GREENSHIFT 2026: National Conference on Innovative Design for Sustainability and Microplastic Mitigation
GREENSHIFT 2026: National Conference on Innovative Design for Sustainability and Microplastic Mitigation
Patron
Prof. Suman Chakraborty
Director, IIT Kharagpur
Convenor
Dr. Aditya Bandopadhyay
IIT Kharagpur
Co-convenor
Prof. Rintu Banerjee
Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur
Co-convenor
Dr. Mohan Das
IIT Kharagpur
The conference will be hosted at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, one of India’s premier institutions known for excellence in science, technology, and interdisciplinary research.
GREENSHIFT 2026: The National Conference on Innovative Design for Sustainability and Microplastic Mitigation is urgently needed today because increasing environmental damage, excessive material use, and the widespread presence of microplastics are all interconnected problems that threaten ecosystems, human health, and future development. Microplastics are now detected across air, water, soil, food systems, and biological tissues, highlighting the limitations of conventional waste management and post-pollution control strategies. To tackle these issues, we need to change our approach to focus on designing solutions that prevent problems before they start, making sure sustainability is part of how we think about materials, products, GREENSHIFT 2026 is a national event that gathers researchers, designers, engineers, industry experts, policymakers, and students to share knowledge, display new ideas, and work together on sustainable materials, circular economy practices, and ways to reduce microplastics. The conference aims to connect research, technology, design, and policy to speed up turning new ideas into real, workable solutions that help meet sustainability goals and encourage a strong, eco-friendly future.
About the departments
The participation of the Agricultural and Food Engineering (AGFE) and Mechanical Engineering departments of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur significantly strengthens GREENSHIFT 2026: National Conference on Innovative Design for Sustainability and Microplastic Mitigation. The AGFE department brings expertise in sustainable farming, food processing, soil and water management, the utilization of agricultural waste, and efficient technologies, all of which are crucial for reducing plastic use and mitigating microplastic pollution in farming and food systems. Its focus on sustainability-driven design at the production and processing level aligns closely with the conference’s preventive approach. The Mechanical Engineering department complements this section with strong capabilities in innovative product design, sustainable manufacturing, materials engineering, energy systems, and environmental technologies. Research on eco-friendly materials, cleaner production methods, and engineering solutions helps create effective ways to tackle plastic and microplastic problems. Together, these departments create a collaborative space that combines design, engineering, and sustainability, making a real difference in academics, industry, and society through GREENSHIFT 2026.
Microplastics are persistent pollutants generated from the degradation of plastics, synthetic textiles, and industrial products, now widely detected in water, soil, air, and food systems. Their bioaccumulation and potential toxicity make them a critical environmental concern, requiring preventive strategies focused on material innovation, design modification, and source-level mitigation.
Sustainability emphasizes responsible resource use, eco-friendly design, and circular economy principles to balance environmental protection with societal needs. By integrating sustainable materials, cleaner production processes, and system-level design approaches, long-term solutions can be developed to reduce environmental footprints and support resilient, low-impact development pathways.
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KHARAGPUR
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