Seats for Sustainability is a sustainability initiative led by Management students aligned with SDG 13: Climate Action, aimed at promoting low-carbon commuting practices on campus. The project focuses on reducing single-vehicle usage by encouraging shared transportation through a simple and accessible Carpool Buddy system.
Project Objective
The primary goal of the initiative was to minimize carbon emissions associated with daily travel by fostering a culture of carpooling among students. By promoting shared commuting, the project seeks to encourage environmentally responsible habits and raise awareness about sustainable mobility solutions.
Implementation & Activities
The team designed and tested a WhatsApp-based Carpool Buddy prototype, chosen for its ease of access and familiarity among students. Key activities included:
- Conducting baseline surveys to understand existing commuting patterns
- Implementing awareness initiatives on the benefits of carpooling
- Facilitating limited carpool matching among interested participants
Although implemented on a small scale, the pilot successfully demonstrated the practicality of shared commuting within the campus context.
Key Outcomes
The WhatsApp-based experiment revealed genuine student interest and proved the feasibility of low-cost, tech-enabled carpool solutions. Participants responded positively, highlighting the convenience and sustainability benefits of the model.
Impact & Way Forward
The project documented all activities through geo-tagged photographs and developed recommendations for improving and scaling the initiative. Seats for Sustainability presents a simple yet effective model that can be expanded campus-wide, contributing meaningfully to climate action through reduced emissions and responsible transportation choices.
Team Members include Maanvi Kancharlapalli, Harshith Ghattamaneni, Kalyan Ram Jonnalagadda, Naga Varshik Ankamreddi , Navya Anjali Macharla, Chandrashekhar Paladugu, Durga Poojitha Banala, Jyothi Godavari.
Faculty Mentor
Dr Nagalakshmi M V N
Assistant Professor & SDG Coordinator
Paari School of Business (PSB), SRM AP
