For a long time, sustainability was seen as a matter for politicians, big corporations, and global summits. For the average person, tackling climate change seemed too expensive, complicated, or overwhelming. But for Pankti Pandey, the real shift did not happen in a lab or boardroom. It started inside her own home.
Her journey went from launching space missions and working as Project Manager for Gaganyaan to helping people rethink how they shop, consume, and live. Her core message is simple: real change starts at home. As a former ISRO scientist turned sustainability educator and founder of Zero Waste Adda, Pankti recently won the Times Internet Ecopreneur Award in 2025. This is India’s first platform dedicated to celebrating people making a visible mark on environmental issues through community action and fresh ideas.
The initiative highlights businesses doing exceptional work in India’s green transition. It focuses on those lifting stones in this field, whether startups or massive brands. The award celebrates those who genuinely care for the planet and turn it into a successful, scalable business. Previously, Pankti was recognized as National Green Champion Creator at the National Creators Award 2024, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi handed her the award for using social media to make eco-friendly living accessible and encourage sustainability.
Before becoming India’s most recognized sustainability educator online, Pankti spent 14 years as a scientist with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Her career revolved around science, engineering, and systems looking far beyond Earth. But between high-precision scientific work and daily household routines, she noticed something closer: the sheer amount of waste generated in ordinary life.
Instead of seeing sustainable behavior as an abstract global issue, Pankti started experimenting with practical changes at home. She switched to reusable containers, started composting kitchen waste, reduced plastic usage, and explored non-toxic, natural cleaning products. That philosophy became the foundation of Zero Waste Adda, where she shares practical ideas on low-waste living, composting, conscious consumption, slow fashion, and climate-friendly habits.
“When you buy less and use things longer, fewer resources are extracted, less energy is used, fewer emissions are released,” she told The Hindu. “Your role shifts from ‘I have to fix everything’ to ‘I can reduce the speed of the problem through my choices’.”
Times Internet Ecopreneur Award
When discussions around climate action feel heavy, voices like Pandey’s offer a refreshing spin. This is the kind of grassroots energy the Times Internet Ecopreneur Award was created to champion. The initiative spotlights people doing the actual work on the ground—simplifying jargon, creating visible change through community hustle, and everyday innovation. It aims to recognize businesses proving that harming the planet is not necessary to scale a business; both can work in parallel.
Because sustainable practices are central to India's progress, the awards bring a heavy-hitting jury to select winners. By gathering experts in policy, business, science, and environmental advocacy, the platform ensures India’s most effective green leaders get the recognition they deserve.
