Grasim Industries Limited
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2018-19, 2019-04 to 2020-03, 2020-04 to 2021-03, 2021-04 to 2022-03, 2022-23, 2023-04 to 2024-03)
Reporting Period: 2018-19
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Sustainability
- Water Conservation
- Employee Well-being
- Community Development
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced water consumption by 37% since FY16 per ton of fiber
- Reduced sulfur emission by 26% since FY16 per ton of fiber
- Reduced wastewater discharge by 13% since FY16 per ton of fiber
- Achieved lowest water consumption per tonne of VSF globally
- Launched Livaeco, an eco-enhanced variant of LIVA with end-to-end traceability
- Progress towards zero-liquid discharge at Rehla and Ganjam plants
Social Achievements
- Launched Livaeco and LivaHome brands
- Expanded Liva brand into home textiles
- Engaged with Self Help Groups (SHGs) to empower households
- Provided scholarships and technical education to children
- Familiarised farmers with innovative cropping techniques
- Provided quality healthcare facilities
- Undertook projects to enable physical connectivity to towns
Governance Achievements
- Acquired Chlor-Alkali Business of KPR Industries
- Acquired 100% equity of Soktas India Private Limited
- Implemented a robust Vigil Mechanism for reporting concerns
- Adopted a Policy on Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment at workplace
Climate Goals & Targets
- Not disclosed
- Not disclosed
- Lower malnutrition rate to 1% to 2% in the next 2-3 years
Environmental Challenges
- Commodity price volatility
- Availability of natural resources
- Scarcity of coal
- Non-availability of limestone
- Scarcity of water
- Low availability of wood
- Global capacity additions in the VSF business
- Attrition and non-availability of talent
- Competition
- Information Technology risks
- Environmental risks
- Industrial safety risks
Mitigation Strategies
- Securing supplies of key raw materials
- Minimizing reliance on grid/energy exchange
- Increasing share of value-added products
- Focused cost management
- Entering into long-term contracts
- Preservation and elongation of limestone reserves
- Strategic sourcing
- Continuous reduction in freshwater consumption
- Water recycling and zero-liquid discharge
- Import of pulp
- Representation to government authorities
- Increasing focus on domestic sales
- New product applications
- Continuous benchmarking of HR practices
- Regular review and monitoring of employee development plans
- Continuous focus on R&D
- Proactive action to strengthen technical bench strength
- Enhanced marketing activities
- Back-up procedures and data storage at different locations
- System upgrades
- Adherence to environmental norms
- Technology/equipment upgradation
- Continuous monitoring of regulatory changes
- Implementation of sustainability initiatives
- Association with DuPont Safety Resources
- Development and implementation of critical safety standards
- Continuous focus on building a safety culture
- Adequate insurance coverage
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Preference given to local vendors
- Training and technical support provided to improve vendor capability
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI
Certifications: ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001, ISO 9001, SA 8000, FSC
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 1
- SDG 2
- SDG 3
- SDG 6
- SDG 7
- SDG 8
- SDG 9
Company's CSR initiatives align with these SDGs through education, healthcare, sustainable livelihood, infrastructure development, and social reform programs.
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Livaeco
- LivaHome
Awards & Recognition
- Dun & Bradstreet Corporate Award 2019
- Golden Peacock Award for Sustainability-2018
- Excellence in Operations in Manufacturing and Logistics at the IDC Insights Awards 2018
- Next Gen Technologies award at the ETCIO Annual Conclave 2019
- 3 Export Awards by SRTEPC
- Certificate of Appreciation for Sustainable and Impactful CSR projects in Gujarat
- Gold in the Abby Awards, Goa Fest 2019
Reporting Period: 2019-04 to 2020-03
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environmental Performance
- Social Performance
- Governance (implied through assurance statement)
Environmental Achievements
- Reduced Scope 2 GHG emissions from 1.91 Million MT in FY 2018-19 to 1.92 Million MT in FY 2019-20 (Note: This is a minimal reduction and may not be considered a significant achievement).
Social Achievements
- Improved Lost Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) for full-time employees from 1.23 to 0.45 per million hours worked.
- Maintained high employee engagement (88% in both FY19 and FY20)
Governance Achievements
- Independent assurance of sustainability data by Ernst & Young Associates LLP
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Scope for improving internal data controls, documentation management, and methods of calculation for sustainability indicators.
Mitigation Strategies
- Areas for improvement were brought to the attention of management (details in a separate management letter).
Supply Chain Management
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards
Third-party Assurance: Ernst & Young Associates LLP
Reporting Period: 2020-04 to 2021-03
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Sustainability
- Climate Change
- Water Conservation
- Emission Reduction
- Waste Management
- Community Development
- Employee Well-being
- Responsible Sourcing
- Circular Economy
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- 14% Reduction in water intensity in domestic chlor alkali business
- 47% Reduction in water intensity in VSF (compared to FY15 baseline)
- 12% Reduction in air emissions and water intensity compared to the FY17 baseline
- EU BAT technology for VSF manufacturing implemented in Vilayat plant
- Commissioned ~182MW of new solar capacity in FY21, taking total capacity to 502 MW
- Achieved FEM 3.0 score of 92% (amongst the highest in MMCF industry globally)
Social Achievements
- Launched employee well-being program including COVID-19 relief measures
- CSR reach across 7 states, impacting 3,100,000+ beneficiaries in 298 villages
- Total CSR expenditure of ₹84.66 Crore
- Initiatives for women empowerment, including SHGs and vocational training
- Healthcare initiatives impacting 2,12,000 patients
- Educational initiatives supporting 6,349 students
Governance Achievements
- Ranked 11th in DJSI ESG ranking (2020)
- 50% Independent Directors on Board
- Implementation of Information Security Management System (ISMS) guided by ISO 27001:2013 standards
- Established a robust Vigil Mechanism for reporting of concerns
Climate Goals & Targets
- Achieve carbon neutrality in VSF business on both Scope-1 and Scope-2
- Increase share of VAP in VSF and Chemicals business by 35-40% by FY25
- Improve chlorine integration to 40% by FY25
- Increase overall VSF capacity to 810 KTPA
- Increase Chemicals capacity to 1457 KTPA
- Reduce sulphur-to-air release at all fibre sites by 70% by 2022
- Implement EU BAT technology for VSF manufacturing at all Indian sites by 2022
- Reduce water intensity in VSF manufacturing process by 50% by 2025
- Reduce pollution load in effluent by 2022
Environmental Challenges
- COVID-19 pandemic impacting global and Indian economies, causing business disruptions and supply chain issues
- Price volatility of input materials and products
- Energy intensive operations and power-related risks
- Competition risk in global commodity markets
- Delays in project execution
- Information technology/cyber security risks
- Environmental and regulatory risks
- Industrial safety, employee health and safety risks
- Activism risks
- Pandemic-related risks
- Investment impairment risks
- Climate change risks
Mitigation Strategies
- Robust planning and continuous communication with employees
- Cost savings and working capital management
- Focus on exports for VSF
- Introduction of new products (e.g., Liva Antimicrobial)
- Expansion projects on track
- Implementation of Group level Information Security policy
- Implementation of closed-loop technology and ZLD plants
- Strengthening Safety Management System
- Community engagement programs and grievance management procedures
- Crisis Management teams and Business Continuity Plan
- Regular review of investments and impairment testing
- Evaluating climate change risks and opportunities as per TCFD recommendations
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 140 suppliers audited with 404 evaluations, 83 risk assessments conducted
Responsible Procurement
- ABG Supplier Code of Conduct and Sustainability Policies
- Formalized processes to identify potential sustainability risks
- EHS certifications (periodic safety audits, ISO 14000 compliance, OHSAS 18001 compliance)
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather, flooding, drought
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI Standards: Core option, IIRC Integrated Reporting Framework, UNGC, UN SDGs, CDP, NVGs, Companies Act, 2013, Indian Accounting Standards, SEBI Regulations
Certifications: ISO 14001:2015 (all pulp and fibre manufacturing sites), OHSAS 18001, ISO 27001:2013 (Textile, Fertilisers and two Chlor-Alkali units), STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX®, USDA Bio Based Certification, OK Certification, RCS (Recycled Claim Standard)
Third-party Assurance: Ernst & Young Associates LLP (limited assurance)
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 2
- Goal 3
- Goal 4
- Goal 5
- Goal 6
- Goal 7
- Goal 8
- Goal 10
- Goal 11
- Goal 12
- Goal 13
- Goal 14
- Goal 15
- Goal 16
- Goal 17
Initiatives contributing to various SDGs
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- LivaEco
- Liva Reviva
- NonWoven products
- Liva Antimicrobial
- Purocel EcoFlush
Awards & Recognition
- Golden Peacock Global Award for Sustainability (2020)
- Ranked 11th in S&P DJSI sectoral indices (2020)
- Investor Relations Award 2020-ESG Disclosures
- World CSR Leadership Award-2020
- Energy Efficient Unit Award
- CSR INDIA 2020 Award
- Special Award for Resiliency
- Par Excellence Award
- Gold Award in India Green Manufacturing Challenge
- Commendation for Significant Achievement in Environment Management
Reporting Period: 2021-04 to 2022-03
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- 56% reduction in specific water consumption by VSF business in the last 7 years in FY22
- Nagda VSF plant will be the first to achieve zero liquid discharge in the viscose industry globally (expected completion by Q2 FY22)
- Developed and implemented environment-friendly Lyocell technology inhouse which has near Zero environmental impact
Social Achievements
- 81% to 97% of actively engaged employees from FY19 to FY22
- INR 42,47,00,000 cash contributions in FY22
Governance Achievements
- Regular self-assessment of board performance
- Formal Evaluation Framework for evaluation of the Board’s performance
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net Zero by FY50 (ABG)
- 30% reduction in GHG emissions of the main product by FY30 (CFI)
- Net Zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2040 (VSF)
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity to half by 2030 (VSF)
- Below 80% reduction in LTIFR by 2025 (CFI)
- 30% reduction in specific freshwater consumption of the main product by FY25 (CFI)
- All units to be ZLD in water-stressed areas by FY25 and water positive by FY30 (CFI)
- Increase three times woman employees in Management Cadre by FY25 (CFI)
- 100% of employees to receive Code of Ethics training; Minimum 1 training day per employee per year (CFI)
- 100% of our facilities to participate in community engagement (CFI)
- Reduction in LTIFR by 90% (VSF)
- Reduction in water intensity in VSF manufacturing process by 50% (VSF)
- Reduction in COD to meet EU BAT compliance by FY22 (VSF)
- EU BAT Implementation at all Indian Sites by FY25 (VSF)
Environmental Challenges
- Transition risk due to water stress
- Supply chain disruptions due to climate change factors
Mitigation Strategies
- Continuous reduction in freshwater consumption by applying the 4R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle and regenerate)
- Creating new reservoirs closer to plant locations
- Research and Development on proven technologies across the World that rely on lesser water consumption
- Promote local vendors and suppliers for critical raw material/key ingredient
- Explore vendors from different geographies while giving priority to local vendors
- Ensure skilled manpower employed at units are local and their access to plants is not hampered during extreme weather events
- Disaster management plan at Corporate and Unit level
- Evaluating climate change risks and opportunities as per the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 29.57% of critical suppliers assessed annually, 25.30% assessed at least once every 3 years
Responsible Procurement
- Source only from sustainably managed forests and adhere to FSC®, SFI® and PEFCTM standards for wood sourcing
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather events (storms, cyclones, floods) disrupting supply chain
- Water stress impacting operations
Transition Risks
- National Regulatory Scenario
- Introduction of Emission Trading Scheme
- Science-Based Target
Opportunities
- Not disclosed
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: IIRC framework, GRI Standards - Core Criteria
Certifications: Null
Third-party Assurance: Ernst & Young Associates LLP
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Environment-friendly Lyocell technology
Awards & Recognition
- Not disclosed
Reporting Period: 2022-23
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Environment
- Social
- Governance
Environmental Achievements
- 100% of sites are ISO 14001:2015 certified
- Reduced energy consumption
- Increased renewable energy consumption
- Significant waste recycled/reused
Social Achievements
- Implemented various employee development programs (FOCUS 50, SAMARTHYA)
- Improved employee engagement scores
- Reduced LTIFR for both employees and contractors
Governance Achievements
- Implemented a three-tier cybersecurity governance model
- ISO 27001 certification obtained at company locations
- Risk Management and Sustainability Committee (RMSC) established
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
- Improving water efficiency
- Maintaining high employee engagement
Mitigation Strategies
- Investing in renewable energy
- Implementing energy reduction initiatives
- Implementing water conservation measures
- Conducting employee engagement surveys and implementing improvements based on feedback
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: 40% of significant Tier-1 suppliers assessed in FY2023
Responsible Procurement
- ESG criteria considered in supplier screening
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, BRSR
Certifications: ISO 14001:2015, ISO 27001
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Blended cements
- Birla Spunshades
Reporting Period: 2023-04 to 2024-03
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Climate Change
- Diversity
- Governance
- Community Development
- Responsible Supply Chain
- Resource Efficiency
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Human Rights
Environmental Achievements
- Achieved 13% renewable power share (up from 8% in FY2022-23)
- Increased proportion of recycled water to 50% of total water consumption (up from 46% in FY2022-23)
- Reduced GHG emission intensity by 17% in Cellulosic Staple Fibre
- Achieved 94% waste recovery through reuse and recycling
- 46% reduction in waste directed to landfill
Social Achievements
- Launched employee well-being program (AB Multiply) enrolling 26,000 employees
- Increased access to mental health counselling services (over 1,000 employees or family members sought help, a 25%+ increase)
- Improved employee engagement scores (ABG Vibes 2023 survey)
- Increased women representation in management cadre to 15.6%
- Formed 129 women SHGs, supporting 450 SHGs in total
- Provided skills training to 4,863 rural youth (60%+ women)
Governance Achievements
- Implemented robust processes for ESG reporting and assurance
- Developed a comprehensive net zero roadmap
- Successfully completed a rights issue of ₹4,000 crore (oversubscribed by nearly two times)
- Amalgamation of Aditya Birla Solar Limited with Aditya Birla Renewables Limited
Climate Goals & Targets
- Net zero emissions by 2050
- Reduce GHG emission of main product (Chlor-Alkali) by 30% by 2029-30
- Reduce GHG emission intensity by 50% in CSF by 2029-30
- Increase renewable power share to 70% in Textiles by 2029-30
- Birla Pivot to reach $1 billion revenue in 3-4 years
- Reduce water consumption by 50% in CSF manufacturing by 2024-25
- Increase renewable power share to 25% by 2024-25
- Grow circular products to 100,000 tonnes per year by 2024-25
- Birla Opus to reach ₹10,000 crore revenue by 2027-28
Environmental Challenges
- Subdued demand and lower key input prices impacting Cellulosic Fibres prices
- Volatility in global commodity prices impacting Caustic Soda realisations
- Low priced exports from China posing challenges to Cellulosic Fashion Yarn demand
- Subdued demand from selected end-user industries and oversupply of Chlorine derivatives impacting Chemicals profitability
- Increased imports affecting demand and prices in Cellulosic Fibres and Chemicals
- Increased competition impacting market share
- Geopolitical shifts leading to supply chain disruptions
- Emerging regulations and policies
- Non-availability of water impacting Cellulosic Fibre and Chemical Businesses
- Demand-supply mismatch of chlorine
- High volatility in global prices of inputs and finished products
- Industrial safety, employee health and safety risks
- Information Technology/Cyber Security risks
- Climate change leading to increased frequency and severity of natural disasters
- Investments impairment risk
- Foreign Exchange fluctuation risk
- Liquidity Risk/Interest Rate Risk
Mitigation Strategies
- Exploring new markets and improving penetration in existing markets for Cellulosic Fibres
- Expanding specialty products portfolio for Cellulosic Fibres
- Focusing on R&D for application and new product development for Cellulosic Fibres
- Increasing customer base and retaining market share through a customer-centricity approach for Chemicals
- Expanding capacity to meet growing demand for Cement
- Diversifying supplier base and investing in more resilient supply chains
- Implementing green technologies and developing sustainable products
- Increasing the use of renewable sources of energy
- Diversifying product portfolio to include more sustainable and environmentally friendly options
- Continuous reduction in freshwater consumption
- Implementing Zero Liquid Discharge plans across plants
- Full capacity utilisation of chlorine derivatives
- Continuous benchmarking of HR practices
- Proactively strengthening technical and functional bench strength
- Focusing on talent development
- Exploring new sources and improving negotiation for Cellulosic Fibres
- Focusing on cost reduction and higher efficiency for Cellulosic Fibres
- Optimizing sourcing of key raw materials for Chemicals
- Securing coal linkage and increasing the share of renewable power for Chemicals
- Long-term contracts with bulk manufacturers for Speciality Chemicals
- Procuring imported wool against confirmed customer orders for Textiles
- Developing and implementing safety standards/SOPs
- Implementing Group-level Information Security policy
- Regularly upgrading systems with latest security standards
- Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing
- Identifying and implementing green technologies
- Regular review of investments
- Exhaustive Forex hedging guidelines
- Maintaining a strong balance sheet
- Maintaining sufficient unutilised credit limits
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Sustainability assessments for key suppliers covering about 66% of procurement spend
Responsible Procurement
- Supplier Code of Conduct
- Prioritising suppliers with better ESG performance
- ESG training for suppliers
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Extreme weather, flooding, droughts
Transition Risks
- Regulatory changes, market shifts
Opportunities
- Development of energy-efficient products
- Increased adoption of renewable energy
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: IFRS, Integrated Reporting Framework, GRI Standards (2021), BRSR (SEBI), UNGC, UN SDGs, CDP, TCFD
Certifications: ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001
Third-party Assurance: BDO India LLP
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)
- Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)
- Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)
- Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)
- Goal 13 (Climate Action)
Initiatives contributing to these goals through renewable energy adoption, sustainable manufacturing practices, community development, and responsible resource management
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Birla Viscose Ecosoft
- Birla SaFR
- Birla Viscose Intellicolor
- Liva Reviva
Awards & Recognition
- CII-ITC Sustainability Awards
- Golden Peacock CSR Award
- CII IP Award
- ICC Award
- ICC Social Impact Award