SUSTAINABILITY

  • Transforming lives and landscapes in India

Sustainability

at a glance.

Why is sustainability important?

For over a century, the world has witnessed remarkable material progress. However, this progress has come at a tremendous price, creating some of the most serious challenges facing the world today, including that of poverty, growing inequity and increasing joblessness. Compounding these challenges are the threats of global warming and environmental degradation. The model of industrial growth pursued since the Industrial Revolution has paid scant attention to the planet and its resources. The debilitating impact on air, water, soil and bio-diversity not only threatens the present but also the socio-economic security of future generations as well.

India mirrors these challenges. The country is home to 17% of the world's population, but has only 2.4% of its arable land, 4% of water and 1% of forest resources. India is poised to become the world's most populous nation by 2025. To ensure food, water, energy and livelihood security to the teeming millions is a daunting task. Addressing social challenges like multi-dimensional poverty and job creation has also become crying priorities.

Unstable societies cannot foster sustainable economic growth. The need of the hour is a new model of development that will simultaneously fuel economic growth, create sustainable livelihoods and replenish the environment.

Sustainability as a driving force for ITC

Any sustainable solution to addressing the grave challenges facing the world today requires the concerted efforts of all sections of society - policymakers, regulators, business, NGOs and civil society. At ITC, we believe that with their immense managerial and innovative capacity, businesses can contribute significantly towards making a transformational change in society.

Inspired by this opportunity to serve larger societal purposes, we articulated a Vision two decades ago to make the Company a National Champion by adopting the credo of 'Putting India First' ' keeping Country before Corporation and the Institution before Individual. This resolve to build an exemplary Indian enterprise led to the creation of innovative business models that synergised the creation of economic wealth with the formation of ecological and social capital as a unified strategy.

ITC is the only company in the world of comparable dimensions to be carbon, water and solid waste recycling positive.

Sustainability in Action

Our focus has been on spurring innovative strategies that would enable us to make a growing contribution along the triple bottom lines of building economic, environmental and social capital. Matching internal competencies with the emerging opportunities in a fast growing and rapidly evolving economy, we created multiple drivers of growth for the Indian economy through a carefully chosen diversified portfolio of businesses. Efforts were made to create world-class Indian brands that would help in capturing and retaining more value for the Indian economy. The vitality of such brands also serve as market anchors to enhance the competitiveness of the entire value chain, including that of farmers and rural communities. To ensure a positive environmental footprint, we adopted a low-carbon growth strategy which focused on enhanced use of renewable energy sources as well as reduction in specific energy consumption. Efforts to reduce specific water consumption at our units and augment rainwater harvesting activities contributed to the imperative need to ensure water security. Focused waste management initiatives like our flagship WoW (Well-being Out of Waste) programme contribute to addressing yet another national priority.

Renewable Energy

About 43% of energy
consumption at ITC is from
renewable sources

Responsible Luxury

ITC Hotels: Trailblazer in Responsible Luxury

All ITC's Premium Luxury Hotels are LEED Platinum Certified

ITC's ESG Credentials

ITC's Social Investment Initiatives

To create sustainable livelihoods, we designed interventions that respond to the unique challenges of our stakeholder communities. Our e-Choupal, watershed development, afforestation and sustainable agriculture interventions strengthen agriculture, while programmes for economically empowering women and livestock development expand rural income streams. Support for primary education, health and sanitation as well as skilling and vocational training are helping to develop community infrastructure and create better opportunities for disadvantaged communities.

ITC's Sustainability Impact

At ITC, we take immense pride in the fact that we are a global exemplar in sustainability. Our businesses and value chains today support over 60 lakh sustainable livelihoods. We are the only company in the world to have achieved the rare distinction of being water, carbon and solid waste recycling positive for over a decade, despite our expanding manufacturing base. Nearly 43% of our Company's energy consumption is today met from renewable sources. Our growing green building footprint encompasses factories, hotels, offices and employee housing. 41 such buildings have been certified at the highest LEED Platinum level. All properties of ITC Hotels are certified at the highest LEED Platinum level.

ITC's Corporate Social Responsibility

Our commitment to creating societal value is manifest in our CSR interventions, implemented under the Company's Social Investments Programme, that embraces the most disadvantaged sections of society, especially in rural India, through economic empowerment based on grassroots capacity building. The footprint of our CSR projects is spread over 25 States/Union Territories covering 200 districts.

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ITC EHS

ITC's goal is to achieve the greenest and safest operations across all its operations.

In terms of environmental performance, ITC aims to minimise impact and create a positive footprint wherever possible. The company also ensures a safe and healthy workplace for the wellbeing of its employees. All ITC facilities are continually ahead of national legislation and benchmarked to the best international standards and practices in terms of design and infrastructure.

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ITC Brands