Social Innovation for Sustainability

The SJEC Eco Club, in association with the Cultural & Community Group and the Department of Civil Engineering, successfully organized a Special Talk on “Social Innovation for Sustainability” on 25th August 2025 at the Kalam Auditorium. The program was coordinated by Ms. Sinchana K, Eco Club Coordinator 2025 and Dr. Prathima Chairperson CCG 2025. The session was delivered by the distinguished resource person, Dr. Saji Varghese, Social Entrepreneur and Globally Recognized Innovator from Christ University, Bengaluru, who has been widely acclaimed for his pioneering work in creating eco-friendly straws from fallen coconut leaves.

In his inspiring talk, Dr. Varghese emphasized the urgent need for innovative thinking to address today’s environmental challenges. He shared his journey of transforming a locally available waste material—fallen coconut leaves—into sustainable straws that have gained international recognition as an alternative to single-use plastics. He highlighted how such innovations not only help protect the environment but also generate livelihood opportunities for rural communities. To make the session more engaging, Dr. Varghese distributed samples of the eco-friendly straws to the students, allowing them to directly experience the product that stands as a symbol of sustainable innovation.

The talk received an enthusiastic response from s students of SJEC, who actively interacted with the speaker during the Q&A session. Many participants appreciated the practical insights shared by Dr. Varghese and were motivated to explore innovative ways of addressing environmental issues. The event served as a reminder that small yet meaningful innovations can create significant social and ecological impact.