Tata Communications has been recognised by global environmental non-profit organisation, Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) with the distinguished ‘A-’ leadership score for implementing current best practices in sustainability for climate change. Tata Communications score is higher than the global average of ‘C’ and higher than the Asia region average of ‘D’. The company scores the highest global score for playing a leading role in climate change governance, value chain management, energy efficiency, risk, and opportunity disclosures in CDP 2020 reporting.
“We aim to create value for all our stakeholders by striking the right balance between people, planet, and profit,” Amur S Lakshminarayanan, managing director and chief executive officer Tata Communications, said. “Sustainability is core to our strategy, policies and standards and we seek to embed this thinking across our own operations and our solutions for our customers. As a long-time supporter of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), sustainability has always been intrinsic in our DNA, where we continually seek to improve our own carbon footprint and dedicate our reach and technology to help our customers transform their business, while conserving resources and harness our digital enablement expertise to drive community development.
“Looking at where we are today – 2020 was a year that was marked by ecological events including floods, bushfires, typhoons and most recently, black swan events such as COVID-19, which has evolved into a global pandemic. Much has been said about the opportunities to reset and reshape the world in a more sustainable way as these events bring the debate to the forefront of hearts and minds around the world.
“One thing is for sure, all of us as individuals and corporations need to step up and take ownership of the future. We can reimagine a new world, one in which we can sustain ourselves as envisioned in the SDGs and collectively prosper if we ask ourselves the tough questions and challenge ourselves to continually do better. This mindset is one that we commit to as a business.”
Tactical changes in energy efficiency
Tata Communications is among the top 34 per cent of companies globally to have received the leadership score for best practices out of almost 10,000 companies that reported environmental disclosures last year. The scores are attributed based on a comprehensive peer benchmarking and sustainability performance methodology.
The company made some strategic shifts in implementing several energy efficiency measures and this recognition reaffirms its focus on sustainability. Last year it sourced approximately 15 million units of renewable energy and implemented emission reduction initiatives resulting in energy savings to the tune of 0.8 million units.
“These past few months have strengthened our conviction that digital technology and environmental sustainability are intrinsically connected,” Lakshminarayanan added. “We need to collaborate to co-create digital ecosystems, build a new world, and engage constructively on the climate change dialogue. We at Tata Communications are committed to driving environmental stewardship across our operations and solutions.”
A three-pronged approach
Tata Communications sustainability strategy is based on the three facets of environment, social and governance (ESG) principles. The company’s objective is to drive value creation for its stakeholders and drive sustainable business growth by managing risks and embracing opportunities, implementing robust governance practices, and optimising the economic, environmental, and social performance.
“It goes without saying that changes across the world in working practices, attitudes towards travelling, commuting and consumption will unlock opportunities to drive reduced carbon footprints – this alone presents a window of competitive advantage for businesses that are agile in their approach, to stay relevant to the changing needs of the new world,” Lakshminarayanan continued. “Digitisation accelerates the creation of opportunities to fundamentally change the status quo. This backdrop only strengthens our conviction that digital technology and environmental sustainability go hand-in-hand. We see them as two sides of the same coin, with a shared objective – to bring about efficiencies and growth with considered utilisation of resources, while changing the ways in which we develop and use technologies. Thus, ‘Wired for Tomorrow’ is our intrinsic ability to not only help shape the future but also lead our customers towards it. This ‘built-in adaptability’ dovetails into ‘business agility’ and helps us embrace what is new.
“From voice-based, first-generation mobile networks to all-encompassing connectivity via video, IoT, next generation networking solutions and more, we continuously renew and adapt to stay ahead of the change. However, with increased integration of ICT in our day-to-day lives, there is also an increase in energy consumption and associated CO emissions. To combat this, we have devised a two-pronged approach that includes ensuring high energy efficiency and a significant increase in the use of renewable energy.”
In parallel, to minimise its water usage and waste generation, Tata follow the 3R philosophy of Reduce, Reuse & Recycle. Initiatives like installing IoT water meters and organic waste convertors are the catalysts that accelerate the transition towards a cleaner and greener environment. “We see greater opportunities ahead, as organisations continue to harness the power of technology to transform their business models and drive competitive differentiation and sustainable development,” Lakshminarayanan concluded. “Our strategy is strong, underpinned by the talent and commitment of our employees worldwide to execute it.”
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