Godrej group goes green

The Godrej group for years has been serving its customers through its consumer products. For over 25 years, the company has not only adopted innovative ways to lure the hearts of their customers, but has also undertaken several eco-friendly initiatives in an aim to build a brighter and more sustainable India.

In 1989, the first Sewage Treatment and Recycling Plant, with a capacity of 500 cubic metres per day for recycling sewage water from industrial premises, was put into effect. The unit recycles around 5 lakh litres of water by treating domestic sewage and around 6 lakh litres of water by treating industrial effluents to get this clear water as the final product. This treated water is then used in the gardens and landscaping requirements in the industrial township. So in an attempt to avoid use of good potable water for secondary use like landscaping, the company has managed to reduce the burden on Municipal sewers and eventual outflow of untreated water to the environment.

Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group said, "All companies in India need to be committed to the green movement because pollution, climate change are problems that will affect our country we need to do our best, the good news is most of these practices are economical so that adds to your profit. They don't get subtracted from them if you do it well. So dissemination of this investment and commitment to it is important."

The Godrej Green Business Centre in Hyderabad was setup as a joint initiative of the Government of Andhra Pradesh, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with the technical support of USAID to ensure companies undertake energy efficiency, green buildings, renewable energy, and water recycling initiatives.

The company has a detailed process in place before it takes on a project. It Identifies target industries in Hyderabad, after which it conducts a preliminary plan visit to study and understand the overall functioning of the particular unit. A team then identifies cases and opportunities for possible cleaner production solutions. It then jots down the need for additional measures. This then results in a pilot plant experiment. The centre finally helps the company setup the required equipment and demonstrates cleaner production solutions.

This project can be implemented in various industrial sectors like Paper and Pulp, Chemical, Engineering, Pharmaceutical, steel and others.

But there are environmental concerns that stretch a little beyond the day to day functioning of a company. It is in the supply chain management for instance that carbon emissions are seen the most.

Dipankar Ghosh, Partner - Climate Change & Sustainability Services said, "Analyst on Customers pressurizing companies to go the green way and how carbon emission can be reduced on SCM level."

Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group said," Extremely important for India and Indian business to be conscious and ensure we create an environment which is less polluted and friendly to climate change."

An industry report conducted in the 1st quarter of this year showed that out of 100 companies 47% plan to increase their investments in eco friendly way to conduct business and Consumer goods manufacturers and retailers appear to be the leaders. So with companies making firm commitments to the environment we sure are headed toward a greener future