Environmental Defense Fund

At a Glance

Industry

Nonprofit

Project Types

Industrial Energy Efficiency, Supply Chain, Sustainability and Energy Management Strategy

Year

2024

Location

Delhi, Delhi

Summary

Aharnish Arpit Tirkey supported Environmental Defense India Foundation (EDIF) in developing a Minimum Viable Package (MVP) to enhance sustainability reporting and performance for textile MSMEs in Coimbatore.

Goals

Environmental Defense India Foundation (EDIF) enlisted Aharnish to conduct research on how textile MSMEs in Coimbatore could enhance sustainability reporting with the following focus areas. - Improving upstream sustainability performance to align with the requirements of larger corporations - Addressing financial, technical, and supply chain challenges faced by MSMEs - Developing practical, scalable solutions that could be widely adopted

Solutions

Aharnish's research proposed the following solutions: - Financial Support: Implement schemes such as the Credit Linked Capital Subsidy for Technology Upgradation (CLCS-TU) and the Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme (LMCS) to provide financial assistance for adopting sustainable practices. - Technical Assistance: Offer training programs and resources to build the necessary technical expertise among MSMEs. Implement technology solutions like digital platforms and blockchain to enhance supply chain transparency. - Regulatory Support: Simplify regulatory requirements and provide clear guidelines tailored to MSMEs. Establish regulatory support services and compliance assistance. - Incentives and Recognition: Develop incentive systems, including subsidies, tax breaks, and recognition programs, to motivate MSMEs to adopt sustainable practices. - Support Networks: Leverage industry associations, government support, and collaborative networks to provide ongoing assistance, training, and promotion of best practices among MSMEs. - Sustainability Certifications: Promote the adoption of sustainability certifications such as ISO 14001 and Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification Scheme, providing financial support for certification processes.

Potential Impact

The solutions by Aharnish could bring about impact in multiple dimensions as detailed below. - Environment: Significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and resource consumption through the adoption of sustainable practices. - Economic Aspects: Enhanced market opportunities for MSMEs as they align with the sustainability requirements of larger corporations and international buyers. - Reputation and Brand Image: Improved reputation and brand image for MSMEs as they adopt and report on sustainable practices, attracting new customers and investors. - Regulatory Aspects: Better compliance with environmental regulations, reducing the risk of fines and legal issues. - Cost Savings: Long-term cost savings for MSMEs through energy efficiency, waste reduction, and sustainable resource use. - Supply Chain: Enhanced sustainability performance of the entire supply chain, contributing to larger corporate and national sustainability goals.

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