WeWork India has taken a new step in linking real estate with climate action and social change. At the third edition of its Sustainability Summit in Gurgaon, the company unveiled ‘WeWork India for Impact’, a flagship initiative designed to integrate ecological restoration, wildlife conservation, education, and women’s empowerment under one agenda.
The launch was joined by actor and UNDP Advocate Bhumi Satish Pednekkar, who applauded the program for blending sustainability with grassroots inclusion.
Unlike conventional CSR efforts, the initiative has focused on projects that directly combine business goals with environmental and community outcomes. These include reviving Tarahunise Lake to boost groundwater for farmers, supporting women entrepreneurs in waste upcycling and tailoring, and fostering coexistence models between leopards and nearby communities in Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
The program has already achieved tangible results. Since May 2022, over 289 saplings have been planted and 40 floating wetlands installed at Tarahunise village. Waste management efforts since October 2023 have led to 760 clean-up drives and the collection of nearly 59,000 kilograms of waste, with segregation rates reaching 97%. In Mumbai, the ‘Living with Leopards’ project has used camera trapping, surveys, and workshops to advance coexistence. By August 2025, 350 volunteers had contributed to building bird perches, medicinal herb gardens, and nature trails while also leading clean-up efforts.
Speaking at the summit, Karan Virwani, Managing Director & CEO of WeWork India, said,
“Real estate sits at the center of India’s climate challenge, but also its climate opportunity. Through ‘WeWork India for Impact,’ we are demonstrating that the sector can drive not just lower emissions, but greater possibilities for both people and nature. At WeWork India, sustainability is not an abstract concept, it is about water in a farmer’s borewell, safety in a community living alongside leopards, and dignity for a woman running her own enterprise. This is the kind of leadership India needs to reimagine growth, led by regenerative, inclusive, and accountable actions and impact.”
The summit also featured discussions on topics such as greenwashing in India, cutting emissions in real estate, and climate finance for the built environment. Leaders from CBRE, DLF, Infosys, Max Estates, Rainmatter Foundation, Smarter Dharma, Accacia.ai, Ankur Capital, and the Centre for Responsible Business participated in the conversations.
Bhumi Pednekkar said, “As someone working closely with climate and social causes, I believe the future of sustainability lies in how we integrate it into everyday systems, how we build, live, work and that’s exactly what WeWork India is doing. I believe sustainability is about making better choices every day and creating positive change for both the environment and our communities. It is heartening to see how their efforts are already making a difference, and I hope it motivates more people and organizations to step up and contribute to a more sustainable, inclusive future.”
WeWork India has also set long-term sustainability goals. These include diverting 90% of waste from landfills and sourcing 100% renewable energy by 2027, reducing daily water use to 20 litres per person, and cutting energy consumption by 20% from 2019 levels by 2026.
Currently operating across eight cities with over 100,000 desks, the company aims to redefine real estate as a driver of resilience and regeneration for India’s economy.
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