Bhumi Pednekar Supports WeWork India’s Sustainability Initiatives
WeWork India marked the third edition of its Sustainability Summit with the launch of its flagship programme, WeWork India for Impact. The initiative, unveiled by Karan Virwani, Managing Director & CEO of WeWork India, aims to align the country’s real estate growth with climate action and grassroots social change.
Actor and UNDP Advocate Bhumi Pednekar, who was the special guest at the event, lent her voice to the cause, calling for inclusive and accountable sustainability efforts.
A holistic model for sustainability
Unlike conventional CSR projects, WeWork India for Impact integrates ecological restoration, wildlife conservation, education, and women’s economic empowerment into a unified agenda. The initiative focuses on:
Reviving Tarahunise Lake through plantation drives, floating wetlands, and improved groundwater systems. Organising over 760 clean-up drives that collected nearly 59,000 kg of waste and achieved 97% segregation in Tarahunise village. Supporting women entrepreneurs in sustainable tailoring and waste upcycling. Fostering coexistence between leopards and communities near Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park. Mobilising more than 350 volunteers for conservation efforts, including creating herb gardens and bird perches.
Real estate as a climate opportunity
Virwani emphasised that real estate has a crucial role in addressing India’s climate challenge.
“Sustainability is not an abstract concept,” he said. “It is water in a farmer’s borewell, safety for communities living alongside leopards, and dignity for women entrepreneurs.”
Bhumi Pednekar on everyday sustainability
Pednekar applauded the initiative, noting that the future of sustainability depends on weaving it into daily systems of living, building, and working.
“It is about making better choices every day and creating positive change for both the environment and our communities,” she said.
CEO Karan Virwani on barriers and opportunities
In an exclusive conversation, Virwani pointed out that one of the biggest barriers to decarbonising workspaces in India lies in the reluctance of developers to rethink building design.
“We copy Western concepts like glass buildings, which are neither cost-efficient nor climate-suited for India,” he said. “A well-designed brick building with natural light is cheaper to construct, easier to maintain, and more sustainable. But developers hesitate because the market hasn’t yet rewarded these choices.”
He added that India’s 2070 net-zero target cannot be achieved without addressing emissions from the real estate sector, which contributes nearly 40% of energy consumption.
“WeWork is pushing to reduce operational impact from water use to energy sourcing but construction itself remains the biggest challenge. The government’s role is to create the right incentives for developers, just as it has done for solar and manufacturing.”
Balancing growth, confidence, and sustainability
Addressing investor and customer confidence amid WeWork Global’s restructuring, Virwani said India’s growth story remains resilient.
“We filed our DRHP in January and are preparing to go public. From a revenue perspective, we are double the size of our nearest competitor, and nearly three times stronger on profitability,” he said.
Industry voices and next steps
The summit also brought together policymakers, corporate leaders, and climate innovators for discussions on climate finance, curbing greenwashing, and reducing carbon emissions in real estate. Speakers included senior leaders from CBRE, DLF, Infosys, Max Estates, Rainmatter Foundation, and other organisations.
