Sustainable Organisations – The Next Zero 2026, curated by ET Edge Global Sustainability Alliance (GSA), is the 5th edition of a flagship leadership platform focused on accelerating India’s transition toward climate-smart, resilient, and regenerative business models. Under the theme From Climate Intent to Business Transformation, the platform convenes leaders across business, policy, finance, and innovation ecosystems to drive actionable outcomes and system-wide change.

The Next Zero – SO Icons 2026 recognise organisations and individuals that are leading India’s sustainability transition through measurable impact, innovation, and execution. The recognition goes beyond intent, spotlighting enterprises that are embedding sustainability into core strategy, driving transformation at scale, and delivering tangible climate and ESG outcomes.

The recognition aims to celebrate real-world implementation of sustainability initiatives, establish credible industry benchmarks, and inspire organisations to move from commitments to measurable outcomes. They also seek to highlight scalable models that contribute to low-carbon growth, resilience, and regenerative business practices.

The felicitations are open to organisations across sectors including energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, BFSI, technology, consumer goods, agriculture, healthcare, and more. Both large enterprises and emerging organisations, as well as individual leaders such as Chief Sustainability Officers, ESG heads, founders, and innovation leaders, are eligible to apply.

The felicitations span both organisational and individual categories, including Excellence in Decarbonisation, Circularity, Resilience, Sustainable Finance, and Climate Innovation. Individual recognitions include Excellence in Sustainability Leadership and Excellence in Emerging Leadership.

Nominations can be submitted through the official platform via a structured entry process. Participants are advised to review the relevant categories, eligibility criteria, and submission guidelines carefully before completing their application.

Yes. All information shared during the nomination process is treated with strict confidentiality. It is accessed only by the evaluation and editorial teams and handled in line with established data privacy and confidentiality protocols.

Entries are assessed through a rigorous, research-led evaluation framework. Key parameters include demonstrated impact and measurable outcomes, implementation at scale, scalability and future readiness, innovation and technology integration, strategic integration, environmental performance, value chain influence, and governance and accountability.

Participants gain the opportunity to benchmark their organisation against industry leaders, earn credible recognition for sustainability performance, and strengthen their positioning with investors, regulators, and stakeholders. The platform also offers visibility through editorial features, inclusion in the The Next Zero – SO Icons 2026, and access to strategic partnerships and ecosystem collaborations.

The felicitation ceremony will be held alongside Sustainable Organisations – The Next Zero, 5th Edition, scheduled for 25th June 2026 in Mumbai, bringing together a curated audience of senior decision-makers and sustainability leaders.

The platform is designed for CXOs, ESG and strategy leaders, investors, policymakers, sectoral stakeholders, startups, consultants, and sustainability practitioners who are actively shaping or contributing to climate and business transformation.

The Next Zero – SO Icons 2026 stand out for their focus on execution and measurable outcomes rather than intent alone. Backed by a robust evaluation framework and aligned with global sustainability priorities, the platform recognises organisations that are driving real transformation and setting benchmarks for future-ready, low-carbon growth.