Saurabh
Gupta
An internationally recognised sustainability leader with over 15 years of experience advising corporates, governments, and global institutions on climate action, ESG compliance, and sustainable development. He leads Earth5R, a pioneering environmental technology organisation headquartered in Mumbai with sustainability projects across 65+ countries.
At the intersection of community action, data technology, and ESG strategy, Saurabh brings a rare blend of on-ground insight and boardroom expertise. His core work focuses on designing scalable sustainability solutions for corporates, linking CSR impact with real-time ESG outcomes.
Through Earth5R's award-winning platform, he helps businesses operationalise environmental goals into measurable action across supply chains, workplaces, and communities. He has worked on high-impact sustainability engagements with global corporations, leading programmes such as river restoration, circular economy implementation, sustainable livelihood development, and green employee engagement.
His work has directly impacted over 1.3 million citizens and trained more than 100,000 students and professionals in sustainability practices.
Saurabh has been invited to speak at prestigious platforms including the Paris Peace Forum, and is a recipient of the Young Leaders India–France Award by President Emmanuel Macron for his leadership in global sustainability. Under his guidance, Earth5R also delivered India's first UN-funded River Cleanup Program in Mumbai, integrating local communities, policy stakeholders, and corporate partners for long-term ecological restoration.
Backed by an ecosystem of app-based sustainability tracking, grassroots mobilisation, and academic partnerships with institutions like MIT, Stanford, and Oxford, Saurabh delivers end-to-end ESG services — from diagnostics and data collection to strategy design and on-ground execution.
He built a platform.
Areas of Strategic Focus
ESG Strategy Design & Corporate Reporting
Integrated sustainability frameworks aligned with GRI, SDG, and BRSR — covering carbon reduction, employee training, biodiversity improvement, and waste footprint minimisation embedded into core business operations.
CSR Planning Linked to Measurable Impact
Action plans that connect corporate social responsibility with verifiable environmental outcomes across facility management, packaging, distribution, and community engagement.
Circular Economy Implementation
End-to-end circular economy programmes across urban and industrial sectors — from waste recovery and micro-recycling hubs to closed-loop systems integrating housing societies, kabadiwalas, and municipal networks.
Carbon Credit Project Development
Scientifically validated carbon credit projects with baseline assessment, additionality validation, community verification, and registry documentation — audit-ready and eligible for international carbon trading.
Extended Producer Responsibility Services
Networked model for companies to fulfil EPR obligations across states — integrating plastic collection, recycling verification, digital traceability through geotagging, and AI-based waste flow analysis.
Sustainability Tech & AI Analytics
App-based monitoring, AI-driven analytics, and real-time dashboards that make ESG management seamless — from campaign planning and community partner assignment to auto-generated impact reports.
Climate Risk Mitigation
Risk mitigation strategies for urban infrastructure and real estate — including nature-based solutions, rainwater harvesting integration, solar readiness, and green certification alignment.
ESG Training & Employee Engagement
Customised training modules for HR teams, manufacturing units, admin staff, and C-suite leaders — with tracking tools, interactive app-based engagement, and micro-certifications integrated into daily workflow.
Recognised by Heads of State, the UN, and Global Institutions
Young Leaders Award — President Macron
Honoured as a Young Leader (India–France) for cross-cultural leadership and environmental innovation — one of the few sustainability experts selected from India.
Paris Peace Forum Speaker
Presented Earth5R's environmental solutions at this global summit attended by 70 heads of state, ministers, policy experts, and business leaders.
UN Global Entreps Award
Selected for the 5th Global Entreps Award — the "Oscars of Sustainability" — by the United Nations.
Google for Startups Recognition
Earth5R app recognised by Google for innovative use of technology to drive climate action, volunteering, and impact tracking.
UN Technology Innovation Labs
Plastic recovery and ocean-bound recycling ecosystem in Mumbai — in partnership with UN Global Pulse. Received $0.7M USD funding.
Appreciation from The Dalai Lama
Received personal appreciation from His Holiness The Dalai Lama for youth community work on Project "Ganga to Nile".
UNESCO Green Citizens Project
Earth5R's education and community training model selected for UNESCO's Green Citizens portfolio — showcasing scalable community climate action.
UN Secretary-General Appreciation
Received appreciation from Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations and Portugal's former Prime Minister.
President of Costa Rica
Appreciated by Carlos Alvarado, President of Costa Rica and UN Champion of the Earth, for climate action leadership.
End-to-End Environmental Solutions
Dry Waste Management & Recycling
Decentralised dry waste recovery systems in urban and peri-urban areas serving both companies and municipalities. The Dharavi pilot created a blueprint for slum-based plastic recovery and micro-recycling hubs — diverting over 500 tonnes of plastic annually through closed-loop systems integrating local kabadiwalas, housing societies, and NGOs.
Organic Waste Composting
On-site composting and vermicomposting units in over 200 housing societies, hotels, and commercial facilities. Low-maintenance, odour-free systems with training and compliance documentation. Compost generated is used for on-site tree plantation and landscaping, reducing haulage and emissions.
E-Waste & Industrial Waste Management
Responsible management of hazardous and electronic waste with certified recyclers — over 20,000 kg collected from IT parks, banks, and institutions. End-to-end services including collection logistics, audit reports, disposal SOPs for auto, pharma, and packaging sectors.
Recycled Plastic Product Solutions
Recycled plastic converted into benches, tabletops, school furniture, and dustbins through micro-manufacturing units. Products supplied to schools, parks, and CSR projects — allowing companies to close the loop on their plastic waste. The initiative supports local entrepreneurs and women's self-help groups.
Water Audits, Treatment & Rainwater Harvesting
Scientific water audits with usage mapping, loss identification, reuse pathways, and ROI analysis. Decentralised wastewater treatment using biofiltration and constructed wetlands. Over 100+ rainwater harvesting systems implemented — from roof-based harvesting in urban schools to percolation wells in SEZs, monitored via smart flow meters.
Energy Audits & Solar Installations
Energy audits and rooftop solar advisory — achieving 22% reduction in HVAC-related power consumption at an IT Park in Mumbai within 6 months. Solar installations for off-grid classrooms, rural healthcare centres, and CSR projects across Maharashtra.
Tree Plantation & Urban Afforestation
Over 5 lakh native trees planted under Earth5R programmes — along riverbanks, industrial zones, and public spaces. Tree survival monitored via geotagging and community-based care. Includes eco-sensitive landscaping, pollinator gardens, rooftop gardens, and biodiversity corridors near industrial zones.
Environmental Volunteering & Green Events
Pioneered volunteering formats that are high on engagement and measurable in impact — engaging more than 50,000 corporate volunteers across Bengaluru, Pune, Delhi, and Mumbai. Supported over 200 green events with compostable materials, dry waste collection, and real-time impact dashboards.
Environmental Engineering Services
End-to-end environmental engineering consulting — from concept to commissioning. Recent projects include bio-digester toilet systems for slum communities, IoT-based air quality sensor grids, and decentralised greywater reuse systems for townships. Combining affordability, regulatory compliance, and local context understanding.
Built to Scale — Not Just to Advise
SaaS-X: Sustainability as a Service – eXchange
An all-in-one platform for companies to plan, execute, and monitor sustainability actions — bringing carbon, waste, water, and community impact into one unified data layer for transparent ESG disclosures.
ESG-Linked River Cleanup Framework
Turns river rejuvenation into a measurable ESG deliverable — water quality baselines, community training, circular economy linkages, and impact reporting tied to SDG goals.
Volunteer Impact Engine (VIE)
Transforms employee volunteering into high-impact, low-friction engagement — with geotagging, visual documentation, and pre-curated formats across sustainability themes.
App-Based Sustainability Tracker
Mobile platform for organisations to plan CSR campaigns, assign community partners, track real-time progress, and auto-generate reports — making ESG management seamless.
Results-Focused Execution
Solving for Tomorrow's Complexity
Scope 3 Emissions & Supply Chain Interventions
Integrating vendors, packaging units, logistics teams, and post-use waste handlers into a traceable chain for indirect emissions control.
Biodiversity & Land Stewardship
Nature-positive projects — green buffers in industrial zones, pollinator corridors for farmland companies — addressing ESG investor pressure.
Sustainable Cities & Infrastructure
Nature-based solutions, RWH integration, solar readiness, and green certification alignment for real estate and urban developers.
ESG Disclosure for Mid-size Businesses
Modular consulting for SMEs and mid-size corporates to prepare for BRSR, SDG alignment, and ESG fund eligibility.
Decarbonisation Roadmaps
Tailored strategies combining behaviour change, technology upgrades, and carbon offset linkages for industrial clients over 5–10 years.
How Saurabh Works with Corporate Clients
Baseline & Diagnostics
Baseline assessments, stakeholder interviews, and customised sustainability strategy aligned with business operations.
Implementation
End-to-end execution with on-ground teams and technology integration for tracking and reporting.
Documentation & Review
Documentation for regulatory, ESG, and CSR reporting. Quarterly reviews, updates, and course corrections.
Workshops & Training Programs
Dive into sustainable design thinking with Saurabh Gupta. These immersive sessions blend thought leadership, problem-solving, and team collaboration — from half-day intensives to two-day programmes. Participants engage in deep exercises, group projects, and simulation exercises that mimic real-world sustainability challenges, culminating in the presentation of actionable solutions.
Each programme is designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking — delivering tangible, granular results that empower individuals and teams to contribute to sustainable development.