CII GreenCo Launches Circularity Guidelines to Drive Industrial Resource Efficiency
Chennai, October 10, 2026: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) GreenCo Council has launched the “CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version” during the 17th edition of the CII GreenCo Waste & Resource Management Summit 2026 in Chennai, according to a press release issued by the council. The summit, themed “Accelerating Circular Economy through Resource Efficiency & Innovation,” convened industry leaders, policymakers, and sustainability experts to advance circularity across the country’s manufacturing and process sectors.
The newly introduced framework provides structural indices to evaluate circularity across vital resource inputs, including raw materials, consumables, and packaging. The initiative aims to help industries assess baseline practices, optimize material consumption, enhance resource productivity, and establish measurable accountability benchmarks.
Underscoring the broader social and behavioral necessity of the initiative, Sharad P. Kale, Special Advisor to the Chief Minister of Goa and former scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), stated, “Circularity must begin with a fundamental change in how we view and manage resources. While technology and policy have important roles to play, every individual must recognize the need to reduce waste at source and make circularity a way of life. Responsible consumption, resource conservation and waste reduction must become integral to our daily practices, as well as to the way industries operate. A collective commitment to these principles will be essential to building a sustainable future.”
Emphasizing the strategic necessity of the operational framework, George Menezes, Adviser – Sustainability, Godrej Enterprises Group, noted, “The CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version is an important initiative towards bringing greater structure and direction to circularity practices in Indian industry. Manufacturing and process industries need a common framework that can help them assess their current practices, identify improvement opportunities and measure progress towards circular resource use. A well-defined certification mechanism can further encourage accountability, consistency and continuous improvement. I urge industries to participate in the pilot, apply the guidelines within their operations and share feedback to help strengthen the framework for wider industry adoption.”
Outlining the organization’s continuous sustainability trajectory, K. S. Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII Green Business Centre, observed, “Over the years, CII GreenCo has supported Indian industry in advancing environmental sustainability through several pioneering initiatives. From the GreenCo Rating System to Zero Waste to Landfill and Zero Liquid Discharge certifications, these initiatives have helped companies strengthen their sustainability practices and pursue measurable environmental improvements. The launch of the CII GreenCo Circularity Guidelines – Pilot Version builds on this journey by addressing the growing need to embed circularity into industrial operations. We invite manufacturing and process industries to participate in the pilot, engage with the framework and contribute their feedback as we work towards strengthening circularity practices across Indian industry.”
The summit featured technical sessions focusing on advanced recycling technologies, biogas, e-waste, and digital traceability powered by artificial intelligence and smart sensors. CII GreenCo has formally invited manufacturing and process industries to trial the framework within their operations to ensure practical applicability ahead of broader implementation.
