Elin Appliances wins Elsina Award for championing green change in Baddi

In the smog-choked industrial belt of Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh, one company has emerged as an unlikely torchbearer of environmental responsibility. Elin Appliances, a leading home appliances manufacturer, has bagged the prestigious Elsina Award 2024-25 in the category of Environmental Protection and Sustainable Development. The honour was conferred at the 50th Annual Awards Ceremony of the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELSINA) in Delhi, where industry heavyweights and government dignitaries applauded the firm’s commitment to green practices.

The award was received by Managing Director Kamal Sethia and Radhe Krishnan, with dignitaries such as Director Electronics Nirmod Kumar, Group Coordinator Sunita Verma and Joint Secretary Sushil Pal present at the ceremony.

Winning the award was no small feat. Elin had to convince a high-powered selection panel comprising senior bureaucrats and industry experts. Their verdict?

The company’s eco-initiatives stood out in both scale and sincerity.

Over the past few years, Elin has transformed its role from just a manufacturer to a steward of sustainability. In Baddi and beyond, the company has been greening barren landscapes and creating community spaces. From developing parks in Nalagarh and Jharmajari to rejuvenating grounds at a local government school, their footprint in environmental restoration is visible and lasting. Notably, the company has planted over 50,000 saplings, achieving a remarkable 90% survival rate — thanks to employees each pledging to nurture at least one plant a year.

But Elin’s efforts don’t stop at planting trees. The company has taken a 360-degree approach to sustainability: wastewater recycling, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient production lines, renewable energy adoption and eco-friendly manufacturing practices. Regular monitoring of air, water and waste ensures pollution levels remain in check — an example many industries in the region are yet to follow.

On the social front, Elin has extended its ethos of responsibility by funding marriages for underprivileged girls, building toilets, and providing computer facilities in schools — tangible investments in community well-being.

“We’re committed not just to planting trees but ensuring they thrive,” said Director Kamal Sethia, underlining that sustainability is a long-term pledge, not a photo-op. Factory Manager JS Kang added that the recognition has only strengthened their resolve to “take the campaign to the masses”.

In an era when profit often overshadows the planet, Elin Appliances has shown that industry and ecology can grow together, a model of green leadership in the heart of Himachal’s industrial hub.