Though Earth Day falls on April 22, there is a growing interest worldwide to make every day earth day. If translated into action, it offers the promise of helping the world cope with the two biggest challenges of our times — the economic slowdown and climate change.
For businesses, it all begins with management of resources. Getting more from less is the mantra for survival today and prosperity tomorrow. In their search to get leaner and meaner, companies are embracing not only conventional wisdom on 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle), but also pursuing innovation like never before.
The twin-pronged strategy is being adopted by businesses not only in their day-to-day functioning, but also in the manufacture of products and provision of services, thereby reducing their own as well as their customers costs. Progressive companies are reducing even the environmental costs by integrating sustainability in their working and climate proofing their risks. Improving efficiency is the underlying key driver.
Some companies have already set examples as illustrated in their 2008 sustainability reports. For example, ITC Limited has been carbon-positive and water-positive for several years now. The business conglomerate also recycles almost all of its solid wastes.
Pharmaceutical major Dr Reddys Laboratories has reduced its usage of energy and fresh water by 14% and 31% respectively since 2003-2004. Though the total energy usage has gone up by 66%, energy usage per unit of sales has come down by 14%. Similarly, total greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions have gone up by 60%, but emissions per unit of sales have come down by 17%. Having tasted success, the company hopes to lower its energy usage by another 7-10% with guidance from third-party energy audits.
A composite pharmaceuticals industry player, Jubilant Organosys Ltd maintains an inventory of GHGs. The inventorisation helps the company in identifying measures for conserving energy, recovering waste heat and using renewable fuels.
For example, recycling of water at its Gajraula plant in Uttar Pradesh has helped the company to bring down its water usage by 8%. The company is also recovering more than half of acetic acid from its waste.
Paharpur Business Centre & Software Technology Incubator Park operates out of a retrofitted building. The company saved 3% electricity in 2008 over 2007. It even took the help of uncommon measures like drip irrigation and mist fans . Similarly, 2.35% of water was saved in 2008 over 2007, by pursuing a wide range of measures including installation of waterless urinals and sensor taps in addition to rainwater harvesting. Besides, all paper waste is recycled and food waste is utilised in vermicompositing.
Even software major like Infosys aims to reduce its per capita energy and water consumption by 5%. The company has made a decision to go in for green construction in its campus. Even the performance of the old buildings is being enhanced with the help of various measures. Solar water heating saved the company 5.725 million KwH last year.
The list of such initiatives as well as companies is long. The ever growing number of sustainability reports is a testimony to it. Such examples should serve as a reference point for late comers to internalise sustainability in their say to day operations and harness the competitive edge that it offers.
Source: The Financial Express
Published on 21 April 2009