The need
By 2030, the world faces a monumental challenge: nearly 3 billion people—40% of the global population—will urgently need adequate housing. In India alone, a staggering 25 million affordable homes are needed to address this crisis. Rapid urbanization and the relentless decline of natural resources have exacerbated this issue, pushing millions into precarious living conditions without basic amenities.
The time for change is now. We must rethink how we build and sustain our communities to ensure that everyone can live with dignity and hope. Join us in transforming this challenge into an opportunity for innovation and resilience. Together, we can create homes that are not only shelters but sanctuaries of sustainability and well-being.
Our Solution
Our project, the Regenerative Economic Zone (REZ), is a transformative solution designed to address this crisis. We aim to create thriving, sustainable communities that will serve as replicable models for the world. The REZ integrates advanced technology, material science, design thinking, and regenerative principles to build affordable homes that are clean, green, and self-sustaining. These homes are embedded within ecosystems that restore soil health, manage water resources efficiently, and utilize urban waste streams to support small industries and food forests.
Addressing the Housing Challenge:
At the core of our solution is Unwood, a groundbreaking material engineered from waste products that mimics hard natural wood substituting traditional building materials like wood, concrete, and steel. Offering a durable, eco-friendly alternative that addresses plastic pollution as well as deforestation.
Creating Self-Sustaining Communities:
Another feature of the REZ is its food forests—diverse, self-sustaining ecosystems that produce a variety of produce while enhancing local biodiversity and acting as significant carbon sinks. These food forests will empower communities by providing fresh, nutritious food and creating local jobs, all while contributing to climate resilience.
Energy needs within REZs will be met through a combination of renewable energy sources. We will deploy solar and wind microgrids, waste-to-energy systems, and biomass-to-energy technologies to ensure that each community is energy self-sufficient, removing dependency on non-renewable resources.
Water management is another critical component of our solution. REZs will incorporate sustainable water management systems, including rainwater harvesting, greywater treatment, and efficient irrigation methods. These systems will help conserve water, reduce waste, and ensure a reliable supply for both domestic and agricultural use.
To further enhance the well-being of residents, we will introduce personalized nutrition programs. Leveraging local food production from the food forests, these programs will provide tailored dietary solutions that meet the specific health needs of individuals and families, contributing to overall community health.
TESTIMONIALS
OVAIS SARMAD
Vice Chair GHG Protocol, Former Deputy Executive Secretary UNFCCC
Ovais Sarmad served as the Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC from 2017 to 2023, supporting strategic planning and operations at the organization. He played a key role in implementing the Paris Agreement and advancing global climate policies. Prior to this, he spent 27 years with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), where he held several management roles, including Chief of Staff to the Director General. A Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA/GCMA), Sarmad has a Bachelor of Commerce from Osmania University, India, and professional certifications from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants in London.
PROF. SUBI RANGAN
Prof. INSEAD Paris and Chair Societal Progress
Subi Rangan is a distinguished professor with an MBA from MIT Sloan and a Ph.D. in political economy from Harvard. His research explores how businesses can better align performance with societal progress. He founded the Society for Progress, a fellowship producing key works such as Performance & Progress (2015) and Capitalism Beyond Mutuality? (2018). His research has won prestigious awards, including the Academy of International Business’ Eldridge Haynes Prize. Rangan directs INSEAD’s AVIRA executive program and serves on the boards of Fundaçao Dom Cabral and the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. He is also a recipient of INSEAD’s Outstanding Teacher award.
RAMON MENDIOLA
Trustee, Babson College
Ramón Mendiola led Florida Ice & Farm Company, a highly admired Costa Rican public company with divisions in Beverages & Food, Retail, and Real Estate & Hotels across Central America and the U.S. He took on this role in 2003, after holding key positions at major food companies, including Vice President for Central America and the Caribbean at Kraft Foods International. Mendiola holds a degree in business administration and marketing from Babson College and an MBA with a focus on international business marketing and strategy from Northwestern University’s J.L. Kellogg School of Management. Ramon is a member of the World Economic Forum and a fellow of the Society for Progress.
Core Team
Founder and MD,
STEER World
Founder & CEO,
Gaia The Earth Foundation
Founder & CEO,
Connect Ventures
Founder & CEO,
Firefly Life Sciences