Achilles launches Comply360 to streamline enterprise sustainability reporting and compliance

Abingdon, UK – 10 June 2025 – Achilles, a global leader in supply chain risk and performance management, today announced the launch of Achilles Comply360, a purpose-built enterprise software solution to simplify and automate non-financial reporting.

As regulatory, investor and stakeholder demand for transparency increase, many businesses face challenges collecting, validating and reporting ESG and other data. Achilles Comply360 addresses these challenges by providing a single, configurable platform that brings together data collection, reporting automation, project management and framework alignment – all with audit-readiness built in.

“Sustainability reporting is no longer optional for many organisations, but it remains a resource-heavy, fragmented process,” said Mark Chamberlain, Chief Product Officer at Achilles. “Achilles Comply360 is designed to give enterprises the confidence, accuracy and structure they need to meet their reporting obligations efficiently and consistently, without increasing internal burden.”

Comply360 integrates seamlessly with ERP systems, third-party tools, and Achilles’ own platforms, Carbon Accounting and Supply Chain 360, to deliver comprehensive, connected reporting. It leverages specialist AI developed by Achilles’ AI division, InfoControl, to extract data from company documents and auto-populate structured, semi-narrative, and narrative disclosures with high accuracy.

The platform supports reporting under leading frameworks including CSRD, IFRS, and GRI, while also offering full customisation for sector-specific or investor-driven requirements. An integrated carbon estimator, powered by internationally recognised GHG Emission Factors, enables accurate emissions calculations using real operational data. For further automation, users can enhance functionality by adding Achilles Carbon Reporting.

Comply360 also streamlines collaboration and accountability, allowing users to assign reporting tasks by subject area, sub-section, or individual data point. Built-in collaboration tools and real-time performance dashboards provide clear visibility across teams.

“Comply360 puts Achilles rigour and cutting-edge AI-enabled automation at the heart of ESG reporting,” said Chamberlin. “It helps organisations demonstrate due diligence, meet regulatory requirements, and maintain stakeholder trust – more efficiently and effectively.”

Achilles Comply360 is available globally in 10 languages and can be implemented in line with an organisation’s materiality assessment and reporting priorities.

Crystal Crop Protection Limited launches “RICEACT” – a “revolutionary” herbicide for paddy cultivation

India, 2025: With a keen focus towards expanding its footprint in the herbicide segment, Crystal Crop Protection Limited (CCPL), India’s leading agro-chemicals solutions company today announced the launch of a major research-driven herbicide.
This comes at a time when India’s crop-protection market is projected to grow from ~ USD 2.59 Bn in 2025 to ~ USD 3.21 Bn by the year 2030 with a CAGR of 4.35 percent.

 To further its growth and reinforce its position as a market leader in the segment, CCPL has today launched RICEACT, a next-generation solution tailored specifically for rice cultivation. Once introduced, RICEACT is expected to cover ~ 3 lakh acres of paddy and directly connect with over 2.5 to 3 lakh progressive paddy farmers across key markets.

 With the launch of RICEACT, Crystal Crop Protection is expecting to increase its herbicide portfolio by ~ 8 percent.
As a part of its launch, Crystal will be introducing RICEACT across key markets in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Karnataka.

 RICEACT is a powerful early post-emergence herbicide that brings together two highly effective active ingredients — “Triafamone” (20%) and “Ethoxysulfuron” (10%)—offering a robust dual mode of action, providing effective control on various weeds. It works efficiently across transplanted and wet direct-seeded paddy crops, managing a broad spectrum of grasses, sedges, and broadleaf weeds that are known to significantly affect paddy yield and profitability.

 With a unique combination of two active ingredients, RICEACT ensures early weed control and provides season-long residual control. While Triafamone acts through the roots and leaves of the weed and inhibits critical enzyme activity, Ethoxysulfuron is absorbed through foliage and disrupts weed development through systemic action. Together, they effectively block the Acetolactate Synthase (ALS) enzyme, resulting in complete weed mortality with superior crop safety.

 Ankur Aggarwal, Managing Director, Crystal Crop Protection, said, “Crystal is deeply committed to transforming the rice farming landscape in India. With RICEACT, we bring an advanced solution that combines innovation with performance – ensuring our farmers can protect their crops better, reduce losses and maximize returns.”

 This innovative product is designed to be applied as an early post-emergence spray, ideally when weeds are in the “1–3 leaf stage” and with an application window of “8-12 DAT/DAS”. With a recommended dose of 90 g per acre, RICEACT provides a unified solution for effective weed management in rice cultivation, reducing labour dependency and increasing operational efficiency.

 RICEACT will be made available across India through Crystal’s extensive dealer network, focusing on key rice-growing states. It will be offered in convenient 45g, 60g, and 90g pack sizes, and will be actively promoted through field demonstrations, farmer engagement drives, and comprehensive training programs to ensure effective adoption and usage.

 Sohit Satyawali, Vice-President – Sales & Marketing, Crystal Crop Protection, said, “Weed management continues to be one of the most critical challenges in paddy cultivation. RICEACT is a strategic product that ensures longer duration control and broad-spectrum control with a long-lasting impact, while safeguarding the crop and simplifying farmer operations. This product underlines our focus on smart farming and farmer-centric innovations.

 Today, as India’s farmers move towards increased usage of crop-protection products, it will pave the way to unlock the vast potential that can benefit the country’s economy.

Culture Circle Dedicates Its First Sneaker Launch to the Indian Armed Forces

New Delhi, India | May 2025: Culture Circle, India’s leading hype and luxury fashion platform, today announced that it is dedicating the launch of its first-ever sneaker “The Winner” to the Indian Armed Forces, in a heartfelt gesture of solidarity and gratitude. As a mark of respect to the soldiers safeguarding our nation, the brand has pledged that 100% of the proceeds from the sale of this limited-edition sneaker will go towards war relief operations and veteran welfare initiatives.

Originally conceived as a symbolic product representing resilience, ambition, and the pursuit of victory, The Winner has now taken on a much deeper meaning. The brand, known for its bold, youth-first identity, is using this moment to shine a light on those who embody true courage and selflessness – the men and women of the Indian Army and Navy.

“At this time, when our country has once again witnessed the strength and resolve of our armed forces, it only felt right to redirect the narrative,” said Ackshay Jain, Co-Founder of Culture Circle. “This sneaker was meant to represent the idea of a ‘Winner’ and there is no one who deserves that title more than the soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect ours. It’s not just a tribute but it’s our responsibility as a brand born in India, for India.”

Limited to just 42 pairs, The Winner will retail at ₹51,000, a symbolic nod to the 51 lakh+ active personnel across the Indian armed forces. Each pair sold will directly contribute to meaningful impact, as funds will be directed to verified war relief and rehabilitation programs aimed at veterans and their families.

“Fashion, when done right, has the power to stand for something bigger,” said Devansh Jain Nawal, Co-Founder of Culture Circle. “We’ve always believed that Culture Circle is more than a retail platform, it’s a reflection of the times we live in and the values we uphold. This drop is not about hype. It’s about heart. It’s about honouring those who are the real backbone of our freedom.”

This move is aligned with Culture Circle’s growing commitment to purpose-led initiatives and social impact. By choosing to channel a commercial launch into a cause-based contribution, the brand is setting a precedent for how youth-driven businesses can participate meaningfully in national solidarity.

HDFC Life Declares Rs. 4102 Cr. Bonus for Policyholders

Mumbai, June 10, 2025: HDFC Life, one of India’s leading life insurers, has announced a bonus of Rs. 4102 cr. in the Company’s Board Meeting held on 17th April 2025. This is the highest ever bonus declared by HDFC Life on its participating* policies, benefitting over 21.90 lakh policyholders. What makes this milestone even more special is that it coincides with the 25th year of HDFC Life’s journey!

From the total bonus declared, an amount of Rs. 3232 cr. will be payable to policies in the current Financial Year as part of survival or maturity payouts and the remaining will accrue as policy benefits and will be paid when these benefit payments are made in subsequent financial years.

The annual bonus declared by HDFC Life has approximately doubled every four years, thus reflecting consistent growth in with-profits fund performance and policyholder value. The Company has declared a total cumulative bonus amount that exceeds Rs. 22,500 cr. across all eligible participating policies since inception.

Eshwari Murugan – Appointed Actuary, HDFC Life, commented, “I am delighted to announce that HDFC Life has declared its highest ever bonus this year. Policy bonuses are a loyalty reward for policyholders who continue for the long term. As we complete 25 years of our journey, we remain committed to our promise of providing value to all stakeholders.

It is our endeavour to secure our policyholders and their families financially with life insurance, thus enabling them to face challenges with confidence and prepare for the future. With a customer-focused approach, we will continue securing lives and contribute towards achieving the vision of ‘Insurance for All by 2047’.”

Avaada Electro Powers India’s Solar Leadership: First to Launch 720 Wp TOPCon Modules, Butibori ALMM-Certified, Scaling to 12 GW Integrated Manufacturing

New Delhi / Nagpur / Noida, June 10, 2025 – In a landmark stride for India’s clean energy manufacturing ecosystem, Avaada Electro (www.avaadaelectro.com), the solar manufacturing arm of Avaada Group, today announced that its state-of-the-art Butibori facility in Nagpur, Maharashtra has been officially included in the Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM) by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The ALMM listing includes Avaada’s Glass-to-Glass G12 modules (up to 720 Wp) and G12R modules (up to 630 Wp). The Butibori plant, equipped with self-adaptive AI-integrated production lines and a smart energy management system, is one of India’s most advanced module manufacturing sites operating at a Takt time of 16 seconds. The plant is rapidly scaling up to 7 GW capacity by next month, reinforcing Avaada’s leadership in high-efficiency solar technology.

Pioneering High-Efficiency TOPCon Modules

In parallel, Avaada Electro has also commercially launched its BIS-certified N-type TOPCon solar modules in both 720 Wp and 630 Wp variants. With a best-in-class efficiency of 23.32%, these modules represent a leap in next-gen solar performance. Shipments of 595 Wp, 600 Wp, and 605 Wp TOPCon modules have already commenced from Avaada’s fully operational Dadri facility, with 720 Wp modules being dispatched from Nagpur.

India’s Largest Integrated Solar Manufacturing Ecosystem

Avaada Electro is scaling towards a 12 GW solar module and 12 GW solar cell manufacturing capacity by the next financial year. This integrated ecosystem spans ingots, wafers, glass, encapsulants, packaging, and other critical components—placing Avaada at the forefront of India’s solar self-reliance journey.

The Dadri facility, already ALMM-certified, runs on green power and showcases AI-powered defect detection systems that outperform human inspection in precision and reliability. Avaada’s facilities also leverage cloud computing and real-time energy analytics to minimize environmental impact, aligning with our commitment to greener, smarter manufacturing.

Vineet Mittal, Chairman & Founder, Avaada Group, said: “Our journey at Avaada Electro is rooted in innovation, scale, and sustainability. With ALMM certification of our Butibori plant and the commercial launch of our 720 Wp and 630 Wp N-type TOPCon modules, we are proud to lead India’s solar manufacturing revolution.

Our AI-driven, energy-optimized, and fully integrated solar manufacturing ecosystem is a symbol of India’s industrial resilience and Avaada’s unwavering commitment to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.”