Part 1: Introduction
Check out our introductory video!
What are ecological companies?
"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a commodity to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."
-Aldo Leopold
Introduction of companies
Ravi Packaging
A packaging company based in Maharashtra, was founded in 2003. They focus on making bags out of sustainable materials. They are attempting to inspire people to live a sustainable life and embark a journey like their own. Their journey inspires us, and we cannot wait to learn more from them!
GreenSouls
GreenSouls was formed in January 2017, by three friends who felt the need to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of products for the eco-aware generation. Their brand “mitti se mitti tak…” was born out of genuine concern for the environment.
With sustainability at it's heart, GreenSouls aims to create awareness and maintain eco-happiness by providing recycled, upcycled and earth-friendly products.
With sustainability at it's heart, GreenSouls aims to create awareness and maintain eco-happiness by providing recycled, upcycled and earth-friendly products.
Part 2: Research
The main research question that we investigated was: “What measures do companies take to implement a more eco-friendly policy and to attract more customers?”
We conducted our research with 6 basic steps:
Step 1: Interviews with organizations
Step 2: Analyzing the websites
Step 3: Interviews with customers
Step 4: Comparing the Organisations
Step 5: Sustainable Development Goals Activity
Step 6: Conclusion
Our primary source of information were interviews. Interviews were conducted with owners with sustainable organisations, and customers who choose to make smart and sustainable consumption choices.
Step 1: Interviews with organisations
Interview 1: Ravi Goenka, Ravi Packaging
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Interview 2: Nehal Desai, GreenSouls
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Summary of interviews
Interview 1: Ravi Packaging
Name: Vikas Goenka
Profession: Businessman, Entrepreneur
Organisation: Ravi Packaging
Mr. Goenka says that his company has always tried to make their products reusable and sustainable. Sustainability, to them, is to reduce waste, minimize usage of toxic products and helping the environment every way possible. They first had to manufacture plastic bags, that could be reused at least 2- 3 times. With time, they started with non-woven bags, that could be used around 5-6 times. Eventually, they made way for cotton and jute bags, that last for months and years. Their company upgraded, and also began picking up designs, for making designer bags.
For them, it was more of a necessity to become an ecological company as opposed to government regulations. There was a surge in demand for ecological and sustainable products, as awareness increased. He says, "We have to change our business methods according to the circumstances and customers' demands."
The company always takes the risk to try new products and designs because, as they say, 'risks are the essence of a business'. They try to keep the price of their products in relevance to the demand. Instead of using disposable packaging, they sell their products in a rather sustainable packaging method.
According to Mr. Goenka, "Every ecological idea has to be backed up with some business sense."
Profession: Businessman, Entrepreneur
Organisation: Ravi Packaging
Mr. Goenka says that his company has always tried to make their products reusable and sustainable. Sustainability, to them, is to reduce waste, minimize usage of toxic products and helping the environment every way possible. They first had to manufacture plastic bags, that could be reused at least 2- 3 times. With time, they started with non-woven bags, that could be used around 5-6 times. Eventually, they made way for cotton and jute bags, that last for months and years. Their company upgraded, and also began picking up designs, for making designer bags.
For them, it was more of a necessity to become an ecological company as opposed to government regulations. There was a surge in demand for ecological and sustainable products, as awareness increased. He says, "We have to change our business methods according to the circumstances and customers' demands."
The company always takes the risk to try new products and designs because, as they say, 'risks are the essence of a business'. They try to keep the price of their products in relevance to the demand. Instead of using disposable packaging, they sell their products in a rather sustainable packaging method.
According to Mr. Goenka, "Every ecological idea has to be backed up with some business sense."
Interview 2: Greensouls
Name: Nehal Desai
Profession: Co-founder of GreenSouls, Entrepreneur
Organisation: GreenSouls
GreenSouls was formed in January 2017, by three friends who felt the need to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of products for the eco-aware generation. Their brand “mitti se mitti tak…” was born out of genuine concern for the environment.
With sustainability at it's heart, GreenSouls aims to create awareness and maintain eco-happiness by providing recycled, upcycled and earth-friendly products.
Mrs. Desai says that their company's mission reaches beyond their target to resolve the need-of-the-hour environmental issues, as they try to address the need for upliftment of the underprivileged women of the society. They have tried to rope in the local underprivileged women for the manufacturing of as many handmade products as possible.
Their products include 100% natural and recycled bags, 100% Earth friendly stationery, and in light of the current situation, 100% biodegradable masks. According to her, on an average, around 150 thousand trees are cut to meet the global pencil demand, and around 90% pencils are used to full capacity. Therefore, more than 11 thousand seed pens and pencils have been manufactured by them. This helps to combat around 33.5 gms of carbon emission during the production of industrial pencils.
Most importantly, their beliefs lie strongly in "The circle of life. Every beginning has an end, but most importantly every end has a beginning. What one believes in, is what one should live by."
Profession: Co-founder of GreenSouls, Entrepreneur
Organisation: GreenSouls
GreenSouls was formed in January 2017, by three friends who felt the need to bridge the gap between the supply and demand of products for the eco-aware generation. Their brand “mitti se mitti tak…” was born out of genuine concern for the environment.
With sustainability at it's heart, GreenSouls aims to create awareness and maintain eco-happiness by providing recycled, upcycled and earth-friendly products.
Mrs. Desai says that their company's mission reaches beyond their target to resolve the need-of-the-hour environmental issues, as they try to address the need for upliftment of the underprivileged women of the society. They have tried to rope in the local underprivileged women for the manufacturing of as many handmade products as possible.
Their products include 100% natural and recycled bags, 100% Earth friendly stationery, and in light of the current situation, 100% biodegradable masks. According to her, on an average, around 150 thousand trees are cut to meet the global pencil demand, and around 90% pencils are used to full capacity. Therefore, more than 11 thousand seed pens and pencils have been manufactured by them. This helps to combat around 33.5 gms of carbon emission during the production of industrial pencils.
Most importantly, their beliefs lie strongly in "The circle of life. Every beginning has an end, but most importantly every end has a beginning. What one believes in, is what one should live by."
Step 2: Analysis of the company websites
Organisation: GreenSouls; (Brand: Mitti se mitti tak)
The website, in its entirety, reflects the sustainable policies mentioned in the interview. It embodies what the company truly stands for, "Every beginning has an end, but most importantly every end has a beginning. What one believes in, is what one should live by."
The website identifies the company goals, and serves its purpose of not only informing potential customers about the company's products and services, but also persuade them to have a positive outlook on environment and its sustainability.
Product examples include: using scrap materials to make the packaging, collaboration with local community, using recyclable and renewable raw materials to make products & making biodegradable products.
One improvement which the organization could make to the website is to add an attractive background colour appealing to the eye.
Organisation: Ravi Packaging
As seen in the pictures of the company’s products page, the product itself is displayed along with a list of materials used to make the products and other details needed to attract customers. However, they plan to further advertise their green policy on their website and introduce deals such as a trading policy. At the moment, the only indication of the ecological policy on their website is their honesty towards the materials they use.
They are also currently working on their website to make their green policies more evident, changing their color scheme and creating a page with their sustainable works. The company as a whole, is always keen on improving their policies and finding more feasible ways to make their work more sustainable and inspire more companies to work with them and implement sustainable work practices within their communities as well.
Step 3: Interviews with customers
As a part of our research, we interviewed customers, or people who can be considered as possible customers of the two considered organisations. For this part of the interview, we prepared a set of questions for the customers. The list of questions are:
1. What do you like the most about this organisation?
2. Do you prefer buying from eco-friendly businesses? Why, or why not?
3. Could you suggest one way in which you think the company will be able to be more eco-friendly.
4. What do you think can bring about more sustainable changes:
i. Smart consumption choices by consumers?
ii. or sustainable production choices by producers?
1. What do you like the most about this organisation?
2. Do you prefer buying from eco-friendly businesses? Why, or why not?
3. Could you suggest one way in which you think the company will be able to be more eco-friendly.
4. What do you think can bring about more sustainable changes:
i. Smart consumption choices by consumers?
ii. or sustainable production choices by producers?
Interview 1
Interview 2
Interview 3
Interview 4
Step 4: Comparing the Organisations
Overall, both the companies are very idealistic and have a common goal - promotion of eco-friendly products and sustainability of the world. They ensure their promise of sustainability in their own special way.
Ravi Packaging manufactures eco-friendly products as well as non-eco-friendly products, based on the needs and demands of their customers. They encourage them to go ahead with the eco-friendly ones, and have been very successful in spreading awareness to their customers about it.
GreenSouls was started by three co-founders and was a very innovative initiative for changing packaging for the biodegradable and non-biodegradable products being produced in the market. This organisation always used eco-friendly products and refuse to use plastic and other such materials as they are confident this is the future.
All in all, both companies work towards sustainability within their company, although their reasons for implementing these policies are drastically different, they keep doing research and development to make their companies and those that they work with more sustainable by the day. The similarities in approach would be how they use energy, both companies attempt to use as little energy as is possible for them.
Ravi Packaging manufactures eco-friendly products as well as non-eco-friendly products, based on the needs and demands of their customers. They encourage them to go ahead with the eco-friendly ones, and have been very successful in spreading awareness to their customers about it.
GreenSouls was started by three co-founders and was a very innovative initiative for changing packaging for the biodegradable and non-biodegradable products being produced in the market. This organisation always used eco-friendly products and refuse to use plastic and other such materials as they are confident this is the future.
All in all, both companies work towards sustainability within their company, although their reasons for implementing these policies are drastically different, they keep doing research and development to make their companies and those that they work with more sustainable by the day. The similarities in approach would be how they use energy, both companies attempt to use as little energy as is possible for them.
Step 5: SDG Activity
The SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) are seventeen interlinked goals that form a global compass for achieving a more sustainable future in which no one is left behind. The goals focus on challenges concerning People, Planet and Prosperity, such as poverty, education and the climate crisis.
The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations and are intended to be achieved by 2030. A total of 193 countries have agreed to adopt the SDGs. To make the goals more concrete, each SDG has a variety of targets, specific points of action, that will lead to the achievement of the SDG.
How can ecological companies relate to SDG's?
Step 6: Conclusion
Going green is not only good for the environment, it can also be good for business. Establishing more eco-friendly practices can offer a number of commercially wise advantages, from bottom-line cost savings to an outstanding market advantage. So does this answer the real question: “What measures do companies take to implement an eco-friendlier policy and to attract more customers?”
Part 3: Evidence of Communication
Through our EUMIND journey, not only have we learnt about sustainable approaches, applying to our homes and companies but we also gained knowledge about one another, our strengths and weaknesses and what we could learn from this EUMIND experience. We used resources such as Zoom and Whatsapp to communicate with one another.
Each one of us have honed upon our skills and learnt new skills from one another. Eventually, collaborating did not become a difficult task, our bonding activities made it easier to collaborate and we learnt how to manage our time in a better manner, where we were able to understand one another and often cover up for each other’s tasks. Overall, our experience as a team was one of many ups and downs, but in the end we have learnt much about one another and how to become better team collaborators which we would be applying to our educational and competitive life.
Each one of us have honed upon our skills and learnt new skills from one another. Eventually, collaborating did not become a difficult task, our bonding activities made it easier to collaborate and we learnt how to manage our time in a better manner, where we were able to understand one another and often cover up for each other’s tasks. Overall, our experience as a team was one of many ups and downs, but in the end we have learnt much about one another and how to become better team collaborators which we would be applying to our educational and competitive life.
Part 4: Comparison and Reflection
1. Comparison
There were stark differences between the approaches taken for research between our team in India and the Netherlands team. The plan behind their research was to interview one company and its respective customers. On the other hand, we decided to compare ecologically friendly companies of 2 quite similar domains: packaging companies with a strong belief in sustainability.
We also looked into focusing on the personal connections between the customers we interviewed and the companies for one company and on third party connections for another company. Whereas, the Netherlands team found all contacts through the internet and recommendations, taking into account formal procedures. However, we did take similar approaches, in doing things like working with manufacturing companies as a whole.
Our methods of data collection were similar, by taking interviews as best we could with COVID restrictions in our respective locations. However, from what we learnt through the Netherlands team, they didn’t focus on video collection and collation but rather on text based methods, whereas we attempted to create a balance of both. We conducted interviews of 4 customers of the companies and 1 official per company. They focused more on data collection from their company officials, which was another difference in our approaches.
Through our conversations with one another, we have learnt quite a bit about the sustainability culture in their part of the world, compared to the issues on our side. The variation is also evident in the approaches we have taken. They focus on greater, deep rooted issues, whereas we research to implement changes such as solar power and proper waste management to move steps ahead.
We also looked into focusing on the personal connections between the customers we interviewed and the companies for one company and on third party connections for another company. Whereas, the Netherlands team found all contacts through the internet and recommendations, taking into account formal procedures. However, we did take similar approaches, in doing things like working with manufacturing companies as a whole.
Our methods of data collection were similar, by taking interviews as best we could with COVID restrictions in our respective locations. However, from what we learnt through the Netherlands team, they didn’t focus on video collection and collation but rather on text based methods, whereas we attempted to create a balance of both. We conducted interviews of 4 customers of the companies and 1 official per company. They focused more on data collection from their company officials, which was another difference in our approaches.
Through our conversations with one another, we have learnt quite a bit about the sustainability culture in their part of the world, compared to the issues on our side. The variation is also evident in the approaches we have taken. They focus on greater, deep rooted issues, whereas we research to implement changes such as solar power and proper waste management to move steps ahead.
2. Reflections
In the end, each one of our group members submitted their own respective insights, knowledge and learnings they took away from this ambitious project.
Sia Bubna, Leader
"The whole experience of EUMIND was so new for me. I cannot express how much I enjoyed it. Communicating with industry experts and learning their way of looking at the environment changed my whole perspective, and made me so much more aware. I also really enjoyed the conversation we had with the students from the Netherlands. Sharing our knowledge with others, and understanding each other's perspectives helped me a lot. I am looking forward to taking part in more such international projects, as it helped me expand my knowledge."
"The whole experience of EUMIND was so new for me. I cannot express how much I enjoyed it. Communicating with industry experts and learning their way of looking at the environment changed my whole perspective, and made me so much more aware. I also really enjoyed the conversation we had with the students from the Netherlands. Sharing our knowledge with others, and understanding each other's perspectives helped me a lot. I am looking forward to taking part in more such international projects, as it helped me expand my knowledge."
Nidhi Karkera, Editor
"EUMIND was a very enriching, exciting and interesting project. It allowed me to work and co-ordinate with people I haven't worked with before, and helped me open my mind to new ideas and opportunities. By working as a team on this project, I learnt how communication flows efficiently among a certain group of people, and how delegated roles make it easier to distribute the tasks.
As the editor of the group, I learnt how certain elements of website development work, how all inputs given by different people of the group co-relate to the topic and, at the same time, reflect their specific ideologies and opinions.
All in all, this project has definitely been the most fascinating and interesting learning experience."
"EUMIND was a very enriching, exciting and interesting project. It allowed me to work and co-ordinate with people I haven't worked with before, and helped me open my mind to new ideas and opportunities. By working as a team on this project, I learnt how communication flows efficiently among a certain group of people, and how delegated roles make it easier to distribute the tasks.
As the editor of the group, I learnt how certain elements of website development work, how all inputs given by different people of the group co-relate to the topic and, at the same time, reflect their specific ideologies and opinions.
All in all, this project has definitely been the most fascinating and interesting learning experience."
Ayushmaan Goyal, Photographer
"EUMIND was a very enriching group project with the need of team skills like communication, cooperation, etc. It was an excellent experience and I learned many ways to protect the environment. I got better with my creativity and researching skills. Communicating with students from the Netherlands went very smoothly and I got to compare ideas about the different ways people can approach the same topic. I learnt their new perspectives and got various creative ideas. It has been a fun-filled and knowledgeable experience and I hope to perform more projects like this with the foreign students."
"EUMIND was a very enriching group project with the need of team skills like communication, cooperation, etc. It was an excellent experience and I learned many ways to protect the environment. I got better with my creativity and researching skills. Communicating with students from the Netherlands went very smoothly and I got to compare ideas about the different ways people can approach the same topic. I learnt their new perspectives and got various creative ideas. It has been a fun-filled and knowledgeable experience and I hope to perform more projects like this with the foreign students."
Jyotirmay Bhadech, Compiler
"EUMIND was a great group project in which I got to interact a lot more with my friends and foreign students. EUMIND taught me how important effective communication & cooperation is. It was a learning and enriching experience for me. At first, I felt a little bit nervous to do things like making and compiling videos but with the help of my team, I was able to get through it. Surprisingly, communication with the foreign students was a smooth sail. It felt great to know that how different people have different insights on the same things. I even learnt about other peoples perspectives about situations. EUMIND was a fun and knowledgeable experience for me. I have a lot of takeaways from it and hope to participate more in such group projects."
"EUMIND was a great group project in which I got to interact a lot more with my friends and foreign students. EUMIND taught me how important effective communication & cooperation is. It was a learning and enriching experience for me. At first, I felt a little bit nervous to do things like making and compiling videos but with the help of my team, I was able to get through it. Surprisingly, communication with the foreign students was a smooth sail. It felt great to know that how different people have different insights on the same things. I even learnt about other peoples perspectives about situations. EUMIND was a fun and knowledgeable experience for me. I have a lot of takeaways from it and hope to participate more in such group projects."
Dhwani Jain, Videographer
"The whole experience of EUMIND was new, enriching and interesting. It allowed me to enhance my skills, work in a group and co-ordinate with people I haven't worked with before. Working on this project with my group, I learned how to take part in things, be more responsible, attentive and to communicate."
Self-assessment
Thank you for being a part of our ecological journey :)