IGBC Hosts the 3rd edition of Conference on Green Factories 2026 in Vadodara to Accelerate India’s Transition to Future-Ready, Net-Zero Manufacturing

The IGBC Green Factories Conference 2026 brought together government, regulators, and industry leaders to advance the shift toward net-zero, resource-efficient, and future-ready manufacturing in India. Through focused discussions on innovation, digital integration, decarbonization, and SME inclusion via GreenCo Lite, the conference emphasized practical pathways to embed sustainability into industrial growth while strengthening competitiveness and climate resilience.

Vadodara, Gujarat, February 6, 2026: CII’s Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), successfully hosted the 3rd Edition of the IGBC Green Factories Conference in Vadodara today, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, sustainability experts, and manufacturing professionals to deliberate on building future-ready industrial ecosystems.

Held under the theme “Future-Ready Green Factories & Industrial Parks: Innovate, Integrate, Decarbonize,” the conference focused on accelerating the adoption of green manufacturing practices aligned with India’s net-zero ambitions, global ESG expectations, and evolving regulatory frameworks.

The inaugural was graced by Shri Arun Mahesh Babu, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Vadodara Municipal Corporation and Ms. Margi Patel, Regional Officer and Environmental Engineer, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) along with Premraj Keshyep, Chairman, CII Gujarat State Council & Founder & MD, Conmat Heavy Industries Pvt Ltd; Gaurang Joshipura, Vice-Chairman CII Central Zonal Council & Managing Director, Zeppelin Systems India Pvt Ltd; Shreya Dalwadi, Chairperson, IGBC Vadodara Chapter; and Karan Shah, Co-Chair, IGBC Vadodara Chapter.

During the inaugural Keynote Address,  Shri Arun Mahesh Babu, IAS, Municipal Commissioner, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, highlighted the importance of sustainable industrial development in driving urban resilience, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. He said, “The transition to green and net-zero factories must go hand in hand with the transformation of our cities into sustainable, resilient, and livable urban centres. Green factories play a critical role in this journey by driving energy efficiency, responsible water use, renewable energy adoption, and low-carbon manufacturing practices that directly reduce the environmental burden on cities. In Vadodara, we are committed to embedding environmental responsibility into urban planning, infrastructure, and civic operations—through initiatives such as expanding green belts, strengthening water and waste management, and enabling structured collaboration with industry through dedicated CSR platforms. When industries align with recognized green factory frameworks and work closely with civic bodies, they contribute meaningfully to healthier cities, stronger local economies, and India’s net-zero ambitions.”

In her Special Address, Ms. Margi Patel, Regional Officer and Environmental Engineer, Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) underscored the role of progressive regulation, compliance-driven innovation, and industry–regulator collaboration in enabling cleaner and more responsible manufacturing. She said, “India’s commitment to sustainable industrial development is firmly anchored in its national climate goals, Net Zero vision, and the transition to a resource-efficient economy. Green factories are a critical enabler of this commitment, translating national policy with intent into on-ground industrial action through improved energy efficiency, water stewardship, and emissions reduction. By aligning regulatory frameworks, industry innovation, and institutional collaboration, we can ensure that industrial growth not only supports economic competitiveness but also advances India’s long-term environmental and climate commitments.”

The inaugural session also featured felicitation of IGBC Certified Green Factory Projects, recognizing manufacturing facilities that have demonstrated exemplary performance in energy efficiency, water stewardship, waste management, indoor environmental quality, and carbon footprint reduction.

Welcoming the delegates, Ms. Shreya Dalwadi, Chairperson, IGBC Vadodara Chapter, emphasized the need for Indian manufacturing to move beyond incremental improvements and adopt integrated sustainability strategies that combine design excellence, operational efficiency, and decarbonization. She said, “As India progresses steadily towards its Net Zero 2070 commitment, the transformation of factories and industrial parks into green, efficient, and future-ready assets is critical. Sustainability today is not merely an environmental responsibility, it is a strategic lever for operational efficiency, resilience, and long-term competitiveness. Through platforms such as the Green Factories Summit, IGBC aims to bridge intent with execution by enabling industry leaders to adopt innovation, smart technologies, and low-carbon practices across both greenfield and brownfield facilities. With Gujarat’s strong industrial base and Vadodara’s leadership in manufacturing, the region has a unique opportunity to set national benchmarks for sustainable and net-zero industrial development.”

The conference featured a series of technical sessions, expert presentations, and panel discussions that offered actionable insights into the evolving landscape of green manufacturing.

Technical Session I: Navigating the Path to Green & Net-Zero Factory Buildings explored emerging trends in sustainable industrial infrastructure, including blue-green-smart industrial systems, clean energy integration, and data-driven sustainability management. Industry experts shared case studies demonstrating how factories are optimizing operations while reducing environmental impact.

A high-level Panel Discussion on “Designing Net-Zero & Smart Green Factories: Innovation, Efficiency, and Decarbonization Pathways” brought together architects, developers, manufacturing leaders, and sustainability consultants to discuss innovative design approaches, digital technologies, and scalable decarbonization strategies for industrial facilities.

The afternoon session, “Leading the Green Manufacturing Shift: How GreenCo Lite Is Bringing SMEs into the Green Value Chain,” highlighted IGBC’s focused efforts to support small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in adopting sustainable manufacturing practices. Through real-world case studies and success stories, the session demonstrated how GreenCo Lite is enabling SMEs to improve resource efficiency, meet compliance requirements, enhance competitiveness, and integrate into global green supply chains.

The conference reinforced IGBC’s role as a key enabler of India’s sustainable industrial transition—bridging policy, technology, and industry action. Delegates emphasized that green factories and industrial parks are no longer optional but essential to achieving long-term economic resilience, investor confidence, and global competitiveness.

The event concluded with a strong call for collaborative action among government bodies, regulators, industry leaders, and sustainability platforms to scale green manufacturing practices across India and accelerate progress toward national and global climate goals.