Varun Medappa: Creating A More Sustainable And Ecologically Benign Society With Conscientious Initiatives
Varun Medappa
Director
With an aim to raise the consciousness about the risks of improper e-waste disposal and encouraging businesses to Dispose of their e-waste appropriately, Varun, along with his wife Lavnita established Techrestore an e-waste management company, aiming to build a sustainable planet. A visionary leader, Varun is driven by his desire to develop a circular economy and standardize the collection of e-waste in Bangalore. He discusses his endeavors to raise awareness about E-waste among individuals and businesses in an exclusive interview with CEO Insights.
What prompted your journey with Techrestore?
Techrestore is a project I'm working on with my wife Lavnita. We met in 2019 and bonded over our desire to work on a project that would benefit society. One of the Discovery Planet healers' programs we watched particularly informed us about child labor, which is so prevalent in the unorganized sector of E-waste, that is scrap dealers. Furthermore, the companies and corporations were hiring scrap dealers to sell their e-waste in India. While the middlemen made the money, the real dismantlers of such E-waste do not employ safety equipment or protective clothing to safeguard themselves from the hazardous gases emitted by E-waste when it is
burned. We recognized right away that companies and individuals alike needed to be made aware of this issue. We intended to spread the message about responsible e-waste disposal and contribute to the formalization of the e-waste management industry in India.
What distinguishing feature does Techrestore provide to its customers? Describe your responsibilities as the company's Director.
Lead from e-waste released into the environment has been linked to severe kidney damage, as well as central and peripheral nervous system damage and lung infections to mention a few. At Techrestore, we want to raise awareness about the risks of informal e-waste disposal and encourage businesses and individuals to Dispose of their e-waste safely. We collect E-waste from the facility when electronic
equipment reaches the end of its useful life to build an effective circular economy. Furthermore, as an e-waste supplier to us Companies gain international standard certifications as a result of our collaboration with R2 certified(Responsible Recycler) Recyclers, as well as OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, and ISO 9001. My role as a Company Director is to add value to every formal or casual engagement with corporations to get them thinking about how they can help to leave a greener planet for future generations. This isn't only about E-waste. It is critical to hold these discussions so that as a society, we can build a set of common beliefs, ideas, and moral attitudes that can act as a unifying force in pushing this change. I also feel that in schools, we should emphasize environmental awareness and how modest acts of responsibility may go a long way.
We intended to spread the message about responsible e-waste disposal and contribute to the formalization of the e-waste management industry in India
What distinguishing feature does Techrestore provide to its customers? Describe your responsibilities as the company's Director.
Lead from e-waste released into the environment has been linked to severe kidney damage, as well as central and peripheral nervous system damage and lung infections to mention a few. At Techrestore, we want to raise awareness about the risks of informal e-waste disposal and encourage businesses and individuals to Dispose of their e-waste safely. We collect E-waste from the facility when electronic
equipment reaches the end of its useful life to build an effective circular economy. Furthermore, as an e-waste supplier to us Companies gain international standard certifications as a result of our collaboration with R2 certified(Responsible Recycler) Recyclers, as well as OHSAS 18001, ISO 14001, and ISO 9001. My role as a Company Director is to add value to every formal or casual engagement with corporations to get them thinking about how they can help to leave a greener planet for future generations. This isn't only about E-waste. It is critical to hold these discussions so that as a society, we can build a set of common beliefs, ideas, and moral attitudes that can act as a unifying force in pushing this change. I also feel that in schools, we should emphasize environmental awareness and how modest acts of responsibility may go a long way.
What are the many strategies that Techrestore has created for handling e-waste and moving towards sustainable development?
We have set aggressive expectations for the next five years, just in terms of the amount of e-waste we will collect daily. We are also working on measures to combine the formal and informal sectors the latter of which consists of a vast network of unauthorized collectors, segregation, dismantlers, and other intermediates who provide a living for a huge number of rural and urban poor.
Which milestones in your professional career have given you the most satisfaction, both personally and professionally?
In my opinion "Life is not a matter of milestones but moments". Every difficulty you overcome along the way is a milestone, this happens daily. Moments that made you happy, moments that made you proud, moments that reminded you that you're on the right track. Knowing you want to leave a legacy is critical to living a life of self-validation. If I feel I've given my all for the day and can sleep soundly, I'll consider it a success.
What advice would you provide to the next generation of leaders in this industry?
First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate them on selecting a segment that will be critical in defining the qualityof life for our future generations. My only hope is that everyone in our profession realizes our collective obligation to guarantee that our planet thrives, engages with the people to influence collective consciousness to be environmentally sensitive, and leaves a legacy of having changed the direction of civilization for the better.
Varun Medappa,Director, Techrestore
Varun completed his 12th exams through correspondence while working in BPO for the first two years, then completed his graduation via distance learning and also is currently doing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management studies. Apart from Techrestore, Varun also owns We Services, a real estate firm specializing in commercial real estate in Bangalore. Furthermore, Varun's passion for Kalari Payattu is immense and it is what he wants to do after retiring, while ensuring that it reaches the public and that everyone learns body, mind, and soul awareness.
We have set aggressive expectations for the next five years, just in terms of the amount of e-waste we will collect daily. We are also working on measures to combine the formal and informal sectors the latter of which consists of a vast network of unauthorized collectors, segregation, dismantlers, and other intermediates who provide a living for a huge number of rural and urban poor.
Which milestones in your professional career have given you the most satisfaction, both personally and professionally?
In my opinion "Life is not a matter of milestones but moments". Every difficulty you overcome along the way is a milestone, this happens daily. Moments that made you happy, moments that made you proud, moments that reminded you that you're on the right track. Knowing you want to leave a legacy is critical to living a life of self-validation. If I feel I've given my all for the day and can sleep soundly, I'll consider it a success.
What advice would you provide to the next generation of leaders in this industry?
First and foremost, I'd like to congratulate them on selecting a segment that will be critical in defining the qualityof life for our future generations. My only hope is that everyone in our profession realizes our collective obligation to guarantee that our planet thrives, engages with the people to influence collective consciousness to be environmentally sensitive, and leaves a legacy of having changed the direction of civilization for the better.
Varun Medappa,Director, Techrestore
Varun completed his 12th exams through correspondence while working in BPO for the first two years, then completed his graduation via distance learning and also is currently doing an MBA at Narsee Monjee Institute of Management studies. Apart from Techrestore, Varun also owns We Services, a real estate firm specializing in commercial real estate in Bangalore. Furthermore, Varun's passion for Kalari Payattu is immense and it is what he wants to do after retiring, while ensuring that it reaches the public and that everyone learns body, mind, and soul awareness.