“Follow your Ikigai. Find what truly drives you, what you’re passionate about, and how it can serve the world. Align your business with that purpose, and you’ll not only find success but fulfillment in every step of the journey. Stay focused, be resilient, and always remember that your why will guide you through every challenge.”
An environmental research scientist, Dr. Sudipti Arora, is well-known for bridging academic achievements with societal impact. With a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from IIT Roorkee (2016), Sudipti pursued her Master’s in Environmental Engineering from MNIT Jaipur (2011), and a B.Tech in Biotechnology from Amity University, Noida (2009). A TEDx speaker and IWA Grundfos youth fellow, to date, she has published five books, 32+ journal publications, and 30 + book chapters, while currently mentoring four Ph.D. students.
Currently serving as Assistant Director at Dr. B. Lal Institute of Biotechnology in Jaipur, Sudipti is responsible for overseeing research projects and the overall administration. Her monumental work in the domain has also given her the opportunity to manage eight major projects funded by the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and international grants like Global Challenges Research Fund (GCRF).
Entrepreneurial Spirit
It was in 2020 that Sudipti co-founded PRAKRIT, a Centre of Excellence in Environmental Biotechnology that was designed to transform modern research into real and impactful solutions. The flagship projects by PRAKRIT’s core vision are to empower rural India and take the urban communities towards sustainability. The very same vision led to the formation of other ventures. As Sudipti reveals,
“We later registered a Section 8 company, Prakrit Sustainable Integrated Foundation, for social entrepreneurship and community transformation. Through our project SWAROOH, we empower women through skill development and livelihood enhancement. Additionally, our Youth Action for SDGs program fosters youth volunteering, bridging the gap in skill development and providing a platform for innovation and sustainable solutions to real-life challenges.”
Prakrit Sustainable Integrated Foundation partners with businesses to channel CSR funds into community-based projects in order to address social and environmental issues.
Believing that a sustainable future lies in innovation, integration, and implementation, Sudipti believes that the process to bring change should start from one’s youth. As the founder of Prakrit Innovations as well, Sudipti notes,
“Through my work with corporates and industries, I recognized the urgent need for robust ESG advisory to ensure effective regulatory compliance and accurate sustainability reporting. To bridge this gap, I founded Prakrit Innovations in 2024. Together with my team, we are building a brand that addresses industry needs through sustainable products and consumer-focused ESG advisory services.”
Committed to being an ethical business, the main vision is to avoid greenwashing to stay sustainable. At the moment, the services provided include DIY Composters, Bioenzymes, Zero Waste Projects, and Nature-Based Wastewater Treatment Solutions (e.g., Vermifilters, BioI3Filters). The ESG Advisory Services include carbon footprint & GHG assessments, net-zero advisory, and reporting (BRSR and Integrated Reporting).
Moving forward, the goal is to become a one-stop solution for sustainable products, services and projects that align with business objectives and SDGs for lasting societal impact. What sets Sudipti’s ventures apart is the integrated, end-to-end and sustainable solutions from research-backed waste and water management to ESG advisory and BRSR reporting. She explains,
“For example, if a corporate is looking for BRSR reporting, you typically need to allocate R&D funds for research in environmental or social projects. This is where we step in—offering research-backed solutions, conducting in-depth assessments, and providing you with the necessary tools and strategies to comply with regulatory frameworks, linked to sustainable finance along with our sustainable solutions to tackle waste, ensuring advisory on net zero and zero waste to landfill.”
Toil and Trouble
The physical challenges one faces can ultimately change the course of one’s dream and career. Being diagnosed with cancer in 2022 was one of the most difficult times and a life-altering experience in Sudipti’s life. However, Sudipti did not let it come between her vision to work on her dream projects. In a way, her passion also kept her going in such a difficult time.
In terms of the technical problems she came across while building her ventures, one of the crucial challenges was dealing with the complex regulatory standards in sustainability and environmentalism. She shares,
“To overcome this, I invested time in continuous learning and brought in a team of experts who keep track of global and local regulations, ensuring we provide the most accurate and compliant solutions to our clients.”
With businesses refusing to invest in sustainable practices, it was also difficult to educate businesses and communities about the importance of sustainability due to the lack of awareness. What helped them was raising awareness through workshops, seminars, and personalised advisory services. Apart from securing funds for the projects, Sudipti shares,
“Building trust in our brand was also a hurdle, particularly in a field where some companies are accused of greenwashing. To combat this, we have ensured transparency in our processes, demonstrated measurable results, and shared success stories from our collaborations. Our ethical approach and commitment to delivering genuine, science-backed solutions have earned us credibility with our clients and partners.”
Lastly, the other difficult part was to balance between innovation and practical implementation, as the processes often require rigorous R&D and testing.
Major Wins
Some of the major achievements include their ‘zero waste project’ getting Rs 2 crores of government funding, which has successfully transformed Aandhi village in Rajasthan into a zero-waste model through green technology interventions.
Today, the team is successfully implementing this model in four additional villages through a combination of CSR support and government funding. Her pioneering research in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) during the COVID-19 pandemic brought significant value to society by enabling early detection of COVID-19 viral strains through sewage surveillance. In 2020, she became the first researcher in India to initiate this novel approach, helping to track the spread of the virus before clinical cases were reported. Her work provided critical support to government authorities, contributing to informed public health responses and timely interventions during the crisis. Additionally, their sustainability solutions have also empowered numerous brands in manufacturing, services, and healthcare sectors to meet their ESG goals. She has also been awarded the ‘Wonder Women Award 2023’, and the ‘Green Innovation Award 2024’, alongside several other recognitions.
Some other awards include ‘Naartivv Award 2024’, ‘Eco Warrior of the Year Award 2024’, and the ‘Inspiring Indian Women Award 2025’ at the House of Parliament, London, UK. Additionally, She have been honored with the ‘Young Scientist Award’ by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in 2022, the ‘Research Excellence Award’ from INSc 2020, and the ‘Prof. G.P. Talwar Young Scientist Award 2024’, and ‘Women in Biology’ award, 2025.
The Journey Ahead
Moving forward, Sudipti’s plans for her ventures include scaling zero-waste products, advancing sustainable technologies, and expanding ESG and net-zero services globally. They also look forward to developing and scaling their nature-based wastewater treatment solutions, bioenzymes, and composting systems to make them more accessible and affordable for businesses, households, and industries.
To achieve this, Sudipti says,
“We will focus on securing funding through grants and investments, building strategic partnerships, and continuing our innovation in sustainable technologies. By maintaining our commitment to ethical practices, transparency, and impactful solutions, we are confident in scaling our business and making a global impact.”
In terms of the lessons learned over the years, Sudipti believes that having a passion and purpose are the most crucial elements to running a successful venture. As she says,
“When you align your work with your Ikigai—your reason for being—it becomes easier to overcome challenges and stay motivated. Following your passion not only fuels your energy but also attracts like-minded individuals and partners who share your vision.”
As she signs off, she reminds the budding entrepreneurs,
“Always be transparent and ethical in your business practices. In an age where greenwashing and false claims can easily occur, maintaining integrity and authenticity will set you apart and help build lasting credibility.”
