in Glasgow in 2021. The project aims to promote sustainable lifestyles and tackle climate change, with a focus on carbon capture, carbon calculating, and offsetting. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the LiFE project could cut global emissions by 2 billion tonnes by 2030, which is approximately one-fifth of the emissions cuts needed to achieve net zero by 2030. This highlights the critical role that India can play in reducing emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.

With India’s upcoming G20 Presidency this year, there is an opportunity to globalize the LiFE initiative and make a significant impact in the fight against climate change.

Carbon capturing, calculating, and offsetting are crucial elements of reducing India’s carbon footprint. The demand for companies providing these solutions is increasing, and there is a need for innovative approaches to address the country’s emissions.

This will discuss the challenges and solutions to reducing GHG emissions in India and the crucial role that carbon capturing, calculating, and offsetting play in this process.

Challenges in Reducing GHG Emissions

Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions are the three main sources of GHG emissions. The primary challenge in reducing emissions from these sources lies in accurately capturing, calculating, and offsetting carbon emissions. The lack of a comprehensive, unified, and user-friendly system to measure, monitor and report emissions makes it difficult for organizations to report scope 3 emissions. The absence of incentives or recognition for reducing emissions also discourages people from taking action.

Solutions

Capturing Carbon Emissions: To accurately capture carbon emissions, India needs a one-stop solution for individuals and organizations that provides customized technologies and solutions. Entrepreneurs must collaborate to bring such an ecosystem into existence and refine it continually. This would involve investing in new technologies and tools to capture and measure carbon emissions from various sources, including industrial processes, transportation, and energy production.

Calculating Carbon Emissions: To overcome the challenges of calculating carbon emissions, organizations must simplify their reporting methods and adopt technologies that automate the calculation process. There is a growing demand for companies offering solutions that make it easy to report scope 3 emissions, which are the emissions from sources not directly controlled by the organization. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can make the calculation process much more efficient and accurate.

Offsetting Carbon Emissions: Carbon offsetting is the process of reducing or removing GHG emissions from one source to balance out emissions from another source. The Indian government can support the LiFE initiative by providing clear, consistent policy support and communication, such as low-emission zones in urban areas and encouraging consumer investments in clean energy technologies. Offsetting carbon emissions can be done by investing in renewable energy sources, planting trees, and implementing carbon capture and storage technologies.

Promoting Green Culture: To foster a green culture, it is important to incentivize individuals and organizations to reduce their carbon footprint. Rewarding people with reward points or gift vouchers for reducing their emissions can be an effective solution. This can also involve education and awareness campaigns to educate people about the importance of reducing emissions and the role they can play in this effort.

Projections

India’s emissions are projected to grow by 5.8% per year from 2020 to 2030, according to a report by the International Energy Agency (IEA). The country is expected to become the world’s second-largest emitter of CO2 after China by 2030, contributing to over 7% of global emissions. However, if the government implements the measures outlined in the LiFE project, it has the potential to significantly reduce these projections and take a leading role in the fight against climate change.

Conclusion

Reducing GHG emissions in India is a complex challenge that requires a multi-pronged approach. Accurately capturing, calculating, and offsetting carbon emissions, fostering a green culture, and providing clear policy support are all critical components. The LiFE project offers a comprehensive solution to reducing emissions in India and can be a catalyst for global change. With the right policies and incentives, India has the potential to take a leading role in the fight against climate change and achieve its Net Zero Mission 2070.

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