Carlsberg India and Water.org Unite to Boost Clean Water Access Across Ganges Basin

The partnership will empower more than 112,000 people with access to safe water or sanitation, providing an estimated 247 million liters of water across the region.

Carlsberg Group in India today announced a new partnership with Water.org to improve access to safe water and sanitation in communities across the Ganges River Basin, including the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The collaboration reinforces Carlsberg’s commitment to responsible water stewardship by investing in sustainable, measurable solutions that empower local communities.

Water.org helps tackle India’s water and sanitation crisis by making access affordable. Through its WaterCredit solution, launched in India in 2004, the organization partners with microfinance institutions, banks, and government programs to provide small, affordable loans for water and sanitation improvements to families in need. This approach has enabled more than 30 million people to get access to safe water or sanitation. Water.org continues to scale its impact by developing financial solutions at both household and community levels, supporting India’s goal of providing tap water for all.

Through this initiative, Carlsberg Group and Water.org will enable access to 247 million liters of water in the Ganges River Basin, helping people in areas that need safe water the most. The partnership aims to provide safe water or sanitation solutions to more than 112,000 people by March 2028. In addition to providing access to safer water, the partnership will engage communities in awareness efforts to drive long-term behavior change and local impact.

The partnership is an important step towards Carlsberg Group’s target of replenishing 100% of the water consumed at its breweries and beverage production sites in high water risk areas by 2030.

"At Carlsberg India, we understand that water is not just a resource — it’s a lifeline for communities," said Nilesh Patel, Managing Director, Carlsberg India. "Our partnership with Water.org reflects our commitment to sustainable water management and community well-being. By supporting access to safe water, we’re helping families build healthier lives, strengthen their resilience, and secure a better future. Investing in water is, ultimately, an investment in people, in sustainability, and in long-term progress."

"This collaboration with Carlsberg helps scale the impact of our proven solution. One that’s empowered millions of people to finance their own safe water and sanitation solutions," said Gary White, CEO and Co-founder, Water.org. "As part of an important network of partners, Carlsberg is helping accelerate that momentum in India, where access to safe water or sanitation can change everything for families in need: improving health, regaining time, and building bright futures."

Water access drives measurable improvements in health, household resilience, and gender equity. This partnership will help create lasting impact across the Ganges River Basin, ensuring that local communities can thrive, even in the face of climate challenges.

CLR Facility Services Secures $15 Mn from BII to Boost Inclusive Jobs & ESG in Facility Management

The investment supports the Government of India’s initiatives to promote inclusive employment, introducing up to 30,000 more low-income workers to the formal economy.

CLR Facility Services Pvt Ltd (CLR), a leading integrated facility management solutions provider in India, today announced a strategic partnership with British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. BII has committed $15 million (approximately INR 125 crore) to support CLR’s next phase of growth.

Gautam Pathak

The company employs 20,000 blue-collar workers, providing facility management services including cleaning, engineering, and mechanical maintenance, and production support to corporate clients. BII’s investment will accelerate CLR’s expansion across India, providing better employment opportunities to low-income groups and women, and driving the adoption of sustainable business practices.

The company aims to scale its workforce to more than double the current number – up to 50,000 employees over the next five to seven years, introducing more women and underserved groups to become part of the formal economy. Part of the funding will also go toward building training centres where unskilled and semi-skilled workers in tier-2 cities can receive vocational training over the next five years.

While the company expands service offerings, it is also enhancing its environmental and social risk management processes and HR initiatives to ensure workers’ health and safety.

Gaurav Pathak and Gautam Pathak, Promoters and Directors of CLR Facility Services, said: “Partnering with BII marks a pivotal moment in our journey toward inclusive and sustainable growth. This investment will empower us to create more opportunities for our workforce, drive innovation in facility management, and extend our impact across new markets.”

Shilpa Kumar, Managing Director, Head of India at BII, added: “In India, over 80 per cent of the workforce, excluding agricultural workers, is in the blue and grey collar sectors that drive the country’s economic growth. As the UK’s DFI, we focus on supporting inclusive growth by enabling better job and training opportunities for underserved groups. We are delighted to support CLR’s vision, which is aligned with the Government of India’s initiatives in driving inclusive employment.”

Mr K K Rathi, Managing Partner at First Bridge Investment Managers Pvt Ltd, existing investor of CLR said: “We are delighted to welcome BII as a partner in the growth journey of CLR. Having been the first investor in CLR since 2018, we firmly believed in the potential of the company which will get into new growth orbit with the strategic investment from BII.”

About CLR Facility Services:

Founded in 2002 in Pune, CLR is a rapidly growing integrated facility management company with 20,000+ employees, 160+ clients, and operations across 9 states in India. The company is committed to empowering women (25% of its workforce) and uplifting underserved communities through structured training and employment opportunities. The company offers Integrated Facility Management and complex Infrastructure O&M Projects.

About British International Investment

British International Investment is the UK’s development finance institution and impact investor. As a trusted investment partner to businesses in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, BII invests to create productive, sustainable, and inclusive economies in our markets. Between 2022-2026, at least 30 per cent of BII’s total new commitments by value will be in climate finance. BII is also a founding member of the 2X Challenge, which has raised over $33.6 billion to empower women’s economic development. The company has investments in over 1,580 businesses across 65 countries and total net assets of £8.5 billion. 

HCLFoundation to Accelerate Water and BioDiversity Stewardship in Rural India

HCLFoundation, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of global technology company HCLTech in India, announced a 45% increase in the annual outlay to ₹24 crore for its flagship HCLTech Grant initiative that supports innovative rural development projects by Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in India.

Starting FY26, the HCLTech Grant will be open to applications for promising projects under the new Water category. The Environment category has been replaced with Biodiversity. The Education and Healthcare categories will continue as before.

Each winning NGO in these categories will receive ₹5 crore for four-year projects, while eight runner-up NGOs will get ₹50 lakh for two-year projects. The total grant for the FY26 edition will be ₹24 crore vs ₹16.5 crores in FY25.

The Water category aims to highlight the critical importance of water in sustainable development. HCLFoundation aims to drive impactful community-based solutions to address water scarcity and improve water management in rural areas. The Biodiversity category aims at focused interventions that bring about ecological biodiversity impact that can be seen and measured.

The new initiative will support projects that tackle various aspects of water management, including conservation, efficient usage and sustainable practices. NGOs focusing on water-related issues are encouraged to apply for funding and support.

"Water is a precious resource. Its responsible management is crucial for reducing water stress in India. Through this initiative, we seek to partner with NGOs on innovative projects on water conservation. Also, there is a need to focus on Biodiversity enhancement across the country. Therefore, we have introduced two distinct categories under HCLTech Grant, Water and Biodiversity, while we continue focusing on Education and Healthcare. The increase in total financial outlay further strengthens our commitment towards nation building," said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP, Global CSR, HCLTech and Director, HCLFoundation. 

To date, the HCLFoundation has awarded ₹152.8 crore (~$18.4 million) through the HCLTech Grant initiative to scale high-impact projects. Through the HCLTech Grant, it has supported 59 projects across 142 districts in 22 States and two Union Territories.

With these new categories, HCLFoundation has announced the 11th Edition of HCLTech Grant, after 10 consecutive successful editions over 10 years. This year's edition includes increased grant funding, more commitment for runners-up NGOs and a higher focus on conservation efforts. The applications portal is already live. Help desks are active, and soon, the HCLTech India Grant team will be conducting symposiums in various regions of the country.

For more details and to apply, visit https://www.hclfoundation.org/hcltech-grant.

HCLTech is deeply committed to water stewardship through various innovative initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable water management and conservation. Platforms like AquaSphere provide a comprehensive solution that helps organizations monitor, measure and optimize water usage using real-time data, enhancing water sustainability practices. HCLTech has been recognized for its efforts in water stewardship, winning the National Water Award 2022 for its water conservation and management initiatives in India.

Through the HCLFoundation, the company has harvested 57.9 billion liters of water and rejuvenated over 200 water structures. Their projects include rainwater harvesting, river rejuvenation and biodiversity enhancement along the Ganga's catchment area. These initiatives align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 15 (life on land). 

About HCLFoundation

HCLFoundation delivers the corporate social responsibility agenda of HCLTech in India. The Foundation contributes to national and international development goals by investing in long-term sustainable programs and special initiatives with thematic focus on education, nurturing grassroots sports, health and sanitation, skill development and livelihood, environment and disaster risk reduction and response management. To ensure equitable development, child protective strategies, inclusion and gender transformative approaches are at the core of all the programs of the Foundation. To date, the HCLFoundation has positively impacted over 6.5 million lives. To learn more visit www.hclfoundation.org

Uniqus Consultech Raises $20 Mn in Series C Led By Nexus Venture Partners

Uniqus Consultech, a tech-enabled global platform that offers consulting solutions in the accounting & reporting, finance operations, governance, risk, ESG, and technology domains, today announced that it has secured $20 million in Series C funding.

The round was led by Nexus Venture Partners, with participation from Sorin Investments. Nexus and Sorin are existing investors in Uniqus. The funds will be used to accelerate the company’s rapid growth trajectory, launch adjacent services, and expand its geographical footprint across the globe. Uniqus also plans substantial R&D investments in AI-driven solutions for the reporting and risk management challenges faced by its clients.

The funding comes amid exceptional growth as Uniqus satisfies the strong market need for modern consulting solutions. Companies now seek consulting services that blend deep domain expertise with cutting-edge technology and access to a global talent pool. Uniqus has emerged as a leader, providing specialized, and scalable technology-driven solutions that disrupt traditional consulting models.

Since launching two years ago, Uniqus has established offices in 11 cities across India, US, and the Middle East, employing more than 550 high-performing professionals led by 60 Partners and Directors, serving more than 250 clients. During this period, Uniqus has also launched several tech assets:
UniQuest: GenAI-powered platform transforming search, summarization and analysis across industries including regulatory filings to deliver dynamic conversations and precise answers to reporting queries

• Risk UniVerse: Proprietary platform designed specifically to streamline internal controls over financial reporting, SOX compliance, and internal financial controls
• Reporting UniVerse: Comprehensive technology solution for financial reporting and data management
• ESG UniVerse: Advanced data management and reporting tool tailored for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics.

Uniqus also enhances its offerings through strategic technology partnerships with companies like Cranium AI to enhance AI Risk Management Solutions for its clients.

"Uniqus represents the future of consulting,” said Anup Gupta, Managing Director of Nexus Venture Partners. "While traditional consulting firms struggle to adapt to changing market needs, Uniqus takes a fundamentally different approach that delivers superior results. The company's strategic use of technology and AI, coupled with its global cloud delivery model, unlocks an enormous opportunity to transform client outcomes and redefine consulting economics. We are thrilled to reinforce our partnership with Team Uniqus in this exciting journey."

“Our vision has always been to build a consulting platform that leverages global talent and technology to deliver exceptional client outcomes,” said Jamil Khatri, Co-Founder & CEO of Uniqus. “With a $100 billion+ addressable market before us, this is just the beginning. Our latest round of funding positions us to expand our capabilities and geographical presence as we tap into this market. The funding will also help us to build Uniqus AI, leveraging our deep domain skills and new GenAI models to transform how consulting services are delivered.”

"Uniqus continues to execute remarkably well as it builds a differentiated, global consulting company,” said Sanjay Nayar of Sorin Investments. “The company has anticipated and capitalized on the growing need for tech-enabled consulting services, positioning itself well ahead of competitors. With its proven execution prowess and the significant opportunities that lie ahead, we are excited to partner with Uniqus on the next phase of its growth journey.”

The Series C funding saw significant investor interest and marks another milestone in Uniqus’ journey, affirming investor confidence in its vision, team, and potential for long-term success.

Nexus Venture Partners is an India-US venture fund started by successful entrepreneurs, with a focus on enterprise technology and Digital India spaces. Sorin Investments is an early-stage tech fund founded by private equity veteran, Sanjay Nayar.

Tata Motors Signs MoU with Govt of Maharashtra to Restore 1000 Water Bodies in Over 20 Districts

Reinforcing its commitment to safeguard water resources and uplift rural communities, Tata Motors today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Government of Maharashtra to restore 1000 water bodies in over 20 districts in the water-stressed regions of the state. In 2024, Tata Motors rejuvenated and restored 356 water bodies in Maharashtra by leveraging the Gal Mukt Dharan Gal Yukt Shivar Yojana, a community-based de-siltation programme, in partnership with the Soil and Water Conservation Department of Government of Maharashtra, NAAM Foundation, and local communities.

Strengthening its collaboration, Tata Motors intends to scale the water conservation initiative to over 20 districts in the state, including the water deprived regions of Vidarbha and Marathwada. The proposed collaboration aims to rejuvenate and revive 1000 water bodies in Amravati, Latur, Chandrapur, Nagpur, Nanded, Parbhani, Akola, Gadchiroli, Yavatmal, Dharashiv, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Ahilya Nagar, Sangli, Solapur, Pune, Palghar, Thane & other districts of the state. NAAM Foundation will be the implementation partner for the programme.

Tata Motors signed a MoU with the Government of Maharashtra to restore 1000 water bodies in the presence of Devendra Fadnavis – Chief Minister, Maharashtra, Nana Patekar – Chairman, NAAM Foundation, Sushant Naik – Global Head – Government & Public Affairs, Tata Motors and Vinod Kulkarni – Head CSR, Tata Motors

Commenting on the initiative, Vinod Kulkarni, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Tata Motors says,

We are immensely proud to have strengthened our partnership with the Government of Maharashtra and NAAM Foundation to address the impact of droughts and water scarcity in the state. The successful rejuvenation and restoration of 356 water bodies in 2024 has encouraged us to scale up the programme to over 20 districts and reach many more villages in Maharashtra. This programme strives to raise the water table, provide access to potable water, make irrigation water available throughout the year, thus improving livelihood for villagers.

Speaking on the initiative, Priya Khan, Officer on Special Duty – Chief Minister’s Office, Government of Maharashtra, said—

The Government of Maharashtra launched the ‘Gal Mukt Dharan, Gal Mukt Shivar Yojana’ to increase water capacity of existing dams and water bodies. This programme has evolved into a people’s movement thanks to the invaluable support of our partner organisations like Tata Motors and NAAM Foundation. Together, we are not just restoring water bodies; we are fostering resilience and sustainability to reduce the impact of recurring droughts in the state.

Ganesh Thorat, CEO – NAAM Foundation, adds, 

The NAAM Foundation began addressing Maharashtra’s acute water shortage in 2015. Our partnership with Tata Motors and the Government of Maharashtra is a significant milestone towards these efforts. Last year we collectively expanded our work to ten districts. We are happy to see that the positive impact of the water conservation efforts will now reach more districts.

In 2024, Tata Motors and NAAM Foundation successfully rejuvenated and revived 356 water bodies, excavating ~ 60 lakh cubic meters of silt across 10 districts of Pune, Palghar, Thane, Satara, Dhule, Solapur, Chandrapur, Ahmednagar, Beed and Latur. This collaborative effort has created a capacity of approximately 7000 million litres of water, benefitting 7,000 farmers and significantly raised the water table and improved access to potable water in rural Maharashtra.

Gal Mukt Dharan Gal Yukt Shivar Yojana provides preapproved funds to the farmer for the silt transportation to their farms, which enhances fertility of the soil. The end-to-end digital monitoring mechanism ensures agility and transparency in project implementation.

The success and impact of the rejuvenation of water bodies in Maharashtra is a testament of Tata Motors’ commitment to sustainable development and upliftment of rural communities.

Infosys Along with AEEE and IIHS to Decarbonize India’s Commercial Building Sector

Infosys has taken a significant step towards sustainability by collaborating with the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) to decarbonize India's commercial building sector. This initiative, named 'ASSURE' (Accelerating Sustainable and Super-efficient Real Estate), aims to realize 100 million sq. ft. of high-performance commercial buildings in India by 2030.

The program is designed to be the world's largest organized effort to implement high-performance buildings at scale. It will bring together experts, innovators, enterprises, and the government to provide technical assistance to lighthouse projects, develop ecosystem-wide capacity, and demonstrate viability inspired by Infosys' campuses¹. Additionally, ASSURE will foster entrepreneurship, collaborate with government agencies to create a supportive policy environment, and engage with large financial institutions to implement these high-performance commercial buildings.

Nandan Nilekani, Co-founder and Chairman of Infosys, emphasized the opportunity this collaboration presents for India's building sector to contribute significantly to the nation's sustainability goals. He expressed enthusiasm about amplifying the potential of the nationwide community of industry leaders, practitioners, knowledge institutions, and students to drive positive climate action.

ASSURE is not just about meeting global standards but setting new ones, with rigorous performance validation and ambitious emissions reduction targets to transform building practices and drive real change. Infosys, which became carbon neutral in 2020, is continuing its efforts to realize its ESG 2030 vision and transition to low-carbon operations. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in paving the way for a greener and more sustainable future.

Infosys is an early mover in setting and achieving ESG goals, advocating for responsible business over the decades. Infosys became carbon neutral in 2020, 30 years ahead of the timeline set by the Paris Agreement and has aggressively progressed commitments and efforts to realize its ESG 2030 vision, and transition to low-carbon operations.

Tech Mahindra Only Indian Company With a Double ‘A’ Score for Transparency on Climate Change and Water Security

This recognition from CDP reaffirms Tech Mahindra's ambitious sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by 2030

Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting, and business re-engineering services & solutions, today announced that it has secured a double ‘A’ leadership ranking in corporate transparency and performance on climate change and water security by CDP, a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Tech Mahindra says that with this, it is the only Indian company to have received the dual 'A' score from CDP.

Established as the 'Carbon Disclosure Project' in 2000, CDP holds the largest environmental database in the world, and its scores are widely used to drive investment and procurement decisions towards a zero carbon, sustainable and resilient economy.

Globally, just under 400 companies scored an A for their leadership in environmental transparency and performance on climate change, deforestation and water security. 346 companies made the 2023 Climate Change A List. Only 30 companies made the 2023 Forests A List and just 101 companies made the 2023 Water Security A List.

In this 2023 list, Tech Mahindra scored each in Climate Change and Water Security.

The recognition from CDP validates Tech Mahindra's strides towards achieving ambitious sustainability goals, including carbon neutrality by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2035, coupled with significant efforts in renewable energy sourcing and water conservation initiatives. Based on the data reported through CDP's 2023 Climate Change and Water Security questionnaires, Tech Mahindra is one of a few companies to receive a double 'A' rating out of over 21000.

Sandeep Chandna, Chief Sustainability Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, "Tech Mahindra's consistent recognition on CDP's ‘A’ list, spanning multiple years and categories, reflects our unwavering dedication to addressing critical global challenges. Our industry-specific focus lies in combating climate change and ensuring water security, both urgent imperatives amid escalating threats to ecosystems, communities, and economies globally. We are taking steps to reduce our environmental impact by implementing sustainable practices, reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, and investing in renewable energy. Our commitment, reflected in these efforts, is a stride towards a sustainable future, symbolising innovation, collaboration, and a resilient planet for future generations."

As part of its commitment to addressing climate change, Tech Mahindra aims to increase renewable energy sources to 90% by 2030. In FY23, it reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 40%. The company has made significant progress, including achieving the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for some of its campuses, implementing an internal carbon pricing strategy, and emphasising green procurement. Additionally, it has deployed over 5600 water restrictors and sensors to conserve water, resulting in a 30% reduction in water consumption, with 200024.3 Kiloliters of water recycled in FY23.

Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP, said, “Congratulations to all the companies on CDP’s A List, and those companies that started or accelerated their journey towards environmental transparency in 2023 – we saw a 24% increase of disclosures last year and that trajectory is to be applauded. It is only by laying the groundwork of disclosure that companies can show they are serious about the vital part they play in securing a net-zero, nature-positive future. Earning a place on the A List is about more than the score. It’s an indication of high quality, complete data that equips companies with a holistic view of their environmental impact, serves as a baseline for transition plans and – crucially – enables them to follow through on their ambitions. As we move deeper into the Decade of Action, and as CDP continually raises the bar for what represents environmental leadership, the work of A List companies is never complete. We look forward to seeing all companies turn their commitments into further and more meaningful and effective action.”

CDP uses a detailed and independent methodology to assess, allocating a score of A to D - based on the comprehensiveness of disclosure, awareness and management of environmental risks and demonstration of best practices associated with environmental leadership, such as setting ambitious and meaningful targets. Tech Mahindra has consistently been recognised on CDP’s ‘A’ list since 2014 for Climate Change.

About Tech Mahindra

Tech Mahindra offers innovative and customer-centric digital experiences, enabling enterprises, associates, and society to Rise for a more equal world, future readiness, and value creation. It is a USD 6.5+ billion organisation with 146000+ professionals across 90 countries helping 1250+ global customers, including Fortune 500 companies. It is focused on leveraging next-generation technologies including 5G, Metaverse, Blockchain, Quantum Computing, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and more, to enable end-to-end digital transformation for global customers. It is the first Indian company in the world to have been awarded the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s Terra Carta Seal, which recognises global companies that are actively leading the charge to create a climate and nature-positive future. It is the fastest growing brand globally in ‘brand value rank’ and among the top 7 IT brands globally in brand strength with AA+ rating. With its NXT.NOW™ framework, Tech Mahindra aims to enhance ‘Human Centric Experience’ for its ecosystem and drive collaborative disruption with synergies arising from a robust portfolio of companies. It aims at delivering tomorrow’s experiences today and believes that the ‘Future is Now’.

Tech Mahindra is part of the Mahindra Group, founded in 1945, one of the largest and most admired multinational federations of companies with 260,000 employees in over 100 countries. It enjoys a leadership position in farm equipment, utility vehicles, information technology, and financial services in India and is the world’s largest tractor company by volume. It has a strong presence in renewable energy, agriculture, logistics, hospitality, and real estate. The Mahindra Group has a clear focus on leading ESG globally, enabling rural prosperity and enhancing urban living, with a goal to drive positive change in the lives of communities and stakeholders to enable them to Rise.

About CDP

CDP is a global non-profit that runs the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Founded in 2000 and working with more than 740 financial institutions with over $136 trillion in assets, CDP pioneered using capital markets and corporate procurement to motivate companies to disclose their environmental impacts, and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, safeguard water resources and protect forests. Over 24000 companies around the world disclosed data through CDP in 2023, with more than 23000 companies – including listed companies worth two thirds global market capitalisation - and over 1100 cities, states and regions. Fully TCFD aligned, CDP holds the largest environmental database in the world, and CDP scores are widely used to drive investment and procurement decisions towards a zero carbon, sustainable and resilient economy. CDP is a founding member of the Science Based Targets initiative, We Mean Business Coalition, The Investor Agenda and the Net-Zero Asset Managers initiative. Visit cdp.net or follow us @CDP to find out more.

DBS Commits Up to SGD 1 Bn Over Next 10 Yrs to Step Up Support for Vulnerable Communities and Catalyse Social Impact

Augments existing community initiatives by the bank and DBS Foundation; first SGD 100 million to be deployed with effect from 2024

Bank’s employees will contribute over 1.5 million employee volunteer hours

Mr. Surojit Shome, MD and CEO DBIL

DBS today announced it will commit up to SGD 1 billion over the next 10 years to improve the lives and livelihoods of the low-income and underserved and foster a more inclusive society. The bank will deploy SGD 100 million each year in Singapore and its other key markets with effect from 2024. This commitment augments existing community initiatives by the bank and the DBS Foundation.

The funds will primarily go towards programmes that aim to support the more vulnerable segments in the community by:

• Helping them cope with immediate daily needs, such as food and housing;
• Giving them the opportunity to break out of the poverty cycle through education;
• Equipping them with important life skills such as digital and financial literacy; and
• Strengthening their emotional and mental resilience. 

In addition, the bank’s 36,000-strong workforce will commit over 1.5 million volunteer hours over the next decade to give back to society. Over the next few months, the bank will be identifying key organisations and programmes to partner and support.

Said Surojit Shome, Managing Director and CEO of DBS Bank India: “A combination of extreme climate events, an ongoing post-pandemic recovery and external economic headwinds have exacerbated the issues faced by the most vulnerable across Asia. DBS is a purpose-driven bank and the collective pledge of SGD1 billion over the next 10 years, as well as the increased volunteering commitment from our employees, underlines our intention to help mitigate some of these challenges and be a force for good.

With its roots as the Development Bank of Singapore, the purpose has always been at the heart of DBS’ DNA. In India specifically, the bank has recently set up a multi-state financial literacy & social entitlements programme, supported by the DBS Foundation, that aims to touch 200,000+ lives from underserved communities, 70% of which will be women. Another 100,000+ women, children and youth will be impacted through a livelihoods, education and future forward skills programme through initiatives that will be launched later in 2023.

In 2014, the bank established the SGD 50 million DBS Foundation to support social entrepreneurship. Since then, it has supported more than 800 Businesses for Impact across Asia and impacted over 800,000 lives by enabling access to healthcare, education, and employment. In line with this, DBS Bank India has also provided support through grants, accelerator partnerships and mentoring to over 40 local social enterprises across the country that provide market-based solutions to environmental and social needs.

During the pandemic, the bank created an SGD 10.5 million “Stronger Together Fund” to support those impacted by Covid-19. In 2022, DBS committed an additional SGD 100 million to deepen its ability to create impact beyond banking. The increased funding is helping to finance DBS Foundation's expanded scope, including its new Community Impact Chapter and other philanthropic and relief efforts. To date, the DBS Foundation has rolled out 10 community programmes in the areas of digital and financial literacy across the region, with a collective target of impacting 6.9 million lives over three years.

Pahwa Group Inaugurates the DRI Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center on World Environment Day

Situated in Alwar, Rajasthan, the center aims at promoting organic farming

DRI, the flagship company of Pahwa Group, the fastest growing adsorption technology group in the world, inaugurates the DRI Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center at Dadhikar village in Alwar, Rajasthan, in partnership with the Sapna NGO. With an aim to provide benefits to the farmers, the center was inaugurated on the occasion of the World Environment Day (5th June, 2023) by Mrs. Anandita Pahwa, Head-CSR Initiatives, Pahwa Group, in the presence of Mr. Jagdish Prasad Sharma, Assistant Agriculture Officer, Alwar; Mr. Sudhir Pratap Singh, General Secretary and Prof. Ranvir Singh, Secretary, Sapna NGO. Many of the farmers from the Dadhikar village were also present for the inauguration.

The objective of this center is to promote sustainable and environment-friendly agricultural practices and improve soil health and fertility through natural methods. Benefiting more than 150 farmers in the area, this project will lead to increased access to organic, healthy and chemical-free food for the local community, along with providing training and support to farmers & villagers transitioning to organic farming methods. Initially, four types of organic khad will be made and distributed to the villagers from the new center, namely Neemastra, Jivamrit, Vermi Compost and Rapid Compost.

This center is aimed at generating awareness about organic farming and increasing the productivity of the crop. The long-term impact of this project will be to eliminate the use of synthetic inputs, such as synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, genetically modified seeds and breeds, preservatives, additives and irradiation. These will be replaced by site-specific management practices that maintain and increase long-term soil fertility and prevent pests and diseases.

 

Earlier this year, the company also inaugurated a Check Dam in the same area of Dadhikar village, Alwar to balance the water scarcity by recharging the water table. Commenting on the past initiatives and the new center, Anandita Pahwa, Head - CSR Activities, Pahwa Group said, “We are proud to say that the underground water levels have gone up since the construction of the check dams in the area, allowing the farmers some respite in terms of the availability of water. It has also encouraged them to get back to farming with vigor and we want to further work towards this. Moreover, we are sure that the new DRI Sustainable Agriculture Resource Center will act as a catalyst of change and arm the farmers with resources to move away from synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, towards using organic farming products".

The Center will also be used as a Farmer Training and Capacity Building center, where the company plans to conduct workshops and training sessions on organic farming techniques. It will also provide education on soil management, composting, natural pest control, and crop rotation, and demonstrate different organic techniques suitable for the local conditions.

In addition to the inauguration, DRI and Bry-Air (another flagship company under the Pahwa Group) also organized volunteer activities with the children studying at the Bry-Air and DRI Pathshalas in Dharam Colony and Carterpuri village of Gurugram on the same day. The activities for the students included a drawing competition around the theme of ‘beating plastic pollution’, decorating flowerpots and planting seeds in them. The aim of the event was to create awareness among the students and sensitize them as future generations towards the growing strain on Earth's natural ecosystem and encourage them to take steps to protect the environment.

For years, Pahwa Group has been an active participant in the endeavor to protect the environment and preserve the earth. It has undertaken various initiatives like the construction of check dams for rainwater harvesting, plantation drives, and afforestation to increase green cover and improve the air quality in a step towards the restoration of the ecosystem. As a result of the regular afforestation drives in Dadhikar village, Alwar, Rajasthan, a forest of more than 750 medicinal and fruit-bearing trees has been developed. This will help in the re-greening of the area which will be able to provide fruits for the locality.

Sentra.world, an ESG SaaS Platform Raises $2 Mn in Seed Funding Led by Avaana Climate Fund to Enable Industrial Businesses to Meet Net-Zero Goals and Better Manage Scope 3 Emissions

sentra.world who aims to manage 1% of global GHG emissions in the next five years, will infuse seed funding for novel sectoral climate intelligence, product development, team expansion and strategic partnerships

sentra.world, a technology platform empowering industrial businesses on their path to net zero, is proud to announce a successful seed funding round of $2 million (~INR 16 crores). The funding round was led by Avaana Capital, India's foremost early-stage climate-tech venture capital firm, with participation from RPG Ventures and Golden Sparrow Ventures.

The recent momentum towards net-zero emissions is evident, with 1000’s of companies committed to achieving net-zero emissions globally. Industrial sectors such as utilities, steel, cement, aluminium, automotive and chemicals play a significant role, accounting for approximately 38% of global emissions and 62% of emissions in India (McKinsey's Global Energy Perspective, 2022 & Decarbonising India, 2022). This underscores the pressing need for decisive action.

sentra.world aims to help industrial companies manage GHG emissions of their own operations, of their suppliers (scope 3), and at the holding company level through its products sentra.calculus, sentra.network and sentra.portfolio respectively. With sector specific measurement approaches, simulations for emissions reduction, intuitive dashboards, global reporting standards, and gamified data reporting, sentra.world empowers industrial businesses to reduce their carbon footprint and contribute to a sustainable future.

Companies are now aiming to include scope 3 (supplier related) in emissions management with procurement and sustainability functions partnering to deliver. Large industrial companies have upwards of 5000 suppliers each, however, face challenges such as suppliers not having enough/unstructured data, not the right incentives, and suppliers not wanting to expose their data to buyers and competitors, The sentra.network product solves for these and also provides a green rating to suppliers, giving them a new value proposition and enabling procurement functions of buyers to find the right suppliers for their net zero journey.

Harsh Choudhry (CEO) and Vikas Upadhyay (COO), the founders of sentra.world, bring over 30 years of combined global experience in sustainability, heavy industry, and technology. Their background as former junior partners at McKinsey, a renowned global management consulting firm, has shaped sentra.world's vision and comprehensive suite of solutions. With Harsh Choudhry's visionary leadership and Vikas Upadhyay's expertise in driving sustainable operations, sentra.world is committed to facilitating industrial businesses worldwide on their net-zero journeys through sector-specific SaaS products.

Harsh Choudhary

"We envision empowering global industrial businesses on their net-zero journeys through sector-specific SaaS products," shared Harsh Choudhry, Co-Founder and CEO of sentra.world. "By prioritising Scope 3 emissions, we drive sustainability across the value chain for industrial businesses in India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with future expansion into Europe. Our goal is to have 500 industrial companies and 500,000 suppliers as valued customers, managing 1% of global emissions within five years.”

Vikas Upadhyay co-Founder & COO, sentra.world

"This seed funding will accelerate our efforts to provide cutting-edge solutions, sectoral intelligence that help businesses seamlessly track supplier emissions, enhance green sourcing, and optimise their environmental impact”, said Vikas Upadhyay, Co-Founder and COO, sentra.world. “As sentra.world stands for Sustainability and Energy Transition for a Better World, we are enthused to embark on this sustainable journey to make a lasting positive impact on Planet Earth”, he exclaimed.

"We are excited to lead the seed funding round for sentra.world and support their groundbreaking efforts in Scope 3 emissions management," said Anjali Bansal, Founding Partner at Avaana Capital. "Their innovative platform and comprehensive suite of solutions address critical challenges faced by industrial businesses, driving sustainability and enabling a greener future. We are confident that sentra.world will play a pivotal role in shaping the industrial sector's transition to net-zero emissions."

Sentra.world's seed funding will drive global expansion, platform development, and sectoral intelligence enhancement, serving industrial businesses in India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and beyond. With a commitment to sustainability and net-zero goals, Sentra.world offers innovative Scope 3 solutions to empower businesses and achieve ESG excellence.

About sentra.world

sentra.world is a technology platform that empowers industrial businesses on their net-zero journeys by providing accurate, comprehensive, efficient, and traceable methods to measure emissions performance. Through its SaaS products, including sentra.calculus, sentra.network, and sentra.portfolio, sentra.world enables businesses to achieve ESG excellence, decarbonise their value chain, and drive sustainability across the industrial sector. With a strong focus on India, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe, sentra.world aims to be at the forefront of managing emissions for at least 500 industrial companies, contributing to a more sustainable future. Headquartered in Bangalore, sentra.world combines a dedicated team of tech experts and climate specialists with advanced data analytics and cloud technologies.

For more information about sentra.world and its ESG technology platform, please visitwww.sentra.world

About Avaana Capital

Avaana Capital manages Avaana Climate and Sustainability Fund, India’s first and largest climate-tech venture capital fund, investing in future market leaders who are leveraging technology-led innovation to build and scale solutions for climate and sustainability while delivering exponential returns. Avaana invests in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience across thematic areas of Energy transition and Resource management, Mobility and Supply chains, and Sustainable agriculture and food systems.

Avaana's portfolio features climate-focused startups such as Eeki Foods, Aerem, FarMart, Turno, Terra.do, Ninety One, Praman (Intello Labs), Eggoz, Praan etc. Avaana’s Team has previously made investments in unicorns and category-leaders like Delhivery, Nykaa, Urban Company, ShadowFax, NinjaCart, Stellapps etc.

IIMA and PwC India Join Hands to Establish PwC ESG Research and Innovation Forum at IIMA

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA), a premier global management Institute, in collaboration with PwC India, announced the establishment of the ‘PwC ESG Research and Innovation Forum’ today. This ESG Forum has been set up for an initial period of five years, facilitated by the efforts of IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMAEF).

PwC ESG Forum at IIMA is envisaged to be an avenue for knowledge sharing and exchange among the ESG stakeholders; driven by a marquee event or series of events that the Forum will host at IIMA. This initiative comes as a step towards contributing to India's commitment to the net zero agenda and upcoming BRSR regulations by widening and deepening the sustainability impact in the Indian industry.

Emphasizing the need for more ESG focused collaborations and conversations, Professor Errol D’Souza, Director, IIMA said, "ESG has become a mainstay in every boardroom discussion and is being looked at as a quality standard that determines capital allocation, investor valuation, capacity building and the overall sustainability quotient of the company. Although ESG incorporation in India is in a nascent stage, the room for growth is tremendous. This scenario makes the need for a forum – a common platform for stakeholders across the spectrum – compelling. We are happy to partner with PwC to launch this Forum and are confident that it will provide the much-needed action space for academia, industry, think tanks and policymakers to come together, deliberate on best practices and devise a roadmap that is aligned with ESG goals, globally.”

Supported by a high calibre faculty pool and strong research credentials, IIMA has been at the forefront of leading initiatives that have the potential to educate and influence scholarship, practice, and policy. The understanding and need for ESG discussions have moved beyond just ‘purpose’ or CSR for companies, towards creating positive change with tangible plans towards stakeholder capitalism. This Forum will play an important role in initiating the right conversations within the ESG space in India and in contributing towards thought leadership in ESG research, industry use cases and timely policy interventions.

Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, PwC in India said, “ESG is gaining prominence in terms of the Government's agenda be it achieving the Net Zero target by 2070, the NDC commitments for 2030, the extended product responsibility regulations and SEBI’s BRSR regulations around reporting and disclosures. Achieving this requires a platform approach which brings together relevant stakeholders to ideate, align initiatives and develop roadmaps for achieving interlinked goals. Moving beyond strategy and expediting actions will be key to making an impact.

We are proud to join hands with IIM-A to provide a forum to foster meaningful conversations, empower stakeholders with adequate research, enable thought leadership to build alliance ecosystems and raise resources to plan and execute ESG-led transformation. We believe partnerships of this nature will play a significant role in bolstering the nation’s ESG agenda and help in meeting the climate goals.”

PwC Global is focusing on turning ESG theory into action by helping create outcomes that drive value and fuel growth, whilst strengthening our environment and societies. This Forum will be instrumental in bringing together a community of solvers (environmentalists, sociologists, economists, strategists, technologists), industry, and academia - to work towards finding solutions that can be embedded into various business functions effectively and for the long term.

This collaboration between the Institute and PwC has been facilitated by the IIMA Endowment Fund (IIMA EF) – the Institute’s unified fundraising and philanthropic arm that facilitates all donations given to IIMA.

On facilitating the setting up of the ESG Forum at IIMA, Ms Chhavi Moodgal, CEO, IIMA EF said, “IIMA Endowment Fund focuses on continuously identifying opportunities in which IIMA wants to build academic and research capabilities - particularly topical themes like sustainability which will be relevant from a public policy and industry perspective over many years. Accordingly, we have also been instrumental in identifying corporate collaborations for the Institute. We are pleased to announce another concrete step towards shaping the ESG ecosystem in India through the PwC ESG Forum. This Forum will be an important platform to support dialogue and dissemination of cutting-edge research to improve ESG performance of Indian organizations and enterprises. We hope that the industry-academia collaborative effort of this Forum will help in spreading the word on ESG themes and research globally. We thank Sanjeev Krishan and the PwC India team for this contribution to IIMA.”

The IIMA EF is the first of its kind at any B School in the country. It has been instituted to provide funding support for IIMA’s initiatives in strategically building thought leadership, research and academic excellence, globally.

About IIMA:

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) is a premier, global management Institute that is at the forefront of promoting excellence in the field of management education. Over the 60 years of its existence, it has been acknowledged for its exemplary contributions to scholarship, practice and policy through its distinctive teaching, high-quality research, nurturing future leaders, supporting industry, government, social enterprise and creating a progressive impact on society.

IIMA was founded as an innovative initiative by the Government, industry and international academia in 1961. Since then, it has been consolidating its global footprint and today it has a network with over 80 top international institutions and a presence in Dubai. Its eminent faculty members and close to 40,000 alumni, who are at the helm of influential positions in all walks of life also contribute to its global recognition. Over the years, IIMA’s academically superior, market-driven, and socially impactful programmes, have earned high reputation and acclaim globally. It became the first Indian institution to receive international accreditation from EQUIS. The renowned flagship two-year Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is ranked 26th in the FT master’s in management Ranking 2021 and the one-year Post Graduate Programme in Management for Executives (PGPX) has been ranked 62nd in the FT Global MBA rankings 2022. The institute also is placed first in the Government of India’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), India Rankings 2022. IIMA offers consultancy services and more than 200 curated executive education programmes in customized, blended, and open enrolment formats for a diverse audience comprising of business leaders, policymakers, industry professionals, academicians, government officials, armed forces personnel, agri-business and other niche sector specialists and entrepreneurs.

To know more about IIMA, please visit: https://www.iima.ac.in/

About PwC:

At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. We’re a network of firms in 152 countries with over 328,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com.

PwC refers to the PwC network and/or one or more of its member firms, each of which is a separate legal entity.

Please see www.pwc.com/structure for further details.


© 2022 PwC. All rights reserved.

Vedanta Becomes This Year's Only Indian Co. To Join The Dow Jones Sustainability™ World Index

Becomes the only Indian company to join the prestigious index this year

Secures 6th position in Global Sustainability Rankings in the Metal and Mining Sector

Vedanta Ltd, a global diversified natural resources company, gets listed in The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, one of the world's most trusted environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indices. Being the only addition from India this year, Vedanta is now among the 6 Indian companies in the index of 332 global companies. With this inclusion, Vedanta joins the ranks of global companies like Anglo American plc and Teck Resources Limited in the apex list. The company also gets listed in The Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index of 111 global companies.

Vedanta ranked 6th out of 216 companies globally (98th percentile) and 2nd in Asia Pacific in the metal and mining sector of S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2022, formerly known as Dow Jones Sustainability Index – DJSI. Vedanta has moved up 10 ranks up from last year with a strong 14-point improvement in the sustainability score.

Speaking on this achievement, Ms. Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director, Vedanta Limited said, “Vedanta is honoured to be included in The Dow Jones Sustainability™ World Index and The Dow Jones Sustainability Emerging Markets Index. The inclusion in global indices and our improved rankings are a testimony to our commitment towards building a sustainable future. With focused action plans on decarbonization, water positivity, workplace safety, community welfare and workforce diversity, we are embarking on a transformative journey to emerge as industry leaders in ESG.”

Vedanta’s sustainability score witnessed a jump from 62 to 76 this year with an improvement in all three dimensions of E, S and G. The sectional scores were: Environment: 83 (+15 from last year); Social: 74 (+18 from last year) and Governance: 72 (+11 from last year).

The Dow Jones Sustainability Index is regarded as one of the most important benchmarks for sustainability and lists the world’s leading companies from 61 industries. With more than two decades of experience in ESG rating, DJSI is one of the oldest, trusted and referred ratings. DJSI assessed 216 global metal and mining companies on 120+ indicators across Environment, Social and Governance parameters on public and non-public information. The World Index comprises global sustainability leaders representing the top 10% of the largest 2,500 companies in the S&P Global BMI based on long-term economic, environmental and social criteria.

Vedanta has been at the forefront of sustainable practices and is leveraging new technologies to safeguard the environment and communities. The company is putting a comprehensive framework together to become leaders in ESG, thus reflecting their efforts through this ranking. Committed to being a net-zero organisation by 2050, Vedanta has pledged $5 billion in the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net-zero operations. The group has also partnered with the World Economic Forum by joining 1t.org- the one Trillion Tree platform and pledges to grow 7 million trees for creating a resilient environment.

ABOUT VEDANTA LIMITED

Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa and Namibia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Vedanta has put in place a comprehensive framework to be the ESG leader in the natural resources sector. Vedanta is committed to reducing carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or sooner and has pledged $5 billion over the next 10 years to accelerate the transition to net zero operations. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. The company’s flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars, have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation, the umbrella entity for Vedanta’s social initiatives, the Vedanta group has pledged Rs 5000 crore over the next five years on social impact programs with a thrust on nutrition, women & child development, healthcare, animal welfare, and grass-root level sports. Vedanta and the group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index, and was conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, Golden Peacock Award for excellence in Corporate Governance 2022 and certified as a Great Place to Work 2022. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange.

For more information, please visit www.vedantalimited.com.

78% Sustainability Managers Say Their Company’s Leadership Treating Sustainability Initiatives as a Priority

New Pure Storage Survey Details the Critical Impact of IT on Global Environmental Sustainability Initiatives

Nearly 9 out of 10 sustainability program directors say companies cannot reach sustainability goals without significantly reducing energy usage of technology infrastructure

Pure Storage® (NYSE: PSTG), the IT pioneer that delivers the world’s most advanced data storage technology and services, in partnership with Wakefield Research, has released a new report identifying the critical impact of IT on environmental sustainability and the challenges present in addressing the urgent and growing demands for IT to be accountable drivers of change.

The new report, “Drivers of Change: Pure Storage IT Sustainability Impact Survey 2022,” examines the opportunities for IT professionals to collaborate with enterprise sustainability directors to navigate reductions in the environmental footprint of their organizations.

Survey Highlights:

The “Drivers of Change” survey, fielded among 1,000 sustainability program directors, saw consistent results across global markets, including the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany. Report highlights include:

• Half of Sustainability Managers Are Behind on Sustainability Goals: Most sustainability managers – 78% – say their company’s leadership is treating sustainability initiatives as a priority, with the majority planning to meet sustainability goals within three to seven years (56%). However, only about half (51%) of those surveyed say they are on track with their goals.
• Technology Plays a Critical, Growing Role in Driving Sustainability Initiatives: An overwhelming 86% of sustainability program managers agree that companies cannot reach their sustainability goals without significantly reducing their technology infrastructure energy usage. This problem will grow more dire as 81% predict the impact of technology infrastructure on a company’s carbon footprint will increase in the next 12 months
• Misalignment of IT and Sustainability Teams in Purchasing Decisions: Even as tech’s carbon footprint grows, 59% of respondents say vendors’ sustainability is likely to be overlooked during the vendor selection process. This could be allayed by getting sustainability managers’ input earlier, but nearly 2 in 3 (64%) say they only become involved after the technology purchasing process has already begun.

IT Team Support of Company Sustainability Initiatives is Dire: More than any other function (i.e. finance, leadership, operations), IT was identified as not taking the necessary steps to support their company’s sustainability goals (34%). Only about half (51%) say their IT team is taking proper considerations about sustainability when making decisions about technology purchases.

Industry Significance:

Data centers currently account for 1% of global electricity consumption today. The World Economic Forum estimates that digitization generated 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 alone, however, if brought to scale digital technologies could reduce emissions by 20% by 2050.

Data centers and digitization play an undeniably important part in any corporate sustainability strategy. While sustainability managers are working towards meeting critical environmental goals, they can’t do so without more sustainable IT infrastructure marked by high efficiency, scalability, and simplicity.

As a result, there is a tremendous opportunity for IT professionals to help their organizations make strides in reducing their environmental footprint. By building and adopting sustainable technology infrastructure, supported by innovative, efficient, and scalable IT vendors, IT teams have the potential to make a significant and immediate impact through technology engineered to use significantly lower power, lower cooling, and far less waste.

Executive Insight:

“As data workloads increase, mitigating the environmental impact of data infrastructure is critical. This inaugural report on the central role that IT can play in overall sustainability can be an important tool to help IT leaders improve their data storage strategies and decrease their organization’s carbon footprint as they advance their digital transformation.” -- Ajay Singh, Chief Product Officer, Pure Storage. "

Read the full Drivers of Chnge: Pure Storage IT Sustainability Impact Survey 2022 report and methodology.

Check out our new Energy Savings Visualizer, which enables organizations to calculate estimated electricity cost savings based on performance or capacity-optimized block, file, or object storage.

About Pure Storage

Pure Storage (NYSE: PSTG) uncomplicates data storage, forever. Pure delivers a cloud experience that empowers every organization to get the most from their data while reducing the complexity and expense of managing the infrastructure behind it. Pure’s commitment to providing true storage as-a-service gives customers the agility to meet changing data needs at speed and scale, whether they are deploying traditional workloads, modern applications, containers, or more. Pure believes it can make a significant impact in reducing data center emissions worldwide through its environmental sustainability efforts, including designing products and solutions that enable customers to reduce their carbon and energy footprint. And with a certified customer satisfaction score in the top one percent of B2B companies, Pure's ever-expanding list of customers are among the happiest in the world. For more information, visit www.purestorage.com.

Sustainability Initiatives Are a Financial Burden for 49% Indian Organisations - Capgemini Report

Most business leaders see environmental sustainability as a costly obligation rather than an investment in the future

Executives recognize the urgency for climate action but limited impact is visible on the ground so far, as they lack an overarching strategy, clarity on the business case, and coordinated implementation

While organizations recognize the sustainability requirement and most have announced net zero commitments, there is still a gap between long-term ambition and short-term concrete actions, according to new a report from the Capgemini Research Institute, ‘A World in Balance - Why sustainability ambition is not translating to action.’ The report also highlights that the business case for implementing sustainability measures is largely underestimated or misunderstood, with only 21% of executives believing that it is clear.

To understand whether companies are taking the urgent mandate of environmental sustainability sufficiently seriously, and to assess their progress over the years, the Capgemini Research Institute conducted the first edition of an annual global research study, surveying 2,004 executives from 668 large organizations (annual revenues over $1 billion) across 12 countries and key industries.

Highlights of the India data

• 49% of respondents say that they have clearly defined priority list of sustainability initiatives to be implemented in the next three years. Sustainability is part of each of the C-suite executives' agenda according to 56% of respondents. 34% are redesigning the operating model to become more sustainable.
• According to 49% of organisations, sustainability initiatives are a financial burden they must bear to do business and 50% of respondents say that there is no clear business case for sustainability. According to 53% of companies, the cost of sustainability outweighs the benefits.
• Larger companies are investing a smaller share of revenue in environmental sustainability. Companies with annual revenue of less than $10bn are investing 2.2%, and companies with annual revenue of $10bn or more are investing only 0.5%.
• 60% of organizations are redesigning products to remove fossil fuel feedstock sources (such as coal) and 43% of organizations are redesigning products to have a lower impact on forests (e.g., using less wood so fewer trees are cut down). 52% of organizations are reducing the use of packaging material in their products and 54% of companies say recycling products is a core aspect of their manufacturing strategy.
• According to 45% of respondent’s sustainability-related data is available and shared across the entire organization internally (e.g., functions, business units, employees, managers) and according to 51% of companies, sustainability-related data is available to external stakeholders.
• 66% of organisations use third-party sustainability indices to benchmark their progress on sustainability (e.g., Dow Jones Sustainability Index) and 59% use an external third party to help disclose environmental impact (e.g., CDP Worldwide) and 48% get their sustainability data audited by a third party.
• 49% of organisations say that they know how much carbon their technology (i.e., digital tools, apps, IT systems, data centers) emits. 55% use technology such as AI, automation, or digital twins to achieve our sustainability agenda. 60% of organisations are using IoT/IIoT to monitor/reduce energy consumption. 46% are using digital technologies (e.g., AR/VR, collaboration tools) to reduce travel needs of employees
• Blockchain and smart contract technology to manage complex supply chain challenges is the most disruptive trend in the next 3 years according to 63% of the companies, and supply chain financing as per 57% of the companies.

Although the sustainability vision is being integrated into remodeled business strategies and nearly two thirds (64%) of executives say that sustainability is on the agenda of each of the C-suite in their organization, there is still a gap between climate ambition and concrete actions: less than half (49%) have a defined list of initiatives for the next three years, and just over a third (37%) of respondents say their company is redesigning its operating model. In total, the level of investment into sustainability initiatives for companies with over $20 billion in revenue is just 0.41% of total revenue on average, whereas smaller companies (firms with revenues between $1-5 billion) are investing more (average of 2.81%), compared to an average 4% for the R&D spend by the S&P 500 companies in 2020.

The report found that many organizations are lacking a collective vision and coordination around sustainability efforts across their operations, and the various teams are still working in silos. For example, only 43% of respondents say that sustainability-related data is available and shared across the entire organization, and less than half (47%) of businesses are actively recruiting new talent with strong sustainability skills.

Employee expectations and regulations currently the main drivers for sustainability initiatives

Currently, the main drivers for sustainability initiatives are pressure from current and future employees (for 60% of executives) and the need to pre-empt stricter future regulation (57%), while 52% of executives say they expect it will increase their revenue in the future. Most businesses are holding back because they are fearful of short-term cost implications. Sustainability is frequently seen as a cost center, rather than a value center, particularly within the context of the global macro-economic landscape. Only one in five (21%) respondents believe that the business case for sustainability is clear, while 53% believe that the cost of pursuing such initiatives outweighs the potential benefit. On the contrary, the report found that organizations that are prioritizing sustainability are already outperforming organizations that aren’t.

“Many companies understand the sustainability mandate, but organizations need to align on a clear strategy and short-term objectives to deliver concrete outcomes that will enable society to live within and not beyond the planetary boundaries,” says Cyril Garcia, CEO of Capgemini Invent and Group Executive Board Member. “It’s now or never, if we want to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Change needs to come from the top. We need to see companies pivot their business models to build sustainable products and services. This is an investment in the future. With increasing regulation and pressure from civil society, resulting in more scrutiny by consumers and investors, companies that are lagging in acting on their sustainability ambitions run a high risk of seeing their current business models become obsolete or inadequate in the coming years. Who would want to run an unsustainable company?”

Some companies are investing in technology to limit their environmental impact

Companies are more conscious of the environmental footprint of their technology and leveraging new tools to achieve their objectives. Over half (55%) of executives say that their company knows how much carbon its technology emits – across digital tools, apps, IT systems, and data centers –, and this proportion reaches 63% in industrial manufacturing, and 61% in consumer products and energy. In order to achieve their sustainability objectives, 58% of organizations say they are already using AI and automation, in particular in the energy sector (72%), and over half (54%) of organizations globally are investing in digital technologies such as AR/VR, or collaboration tools to reduce employee travel.

Methodology:

For this research, the Capgemini Research Institute conducted a survey of 2,004 respondents from 668 organizations with annual revenues in excess of $1 billion. Fifty percent of executives were from corporate functions (e.g., strategy, sustainability, sales and marketing, accounting and finance, IT, operations) and the other 50% were from value-chain functions (e.g., innovation/R&D, product design and development, sourcing and procurement, supply chain and logistics, manufacturing and production). These organizations are based across 12 countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, UK, US) and operate across key industries, including aerospace and defense, automotive, consumer products and retail, energy, financial services, healthcare and life sciences, industrial manufacturing, telecom, utilities, and the public sector/government. The scope of the research focused on practices and initiatives within environmental sustainability and did not include the social aspects of sustainability.

To get access to the report, click here: https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/sustainability-trends

About Capgemini

Capgemini is a global leader in partnering with companies to transform and manage their business by harnessing the power of technology. The Group is guided everyday by its purpose of unleashing human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. It is a responsible and diverse organization of over 350,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong 55-year heritage and deep industry expertise, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to address the entire breadth of their business needs, from strategy and design to operations, fueled by the fast evolving and innovative world of cloud, data, AI, connectivity, software, digital engineering and platforms. The Group reported in 2021 global revenues of €18 billion.

Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

About the Capgemini Research Institute

The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It was recently ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts.

Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

Leading Alternative Investments Management Solution 'Minerva' Adds An ESG Module

‘Minerva’, the world’s leading SaaS-based solution for management of institutional and alternative investments, now sports ESG-focused investment management capabilities, its parent company Equipped AI announced today. The solution now offers the ability to evaluate prospective portfolio assets across the pillars of environmental, social and governance factors to further enhance the dealflow.

Minerva is used by several of the world’s leading Private Equity (PE), Private Credit and real estate investment firms to monitor and track their portfolio and investment metrics; manage deal flows and M&A pipelines; draw granular credit insights and manage fundraising and investor relations. The solution currently hosts over 75,000 individual assets with a combined worth of over GBP25 Billion and serves clients in more than 20 countries around the world.

Atul Arora, Managing Director of Equipped AI said, “Over the last decade, ESG has gone from a nice to have to a must have for investors looking to make an impact through investing. Today, we are proud to announce the launch of Minerva’s ESG module, offering asset managers the confidence to walk the talk on sustainability, while ensuring complete control of data and the ensuing analysis.”

The new ESG module inside Minerva enables asset managers to collect data directly from prospects at the evaluation stage or engage Equipped AI to help understand the ESG vision of prospective investee. Potential investees can then be compared to ensure they align with the asset manager’s investment philosophy, which can help narrow down the investable universe.

“From a portfolio standpoint, Minerva’s ESG module can help bake in targets for the portfolio assets and track variance versus what was originally planned. Our clients can now seamlessly fulfil their ESG and compliance obligations using Minerva’s purpose-built workflows,” Atul added.

Equipped AI is the world’s leading technology-based analytical intelligence solutions provider for alternative investors. The company works with a broad spectrum of alternative investors and their portfolio companies to structure and cleanse their data inputs. It also offers workflow software tools to streamline communication, dashboard assets and build automated reporting packs for the investors.