Ujala Cygnus and Karo Sambhav Partner to Launch India’s First Circular Economy Model for Healthcare E-Waste

New Delhi: Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals has taken a significant step towards environmental sustainability with the formal signing of a strategic partnership with Karo Sambhav, India’s leading circular economy and EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) solutions provider.

The collaboration is aimed at launching India’s first circular economy model for biomedical equipment and IT waste in Ujala Cygnus hospitals. The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday at the Ujala Cygnus Corporate Office, ECE House, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi, marking a transformative moment in India’s healthcare sustainability journey.

This partnership aims to embed circular economy principles across all 25+ Ujala Cygnus hospitals by implementing a structured, compliant, and technology-enabled recycling system for biomedical equipment and IT-related waste. With an estimated 100+ metric tonnes of e-waste to be processed annually, based on ~0.2 kg/bed/day, the initiative will ensure end-to-end traceability, adherence to CPCB/SPCB guidelines, and transparent material recovery processes.

The initiative is projected to result in an annual carbon offset of over 200 tonnes of CO₂, aligning closely with India’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals and broader global climate commitments. 

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Probal Ghosal, Chairman, Director, and Co-founder, Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services, said:  “At Ujala Cygnus, we believe responsible healthcare must go beyond clinical outcomes to embrace environmental and social accountability. Our collaboration with Karo Sambhav reinforces this belief, helping us build a robust, compliant, and impactful model for hospital e-waste management. We are proud to lead the way in making Indian healthcare more sustainable.”

Dr. Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services, said: “Healthcare must heal not just people, but the planet too. We are the first hospital chain in India to be doing this, continuing our tradition of breaking the mould of what traditional private healthcare looks like. With this pioneering circular economy initiative, we are demonstrating that hospitals can be catalysts of environmental change. This partnership is our commitment to a greener, more sustainable future for all.”

Karo Sambhav, known for its national-scale programs on e-waste, plastic waste, and battery waste, will provide comprehensive support through digital tools, operational frameworks, and regulatory compliance.

Expressing his thoughts, Pranshu Singhal, Founder, Karo Sambhav, added: “The healthcare sector generates highly sensitive and complex waste streams. Our partnership with Ujala Cygnus is a step towards redefining how healthcare institutions manage e-waste, not as a burden but as a responsibility. This collaboration will showcase how circular systems can be seamlessly integrated into hospital operations.”

Prateek Ghosal, Chief of Strategy, Growth and Digital, Ujala Cygnus Healthcare Services, said: “Innovation at Ujala Cygnus goes beyond medicine—it extends to how we care for our environment. By embedding circularity into our digital and operational infrastructure, we are setting a new benchmark for sustainability in Indian healthcare.”

The event was attended by key leadership from both organizations, sustainability professionals, and industry observers, who hailed the move as a first-of-its-kind initiative in Indian healthcare.

With this partnership, Ujala Cygnus aspires to become the first and largest hospital chain in India to fully integrate circularity into its waste management system, thereby reinforcing its vision of delivering responsible, people-centric healthcare that also protects the environment.