I had a growing sense of responsibility, both personal and professional to kickstart my sustainability journey. As an engineer and materials scientist, I was trained to innovate, to create, and to push the boundaries of technology. But over time, I started asking: What are the long-term consequences of these innovations? What happens to the materials we use once products are discarded? How do we design for the planet, not just for performance?

Working in electronics made this even more urgent as it is a major contributor to waste and environmental degradation. I saw a clear need to rethink how we design materials, devices, and systems from the ground up. 

That realization became the foundation of my work: integrating sustainability into tech development, launching ventures like Thrivescape and Bitsem, and helping others rethink their sustainability journeys. I’m here because I believe sustainability isn’t a side project but a design principle, a mindset, and a shared responsibility. And the time to act is now.

• Redesigning materials and electronics: spearheading the development of sustainable materials for electronic components, focusing on biodegradable and recyclable options.
• Life cycle assessment: conducting life cycle assessments (LCA) of electronic devices to identify and mitigate their environmental impacts from production to disposal.
• Circular economy initiatives: promoting and integrating circular economy principles in product development, ensuring materials and components can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.
• Research and development: pioneering research on biodegradable electronics materials, aiming to create sustainable alternatives for traditional electronic components.
• Sustainability awareness and training:  organizing and conducting workshops and training sessions to educate employees and stakeholders on sustainable practices and technologies.
• Collaborations:  establishing partnerships with industry leaders, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations to drive sustainability initiatives and share best practices.
• Contributed to the development of organizational policies and guidelines for sustainable practices in technology and e-waste management.

Implementing sustainable practices often required fundamental changes to long-established workflows and processes. This naturally meets with resistance, especially in industries that are risk-averse or tightly regulated. Another major challenge has been convincing companies to embrace sustainability in the face of perceived higher costs.

I am incredibly proud of the journey I have taken so far wearing different hats and living different roles, all leading to the road of sustainability that was a result of my ‘just do it’ attitude. Seeing the positive impact of my work on various sections of the society makes all the efforts worthwhile. I am proud of the work that I am doing in reshaping the world of electronics and creating sustainability in various sectors of technology. I hope to make a small contribution in leaving a future that is greener and more livable.