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Union Minister for Environment, Bhupender Yadav, called for the automotive industry to adopt more sustainable practices during his speech at the 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circularity in New Delhi today. The conference, organized by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), focused on ‘Nature Positive Recycling,’ bringing together key industry leaders to discuss how the auto sector can help the environment while growing economically.

Learning from Nature to Improve Recycling

Minister Yadav highlighted that the best example of recycling comes from nature itself. He explained that nature operates without producing waste, and the automotive industry should aim to adopt similar practices. He urged the industry to design vehicles and systems that can be easily reused or recycled, helping to protect the environment.

The Minister pointed out that by moving towards a circular economy, the industry could save on raw materials, reduce pollution, and create new jobs in green technologies. This shift, he said, is essential for balancing growth with sustainability.

Government Policies Supporting Sustainability

Yadav also discussed several government programs aimed at making the automotive sector more sustainable. The Vehicle Scrappage Policy, for example, encourages replacing old, polluting vehicles with cleaner, newer models. This is expected to reduce harmful emissions in the country. New rules for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs), which will come into effect in April 2025, ensure that old vehicles are recycled properly, keeping the environment safe.

In addition, the government is pushing for electric vehicles (EVs) through schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) and the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI). By 2030, it is expected that EVs will make up 35% of all vehicle sales in India, which could cut down on carbon emissions significantly.

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