UST Marks Earth Day with Unique Night Run; Over 3500 Saplings to be Planted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
UST, a leading AI and technology transformation solutions company, marked this year’s Earth Day with a unique Night Run. The Earth Day Night Run organised at the UST Thiruvananthapuram campus between 8 PM and 10 PM on April 22, proved to be a major step by the company towards strengthening environmental responsibility and employee-led action towards the conservation of planet Earth.

The Earth Day Night Run was organised by the UST Runners Club of Color Purple Team, under the aegis of Colors of UST, the volunteer-driven employment engagement initiative at the company.

The Earth Day Night Run ensured that it incorporated fitness, sustainability, and community engagement as part of the two-hour programme. Cycle stations equipped with bicycles were also launched to promote eco‑friendly and sustainable intra‑campus commuting as part of the Earth Day Night Run.

The Night Run, meant as an internal initiative for UST employees, reflected the company’s belief that sustainability begins within the workplace, driven by people who are committed to translating values into action.

Significant about the Night Run was the fact that for every kilometre run by an employee, UST will plant a tree, transforming individual effort into tangible ecological benefit. This initiative ensured that every step taken during the night run contributed directly to restoring green cover and supporting long-term environmental health. As many as 3500-plus saplings are to be planted as part of this initiative.

The Night Run was flagged off by Shilpa Menon, Vice President and Center Head UST Trivandrum, and distinguished guests included Manoj R Sreekumar, social media influencer, Leap2win – long distance runner, UST Trivandrum Marathon 2025 runner-up; Sheffi Anwar, General Manager, Business Operations, UST; Harikrishnan Mohankumar, Senior Director, Workplace Management and Operations, UST; apart from hundreds of USsociates who participated in the night run.

“Earth Day is a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to care for the planet. At UST, we are committed to turning this responsibility into action by empowering our employees to lead sustainability efforts. By pledging to plant a tree for every kilometer run by the employees, the Night Run demonstrates how small individual steps can come together to create lasting environmental impact and a greener future,” said Sunil Balakrishnan, Chief Values Officer and Global Head for Development Center Operations, UST.

UST supports multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, namely SDG 3, 11, 13, 15 and 17 which promote employee well‑being, encourage climate action, and contribute to environmental conservation through tree plantation. The Earth Day Night Run, which ran parallel to these wider goals, held aloft UST’s commitment towards sustainability as a culture embedded in the company’s everyday actions.