Driving Sustainability: SIAM’s 3rd International Conference on Automotive Circularity Tech

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex body representing the country’s leading automobile manufacturers, hosted the 3rd International Conference on Sustainable Circularity (ICSC) at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on the sidelines of Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. Theme ‘Nature Positive Recycling – Systemic Transformation to Automotive Circular Economy in India’, the conference emphasised the need for systemic transformation through regulatory frameworks, technological advancements and collaborative efforts across stakeholders, underscoring India’s potential to lead global efforts in sustainable automotive practices.

Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, who was the Chief Guest during the inaugural session of the conference, launched the SIAM Strategy Paper ‘Towards Circular Future in the Indian Automobile Industry: Integrating EPR Regime in Waste Stream Regulations’ and said, “As the automotive industry observes a notable growth, it is imperative to reflect on our environmental obligations. Nature, with its innate capacity for regeneration, serves as an exemplar for our operational strategies. Our focus extends beyond mere waste management to stimulating economic development, diminishing emissions and cultivating societal advancements through the promotion of green jobs. Initiatives such as the Vehicle Scrappage Policy 2021 and the endorsement of electric vehicles manifest our commitment to sustainable practices. As we navigate towards a circular economy, our actions must be guided by a steadfast dedication to environmental integrity and ecological stewardship. SIAM has done an admirable job of initiating discussions on circularity which showcases its commitment to the growth of the automotive sector and promoting India’s green goals.”

SIAM organised panel discussions centred on the vital topic of ELV recycling, covering themes such as the Impact of EPR on ELV Recycling and Compliance, Regulatory & Policy Challenges in ELV Recycling, Harnessing Technologies and Business Models, and Closing the Loop on Automotive Materials. These sessions united policymakers, industry leaders, and technology experts to explore key aspects of ELV recycling, including regulatory frameworks and technological innovations, promoting dialogue for advancing sustainable circularity.

A handbook on “Automotive Circularity in India: Unlocking a Sustainable Future” co-created by SIAM and Recykal was unveiled by Mr Mahmood Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways in the presence of  Mr Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, Mr Timo Unger, Chairperson, ACEA, Mr Sanjay Mehta, President, Material Recycling Association of India, Mr A L N Rao, Circularity Head, Recykal, Mr Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM, Mr Arvind Kumar Nautiyal, Joint Secretary & Member Secretary, CAQM, Mr Vikram Kasbekar, Executive Director & CTO, Hero MotoCorp, and Mr Anandkumar M S, Senior General Manager & Head, TVS Motor Company. The handbook outlines a visionary approach to reimagining the automotive value chain. It offers practical insights and sustainable innovations, addressing challenges like material procurement and end-of-life vehicle management. It also provides a strategic roadmap for transitioning India’s mobility sector from linear to circular models, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Rajendra M Petkar, President and CTO, Tata Motors Ltd and Chairperson, SIAM Sustainable Mobility Group, R K Goyal, Director, Saarloha Advanced Materials and Managing Director, Kalyani Steel, Sonal Choithani, Vice President and Head of Market Development, Vedanta, Sosho Kitajima, Chairman, Japan Automobile Recycling Alliance (JARA), R Mukhopadhyay, Director (R&D), J K Tyres, David Nolan, Executive Director, Auto Recycler Association of Australia, Sarvesh Tomar, General Manager, BPCL, Prabhjot Sodhi, Sr Programme Director, CEE, Sujit Kumar Bajpayee, Member, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Ashim Sharma, Senior Partner, NRI Consulting & Solutions, Vinod Babu, Director, CPCB, Masaru Akaishi, Managing Director, Maruti Suzuki Toyotsu India Pvt Ltd, Kartick Nagpal, President, Rosmerta, Nitin Chitkara, CEO, Meta Material Circular Markets (MMCM), Prabhakar Bhangare, CEO, Global PCCS, Anant Bhargava, IFP Petro, Ved Prakash Mishra, Joint Secretary – HSM, MoEFCC, Government of India, Kiran Sarkar, Co-Chairperson, SIAM Recycling and Material Groups and Head – Sustainability, Mahindra & Mahindra, Likith Koundinya, Consulting Specialist, S&P Global, Anand Kumar, Director, CPCB, Sumit Agrawal, Director, BigMint Technologies Pvt Ltd (SteelMint), Dr Rashi Gupta, Founder & MD, Vision Mechatronics, V Manjunath, Regional Standards Manager – South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, UL Standards & Engagement Inc. (ULSE) also participated in the conference addressing the challenges and potential solutions for the adoption of formal circular economy practices.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *