Energy
conservation: ITC Units used 12,085 Terra Joules of energy in 2004-05. Out
of this, 95.11% was met through internal generation. 24.6% of the energy used was produced
from waste.
All ITC Units endeavoured to minimise
specific energy consumption, a measure of energy required per unit of production. Energy
audits by experts, deployment of latest technologies, awareness campaigns and global
benchmarking have helped reduce specific energy consumption in several ITC Units.
Carbon sequestration:
ITC’s unique farm and social forestry programmes now cover 29,230 hectares (19,500
hectares till 2003-04). Helped by intensive R&D, the productivity of plantations under
these programmes has almost doubled in the last few years. The environmental value of
ITC’s forestry programmes assumes even greater importance in the light of a study by
experts from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, which shows that the ‘above
ground’ and ‘below ground’ biomass contributes a 71% carbon sink over and
above the carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestered by pulpable wood.
ITC is not only close to becoming a
‘Carbon Positive’ Corporation, its energy conservation and large-scale forestry
programmes have put the Company in the unique position of being eligible to create
‘Certifiable CO2 Credits.’ |
