For long, we have been agonising over diseases like dengue and malaria caused by mosquitoes. About 3.3 billion people are at risk of malaria worldwide. India alone sees 1.5 million new cases of malaria each year, with 95 per cent of our population residing in malaria prone areas. In rural India, in particular, penetration of household insecticides is very low because current products are either expensive or require electricity. Our idea was to launch a product that would break the price barrier, work instantly and would not require electricity. The idea of a paper-based product, Good knight Fast Card, came from our Indonesian business. We leveraged the idea from Indonesia but substantially modified the product for the Indian market.

We aspire to develop products that consume fewer resources (energy and water), emit fewer greenhouse gases and include 100 per cent of recyclable, renewable, and/or natural materials. In line with this, we have developed a phosphate-free formulation for our pH neutral liquid detergent, Ezee. Phosphates disturb the ecosystem balance by promoting large overgrowth of algae in lakes. Our formulation does not cause any adverse reaction in the ecosystem.

chotuKool is a portable, compact and customisable fridge that maintains the humidity and nutritional value of food with low power consumption. It meets the needs of small rural and semi urban families and can operate on 12V DC. It is easy to move, and operates at half the price of a normal refrigerator, which translates into consuming half a unit of electricity per day. Moreover, chotuKool has helped increase the income of self-help groups that work as the distribution network. We have also partnered with India Post to maximise our reach in rural areas.

Scholar is a simple yet functional two-seater desk / bench solution with a shelf. It is easy to assemble and maintain, making it an ideal offering for rural schools in India. Scholar is Greenguard Gold Certified as it is made using low emitting boards, glues and surface coating material. Scholar offers exceptional value and is also offered under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan as well as various other government schemes.

Sustainable thinking forms the core of Godrej Properties Limited's (GPL) development proposition. The GPL Design Studio has dedicated environmental planners and sustainability experts who jointly consult with industry experts on every project. The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) has developed a rating system for the development lifecycle of buildings, homes and neighbourhoods. 100 per cent of our inventory launched in FY 2013-14 was pre-certified under this rating system.

Our comprehensive approach to sustainable development starts early on in the design phase through to construction, delivery and finally use of our buildings. Early climatic studies and utilising stimulation tools such as energy modelling help us evaluate site selection, plan sustainable communities and reduce energy and water consumption in buildings. This in turn helps with optimising operational resource footprint and potentially translates into energy bill savings for our customers. We also encourage the use of locally sourced construction material, which reduces carbon miles from transport and supports the growth of local industries.