Organizations need to measure their environmental impact, and identify ways to reduce their carbon footprint through better decision-making, cleaner supply chains, and emission reduction strategies.
Bharat Mahajan, our next pathbreaker, Sustainability and Lifecycle Assessment Consultant at Mondra (a UK based company), focuses on analysing environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and the sustainability performance of products and supply chains.
Bharat talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about one of the most meaningful experiences working on research related to pharmaceutical contaminants and antibiotic resistance in water bodies during his time at IIT Roorkee as research fellow.
For students, study subjects from a real world perspective, because they help you understand how the universe works and reveal the patterns hidden across nature. When you understand these patterns, you gain the power to create solutions that can genuinely improve society.
Bharat, Your Background?
My name is Bharat Kumar Mahajan. I grew up in Himachal Pradesh in a family where education and science were always valued. My father is a science graduate, and from a very young age, I was exposed to scientific thinking at home. One common activity in our house was watching Discovery Channel and National Geographic documentaries. These programs showed how nature works, how technology is used to solve problems, and how human activities affect the environment.
As a child, I was naturally curious. I liked asking questions and understanding how things worked rather than just memorising answers. During my school and college days, I also participated in extracurricular activities, especially the National Service Scheme (NSS). Through NSS, I got exposure to community service and social responsibility, which helped me understand that education should be used for the benefit of society.
These early experiences slowly shaped my interest in science and engineering and planted the idea that I should work in a field where I can solve real-life problems.
What Did You Do for Graduation and Post-Graduation?
I completed my undergraduate studies in Civil Engineering. During this time, I learned the basics of infrastructure, construction, water resources, and environmental systems. While studying civil engineering, I became more interested in subjects related to water, pollution control, and environmental protection.
After my graduation, I prepared seriously for the GATE examination. I secured a good rank, which allowed me to pursue my master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from IIT Roorkee. My postgraduate studies gave me strong technical knowledge in water and wastewater treatment, environmental chemistry, air pollution, and sustainability concepts.
This phase helped me clearly understand how engineering solutions can be used to protect the environment and improve public health.
What were some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Sustainability?
My decision to choose environmental engineering was not sudden. It developed gradually through several influences and experiences.
One major influence was my father, who always encouraged scientific thinking. Another important influence came during my GATE preparation. I was taught by a teacher named Mr. Jaspal Singh. His teaching style was very different. He explained concepts by connecting them to real-world problems such as water pollution, waste management, and environmental degradation. This made me realise that engineering is not only about calculations and exams, but about solving problems that affect people’s lives.
Another important factor was the growing awareness of environmental challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, and pollution. I felt that environmental engineering is not just a career option but a necessity for the future. I believed that by choosing this field, I could make a meaningful contribution to society.
How Did You Plan the Steps to Get Into Your Career?
I followed a structured approach to build my career, starting with a solid academic foundation. After completing my M.Tech at IIT Roorkee, I looked for opportunities to apply my knowledge practically.
A significant milestone in my career was working as a Project Associate at Emergy Enviro, in collaboration with IIT Bombay. During this time, I worked on pollution mitigation and the design of customized effluent treatment plants and air pollution control systems. I conducted Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to evaluate environmental impacts and optimize waste treatment processes for industries such as automobile, pharma, and fertilizer. This experience helped me understand the unique challenges each industry faces in managing environmental sustainability and regulatory compliance.
This hands-on role was instrumental in shaping my career path, as it gave me the practical skills to move into sustainability consulting. It equipped me with the expertise to help organizations in diverse sectors reduce their environmental impact and adopt more sustainable practices.
After that, I worked as a research fellow at IIT Roorkee. During this period, I was involved in research related to emerging contaminants in rivers, water quality, and public health. This phase strengthened my analytical thinking, research skills, and attention to detail.
Currently, I work as a sustainability and life cycle assessment consultant. My role involves analysing the environmental impact of products and supply chains and helping companies reduce their carbon footprint. Each step in my career built on the previous one and helped me move closer to my long-term goal.
How Did You Get Your First Break?
After completing my master’s degree at IIT Roorkee, I appeared in Round 1 of campus placements and was placed in Accenture, but on a waitlist. Due to placement rules, I could not sit for other companies until all students from my batch were placed. However, the waiting period kept getting longer and was uncertain.
Instead of waiting, I decided to be proactive. I spoke to my friends and seniors and asked if they knew of any opportunities related to environmental engineering. Through one of my seniors, I learned about an opening at Emergy Enviro, a SINE IIT Bombay incubated environmental consultancy in Mumbai. The role matched my profile well, so I applied.
The selection process was competitive, with candidates from top Indian and European universities. I went through three rounds of technical written tests and interviews. With strong fundamentals and relevant background, I cleared all rounds and got my first major break in the environmental consulting field.
This experience taught me that taking initiative and trusting your basics can open the right doors.
What Were the Challenges and How Did You Address Them?
One major challenge was dealing with complex subjects and technical concepts. I addressed this by strengthening my basics and practising regularly.
Another challenge was transitioning from academic knowledge to real-world applications. I overcame this by gaining field experience, working on live projects, and learning from industry professionals.
A third challenge was keeping up with rapidly evolving sustainability and climate-related standards. I addressed this by continuous learning, certifications, and staying updated with global developments.
Where Do You Work Now and What Do You Do?
Currently, I work as a sustainability and life cycle assessment consultant in a UK based company Mondra. My work focuses on analysing environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, and the sustainability performance of products and supply chains.
My team and I help organizations understand where their environmental impacts come from and how they can reduce them in a practical and measurable way. The skills required for this role include analytical thinking, a strong understanding of environmental science, data handling, and clear communication.
What’s a typical day like?
A typical day involves analysing data, working on assessment models, discussing solutions with teammates and clients, and preparing sustainability reports. One thing I really value about my company is its open and supportive culture. We are encouraged to ask questions, share ideas, and openly discuss challenges. This culture allows us to communicate freely with seniors and higher executives, which helps in resolving complex problems more effectively.
What I enjoy most about my work is knowing that my efforts contribute to reducing environmental damage and promoting sustainable practices that have a real impact.
How Does Your Work Benefit Society?
Due to anthropogenic activities, meaning human actions such as industrialization, excessive use of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable consumption, the temperature of the Earth is increasing rapidly. Over the last 160 years, the average global temperature has increased by about 1.3 degrees Celsius. Naturally, such a large increase should not have happened in such a short period of time.
This rise in temperature is causing serious changes in global weather patterns. Extreme events such as floods, heatwaves, droughts, and cyclones are becoming more frequent and intense. For example, the recent floods in North India during the monsoon season are directly linked to changes in climate patterns caused by global warming.
India is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. It is estimated that in the coming decades, climate change could cause economic losses worth trillions of dollars, along with severe impacts on agriculture, water resources, health, and livelihoods.
Scientists across the world have warned that to maintain a livable planet, the increase in global average temperature must be restricted. This is why countries agreed under the Paris Climate Agreement to limit temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius.
My work directly contributes to this global effort. Through my role in sustainability and environmental assessment, I help organizations measure their environmental impact, understand where emissions are coming from, and identify ways to reduce their carbon footprint. By supporting better decision-making, cleaner supply chains, and emission reduction strategies, my work plays a small but meaningful role in slowing climate change and protecting the planet for future generations.
A Memorable Work That Is Close to You?
One of the most meaningful experiences for me was working on research related to pharmaceutical contaminants and antibiotic resistance in water bodies during my time at IIT Roorkee as research fellow. This work became even more relevant recently when the Prime Minister of India, in his monthly address Man Ki Baat, highlighted that citizens should not take antibiotics without a doctor’s prescription. He warned that such practices are leading to a rapid increase in antibiotic resistance in the country.
During my research at IIT Roorkee, our team studied water samples from the Ganga river basin and found traces of antibiotics in drinking water sources. This was alarming because the presence of antibiotics in water can contribute to antibiotic resistance, which directly affects public health and makes common infections harder to treat.
Being part of this research helped me understand how environmental pollution, public health, and human behaviour are deeply connected. Knowing that our work could contribute to awareness, policy discussions, and safer drinking water made this experience both personally and professionally very fulfilling.
Advice to Students?
I would advise students to look around and identify real-world problems that truly matter. Study subjects like science and mathematics, because they help you understand how the universe works and reveal the patterns hidden across nature. When you understand these patterns, you gain the power to create solutions that can genuinely improve society.
Always keep your curiosity alive. Do not get trapped in the rat race. As children, we are naturally curious — we ask endless questions about the world around us. Unfortunately, as we grow older, this curiosity often fades due to fear, pressure, and routine. Losing curiosity is dangerous, not only for individuals but also for society.
Never stop asking questions — ask yourself, ask your teachers, ask your parents, and ask professionals. Every scientific discovery, every technological advancement, and every social improvement began with a simple question. The day we stop questioning is the day progress stops.
Stay curious, stay brave, and keep learning — because curiosity is the true engine of change.
Future Plans?
In the future, I aim to grow further in the field of sustainability and climate action, with a deeper focus on the financial implications of climate risk. I am particularly interested in understanding how climate change translates into financial risk, such as damage to infrastructure, disruption of businesses, loss of manpower, and rising healthcare costs due to emerging diseases.
To build this understanding, I am actively studying and pursuing various certifications that help bridge the gap between climate science and financial analysis. My goal is to quantify climate-related financial losses so that enterprises, investors, and governments can clearly see the economic consequences of environmental degradation.
By connecting climate change with financial risk, I hope to support wiser decision-making while framing policies, investments, and long-term strategies. Climate change and poor environmental management are not only environmental issues; they also lead to massive economic losses and can seriously jeopardize the growth and stability of any society.
Beyond my professional work, I also strongly believe in practicing sustainability in daily life. Even though my wife is a banker and does not have a background of education in sustainability, she consistently follows and enforces environmentally responsible practices at home. Her discipline and awareness motivate me to adopt these practices not just professionally, but as a lifelong personal commitment. I aspire to carry these values throughout my life and promote sustainability both at work and at home, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future.