Sustainable Technosolutions for Environmental Protection

What Sustainable Technosolutions for Environmental Protection does

Sustainable Technosolutions for Environmental Protection (STEP) is a Mumbai-based private limited environmental engineering and consulting firm founded in June 2010, providing industrial wastewater treatment, waste management, ESG advisory, and infrastructure due diligence services to clients across chemicals, pharmaceuticals, FMCG, manufacturing, and government sectors. The firm serves a diverse Indian and multinational clientele including BASF India, Hindustan Unilever, Coca Cola, Dr. Reddy's, EY, Macquarie, Thermax, and Navin Fluorine, alongside public-sector bodies such as Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation, academic institutions such as NMIMS and Mukesh Patel School, and international development organizations including RTI International. The firm is led by founders Jyoti Palekar (Co-Founder and Managing Director, M.Tech from IIT Mumbai, 25+ years of environmental consulting experience including Jacob Engineering) and Dr. M.G. (Deepak) Palekar (Director, doctorate from ICT Mumbai, 25+ years of corporate experience at Unilever India, Rhodia India, Polychem and Atul, plus two years at University of Ghent), supported by a small multidisciplinary team of environmental engineers, sustainability engineers, and consultants.

Name

Sustainable Technosolutions for Environmental Protection

Legal name

Sustainable Techno-solutions For Environmental Protection Private Limited

Website

https://stepsol.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

STEP is a Mumbai-based environmental consulting and engineering firm offering proprietary Downflow Gas Contactor reactor technology, wastewater treatment, ESG advisory, and infrastructure due diligence services to industrial, government, and NGO clients across India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental and Sustainability Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Climate Governance, Operating Model & Internal Carbon Pricing Design (EUABAKAF), Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

Keywords

• Environmental consulting services
• Wastewater treatment solutions
• Sustainability advisory services
• ESG strategy consulting
• Environmental impact assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Environmental Consulting Services: Provides environmental engineering services, sustainability consulting, due diligence for investments, environmental and social impact assessments, and regulatory compliance advisory.
2. Technology Licensing and Implementation: Licensing of DGC reactor technology and related proprietary technologies like ABSOLV solvent. Includes pilot plant setup, demonstration, and commercial implementation support.
3. Project Management and Engineering Services: Engineering design, feasibility studies, DPR preparation, technical specifications, and implementation support for infrastructure projects.
4. Capability Development Programs: Training programs on environmental regulations, wastewater treatment operations, sustainability strategy, and ESG reporting.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

STEP provides environmental and sustainability consulting services to industrial, government, and international clients, covering corporate sustainability and ESG advisory, water and wastewater management, infrastructure engineering, due diligence, environmental and social impact assessments, and capability development programs. The firm also licenses proprietary Downflow Gas Contactor (DGC) reactor technology for wastewater treatment, biogas upgradation, and chemical recovery applications.

Product overview

STEP is a sustainability and environmental consulting firm offering advisory services and proprietary technology solutions. The core product is the Downflow Gas Contactor (DGC) reactor, a novel gas-liquid contactor technology for wastewater treatment, biogas upgrading, and chemical reactions. Services include Corporate Sustainability/ESG, Water & Wastewater Management, Infrastructure Services, Due Diligence for Investment Strategy, and Knowledge Management programs. The company operates on a 'relationship-based' consulting model with repeat clientele.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Downflow Gas Contactor (DGC) Reactor Technology Proprietary gas-liquid contactor-reactor technology licensed from WRK Design UK for wastewater treatment (up to 80% COD reduction), biogas upgradation (CO2 and H2S removal), and chemical reactions. Achieves interfacial area up to 6,000 m2/m3 and 40-50% gas hold-up.
• Corporate Sustainability Services ESG strategy, GHG inventory, decarbonization, sustainability reports and ESG disclosures aligned with Ecovadis, GRI, UN SDGs, and CDP frameworks for enterprise clients.
• Water & Wastewater Management Services Development of basis of design and process flow diagrams for Effluent/Wastewater Treatment Plants (ETP/WWTP) and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plants, adequacy checks, technical specifications, and capability development sessions for industrial clients.
• Infrastructure Services Feasibility studies, Detailed Project Reports (DPR), and engineering design for water supply, sewerage, sewage treatment plants, common effluent treatment plants (CETP), and solid waste management projects.
• Corporate Social Responsibility Services Technology-based CSR projects covering environment, sanitation, watershed management, solid waste management, stakeholder mapping, and community engagement programs for corporate and foundation clients.
• Due Diligence for Investment Strategy Process due diligence, environmental due diligence, site assessment, and regulatory compliance review services for investors, private equity firms, and financial institutions evaluating industrial and chemical assets.
• Industrial Waste Management Solutions Tailor-made solutions for industrial waste management selecting best-fit technologies for reuse, recycle, and recovery of chemicals, solvents, and by-products for industrial clients.
• Green Technology Solutions Process intensification, column chromatography for chemical recovery, and sonochemistry for crystallization and milling using cavitation technology for specialty chemicals and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
• Sustainability and Environment Management Process audit for productivity improvements, wastewater balance mapping, water footprint assessment, and resource management solutions for industrial facilities.
• Knowledge Management and Capability Development Programs Training programs on environmental regulations, wastewater treatment operations, sustainability strategy, energy assessment, carbon footprint, and OHSAS implementation for corporate and institutional clients.
• Environment and Social Assessments Environmental and social impact assessments for infrastructure, healthcare, and industrial projects for funding by World Bank, IFC, AIIB, and NHAI.
• CSR and Social Business Models Development of social business models integrating drinking water supply, affordable sanitation facilities, and WASH programs for CSR and development clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) achieved in pilot studies on industrial effluent streams
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• EBP GlobalflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024STEP signed MOU to merge into EBP Global, a Swiss multinational consulting enterprise. EBP focuses on water-wastewater management, sustainability, ESG & decarbonisation, transportation & e-mobility, and contaminated site management. Leadership and team at STEP will remain unchanged, and they will expand services under EBP family in India.
• Goldfinch Engineering Services Pvt. Ltd., ThanecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 31 August 2021Delivery Partner for India for marketing and fabrication of plants with novel DGC reactor for effluent treatment applications.
• Geist Research, Division of Z-Tech India Pvt Ltd., GoacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Association to work on chemical recoveries from effluent streams. Successfully demonstrated recoveries of 11 chemicals from effluent streams. Some processes being scaled up to commercial level.
• WRK Design and Services Ltd., UKcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2021Association with WRK Design UK (owners of DGC Technology) to provide technical support and guidance on DGC projects in UK, Canada, and European countries. First project for Leachate Treatment for a major MNC started September 2021.
• Newreka Sustainability Solutions LLP, MumbaicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Association to work on separation of DiMethyl Formamide (DMF) from effluent streams. Working on novel adsorbent and demonstrated DMF separation. Technology commercialization in progress.
• Solar Impulse Foundation World Alliance Solution, SwitzerlandcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2019Member of World Alliance Solution (WAS). DGC reactor technology evaluated and labeled as Efficient Solution under UN SDGs.
• BASF IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2018CSR partnership including Water ATM project at Turbhe Stores, Navi Mumbai. Implementation partner for community water and sanitation facilities using BASF products.
• United Envirotech P Ltd. (UEPL), PuneminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 September 2017Jointly set up 50 m3/hr biogas upgradation plant in Maharashtra for demonstrating DGC technology and ABSOLV solvent.
• SustifyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Partner organization for sustainability services.
• WaterlifeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2010Implementation partner for Water ATM project providing safe drinking water solutions.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Ramboll: Ramboll is a European engineering and sustainability consultancy with water, environment, and ESG practices serving industrial and public-sector clients — comparable to STEP's environmental services and infrastructure assessment offerings.
• WSP Global: WSP is a global engineering and environmental consultancy with deep water/wastewater and EIA practices serving industrial, infrastructure, and government clients — overlapping significantly with STEP's water & wastewater, infrastructure, and EIA service lines.
• Arcadis: Arcadis is a global design, engineering, and environmental consultancy with practices in water, climate adaptation, ESG, and industrial wastewater — directly comparable to STEP's environmental consulting and engineering services portfolio.
• EBP Global: EBP Global is the Swiss multinational that signed an MOU to merge STEP into its platform. EBP focuses on water-wastewater, sustainability, ESG & decarbonisation — making it the most strategically aligned comparator for STEP's forward trajectory.
• AECOM: AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm with environmental services including EIA, water, and ESG — comparable to STEP's infrastructure services and environment & social assessment offerings.
• Jacobs Engineering: Jacobs is a large global engineering services firm with a substantial environmental and water practice. STEP's co-founder previously worked at Jacobs India, and both serve industrial clients on wastewater treatment, EIA, and sustainability mandates.

Direct peers

• SLR Consulting: SLR is a global environmental and sustainability consultancy offering EIA, water, waste, ESG, and advisory services to industrial clients — closely comparable to STEP in service mix, though larger and internationally distributed.
• Goldfinch Engineering Services: Goldfinch is STEP's own delivery partner in India for DGC reactor plants — a directly comparable Indian engineering firm focused on fabrication and deployment of STEP's licensed technology.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): ERM is a global pure-play sustainability and environmental consulting firm serving industrial and chemical clients on EHS, ESG, and decarbonization mandates — directly comparable to STEP's consulting practice, though at vastly larger scale.

Regional players

• GreenChem (India): GreenChem is an Indian environmental services and technology firm offering wastewater treatment and biogas solutions to industrial clients — directly comparable to STEP on water/wastewater and biogas upgradation in the Indian market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/about

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sustainable Technosolutions for Environmental Protection