KP Group Announces Annual Environmental Excellence Awards on World Environment Day
Surat-based industrialist and philanthropist Dr. Faruk G. Patel, Founder and Chairman-cum-Managing Director of KP Group, has announced the institution of the KP Group Environmental Excellence Awards (formally titled the Annual Environmental Excellence Awards), a new initiative to recognise individuals and organisations driving environmental conservation, sustainability, and climate action across India.
The announcement was made on World Environment Day, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address in Surat, where he highlighted the importance of renewable energy adoption, sustainable lifestyles, climate action, and the circular economy.
Set to launch next year, the awards will honour individuals, institutions, community organisations, researchers, innovators, industries, government agencies, and social leaders whose work has made a measurable impact on environmental protection. The initiative will be administered by the KP Human Development Foundation, the philanthropic arm of KP Group, with Dr. Patel serving as the Foundation’s Chairperson.
“The future of humanity depends on our ability to protect and restore the environment,” Dr. Patel said. “As I often say, the Earth has been borrowed from future generations, and it is our duty to return it clean and sustainable. Across India, countless people and organisations are doing exceptional work in areas such as climate action, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, afforestation, sustainable agriculture, waste management, water conservation and environmental education. Their efforts deserve greater recognition and encouragement. Through these awards, we hope to celebrate environmental leadership and inspire wider participation in building a sustainable future.”
Pasha Patel to Lead Scrutiny for the Environmental Excellence Awards
As part of the announcement, Dr. Patel named Pasha Patel, widely known as the “Bamboo Man of India” for his advocacy of bamboo as a sustainable resource for climate action and rural livelihoods, as Head of the scrutiny committee that will oversee the screening, assessment, and selection of nominations at a national level. Patel is a distinguished agricultural leader and public policy thinker who has long championed sustainable farming, water conservation, and farmer empowerment in Maharashtra.
The Annual Environmental Excellence Awards will recognise work across a wide range of categories, including environmental conservation, climate resilience, renewable energy, afforestation, biodiversity protection, sustainable agriculture, water resource management, circular economy initiatives, green entrepreneurship, environmental innovation, and community-led sustainability programmes. Further details on award categories, eligibility, nomination procedures, and the selection process are expected to be announced in the coming months.
KP Group, which Dr. Patel founded in 1994, has grown into one of India’s leading renewable energy and infrastructure conglomerates, contributing to the country’s clean energy transition through large-scale solar, wind, and hybrid energy projects. According to the Group, its renewable energy businesses have helped avoid carbon emissions equivalent to planting 28 crore trees. Separately, the company says it has planted more than 7 lakh trees, including mangroves, across Gujarat — part of a broader push toward sustainable living within its own operations.
The company has also pointed to a set of internal sustainability practices: its quarterly magazine is printed on synthetic and recycled paper, drinking water across its offices is served in glass bottles rather than plastic, and the introduction of bamboo-based products is planned for the future. As part of a wider environmental pledge, KP Group employees have committed to completing three social-good activities each and planting 10,000 trees within three months.
The institution of the Annual Environmental Excellence Awards adds to a growing list of corporate-backed recognition platforms for environmental work in India, at a time when climate action and renewable energy adoption are increasingly central to both public policy and private-sector sustainability strategies. By formally recognising grassroots and institutional efforts across conservation, afforestation, and clean energy, the initiative aims to give greater visibility to changemakers working on India’s environmental challenges. Prakati will continue to track the awards as further details on categories and nominations are released.
