Bilbao 2022
Ljubljana 2025
Speakers
Arts
Asia 2028

Sustainability Report Sustainability Report

At the 2025 Hearth Summit, sustainability was approached as a practice woven through the life of the event — from planning and operations to measurement and reflection. Sharing these reports is part of our commitment to transparency and to making our efforts, progress, and learnings visible. We hope it not only communicates the results of this edition’s work, but also offers practical insight for others looking to create more responsible, inclusive, and sustainable gatherings. We are sharing the report in three formats: a one-page overview of the key results, an independent third-party audit and certification report by Planet Positive Event, and a fuller deep-dive into the practices and actions that shaped these outcomes.

AT A

GLANCE

Discover the Summit’s key sustainability results in our one-page infographic.

One-Page Infographic

INDEPENDENT

ASSESSMENT

Explore the third-party audit, certification, emissions data and final sustainability score prepared by Planet Positive Event.

View Audit Report

FULL COMPREHENSIVE SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Read the full comprehensive sustainability report with all of the above as well as the list of practices implemented along the way that supported the obtained results.

Joaquina Zibell

Networks Coordinator

Buenos Aires, Argentina

My name is Joaquina, and I am the Networks Coordinator at The Wellbeing Project, where I support the growth and engagement of a global community of changemakers. I work closely with partners and members to foster meaningful connections, facilitate collaboration, and strengthen the network’s collective impact.
With a background in International Relations, I am deeply interested in the intersection between global cooperation, wellbeing, and social change. I am passionate about creating spaces that nurture connection, learning, and collective care.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you? 01

To me, inner wellbeing means being connected to myself, my values, and my sense of purpose, while also creating balance and space for growth, reflection, and care.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing? 04

I believe prioritizing wellbeing is important because it shapes how we relate to ourselves, others, and the world around us. When individuals, organizations, and societies are well, they are better able to build healthier, more compassionate, and sustainable communities.

Grecia González

Philanthropic Partnerships Manager

Mérida, Yucatán

Connect with Grecia:

Grecia is a sustainability and social impact professional who is passionate about creating the conditions for people and communities to thrive. With more than 10 years of experience in sustainability, social responsibility, volunteer engagement, and inclusion, she has worked to build bridges across sectors, foster meaningful relationships, and support collective action for positive change.

She believes that wellbeing is both a personal and collective journey, and that nurturing connection, belonging, and compassion is essential for creating a more sustainable and equitable future. Grace is energized by bringing people together, facilitating collaboration, and helping cultivate spaces where purpose, learning, and care can emerge and grow.

Outside of work, she enjoys spending time in nature, advocating for animals, embracing a plant-based lifestyle, and sharing life with her beloved dog, Nachita.

What does inner wellbeing mean to you? 01

Inner wellbeing means being connected to myself with honesty, compassion, and presence, while staying aligned with my values and purpose, even during times of uncertainty.

Are there any rituals or practices you use to enhance your wellbeing? 03

Spending time in nature, walking with my dog Nachita, practicing gratitude, and creating meaningful moments of connection with the people I care about.

Why is it important that we prioritize individual, organizational and societal wellbeing? 04

Because wellbeing creates the foundation for people and communities to thrive. When individuals feel supported and connected, organizations become healthier and more human-centered, and together we can contribute to a more compassionate, resilient, and sustainable world. The wellbeing of each person is deeply interconnected with the wellbeing of the collective.

Homecoming A Journey of Homecoming:

Vipul Shaha on Mindfulness, Nature, and Belonging

Vipul Shaha

🌍 Pune, Maharashtra, India

At the intersection of psychotherapy, indigenous wisdom, and environmental education lies the work of Vipul Shaha. Based in Pune, India, Vipul is the founder of Mindful Being, where he serves as a psychotherapist, educator, and nature facilitator.

But if you ask Vipul who he is beyond his titles, he will tell you he is a pilgrim.

“I have been a seeker for as long as I can remember,” Vipul shares. “My work is a natural extension of a personal path focused on understanding the nature of reality (Dharma) and cultivating inner silence. To the extent that I’m calm and rooted within myself, I can create spaces where others experience the same.”

What is the heart of your work, and what inspired you to begin it?

Vipul Shaha: “At the heart of my work lie awareness and connection, guided by a quiet faith in the unfolding of human consciousness. Through Mindful Being, I hold spaces where people can slow down and reconnect—with themselves, with one another, and with the living Earth.

This path has been shaped by three formative experiences: encountering Vipassana meditation as a teenager; living alongside an indigenous, land-based community; and working with children in a forest school. Each revealed the same truth—belonging to self, community, and land is essential to our wellbeing.“

The Seeds of Awareness

At the age of 17, under the guidance of S. N. Goenka-ji, Vipul learned the foundations of self-awareness and “righteous action” at a Vipassana retreat which continue to guide his work with young adults today. Then, after graduating from Harvard, Vipul spent a gap year living with a land-based indigenous community in India. This experience offered him a blueprint for a more integrated way of living and learning. Finally, working as an environmental educator at a Krishnamurti Foundation forest school, he witnessed firsthand how “falling in love with nature” is the ultimate medicine for human wellbeing.

How does your work nurture a deeper sense of ecological belonging?

VS:  “My work invites people into relationship with nature—not as a backdrop, but as a living presence. Through forest walks, mindfulness-based retreats, therapeutic conversations, and learning journeys—sometimes held outdoors—I encourage people to listen again.

Inspired by Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing), and alongside therapists, educators, indigenous knowledge holders, and land stewards, I co-facilitate one of India’s first Adventure and Nature-Based Therapy programs.

When safety, care, and connection are created — with Mother Nature as a co-therapist — something profound shifts. It becomes a journey of homecoming: remembering that nature has always been our home, and that we are wired for connection.”

Can you share a moment or challenge that brought this to life?

VS: “My niece Anvi has become one of my greatest teachers. Her name means ‘Goddess of the Forest,’ representing the divine feminine—and watching her interactions with the natural world, I see how perfectly she lives into it: through her barefoot walks, her conversations with trees, her fascination with ants and moon cycles. For me, these are constant reminders that intimacy with nature is our original language.

And yet, alongside this joy, there is grief. Many children today are separated from such experiences—by urban life, shrinking natural spaces, and systems that leave little room for wonder. Anvi’s presence continually asks me: What kind of world are we shaping for those who come after us? And how closely do my daily choices align with that vision?”

A Practice for You: The “Sit Spot”

If you are looking for a small first step toward ecological belonging, Vipul invites you to begin a simple ritual:

  • Find your ‘Sit Spot’: A tree, a rock, a stream, or even a quiet park bench that feels safe.

  • Visit regularly: Observe the changes in the seasons. Listen to the birds. Journal or create art.

  • The Goal: Over time, you may discover a quiet truth: you are not just in nature; you are interconnected with all of life.

Explore more: 🎧Listen to Vipul’s Guided Mindfulness Practices here.

What is the most critical lesson you have learned that should be shared?

VS:  “This work is subtle—planting seeds and trusting they’ll bloom. Over time, I’ve watched relationships soften, health regain priority, and lives reorient toward meaning.

The key insight? Ecological belonging begins with belonging to ourselves. Humanity’s disconnection from nature mirrors our disconnection from ourselves. As Thich Nhat Hanh said, we’ve become “hungry ghosts,” endlessly consuming to fill an inner emptiness.

This work can’t be sustained through shame or fear. It calls for embodied experiences of interconnectedness, tenderness, and love—for ourselves, each other, and the living Earth.”

What small, first step would you encourage others to take in their own community?

VS: “Find a place in nature that feels safe and nourishing—a tree, rock, stream, or park bench. Visit regularly. Observe. Listen. Journal. Create. Let the seasons teach you.

Over time, you may discover a quiet truth: you are interconnected with all of life.“

Connect with Vipul:

You can find Vipul on LinkedIn and his website, or reach out directly by email. He’s always open to connecting with kindred spirits, synergistic projects, and initiatives that align with mindful, nature-immersive, and relational ways of being. He is particularly eager to collaborate on nature-based programs that support youth and marginalized communities.

Learn More About Ecological Belonging