Posted by Mumbai: World Environment Day remains a key event annually. From governments to corporates and businesses to small groups of people and individuals. All celebrate the day in unique ways spreading awareness, driving efforts and actions towards protecting the environment.
However, when it comes to corporates and businesses, the day is mostly marked with a slew of pledges and initiatives. These announcements show the efforts and goals by corporates outlined recently or in future aiming to improve the environmental conditions.
This year too, many corporates in the technology business revealed their endeavours and initiatives. Unlike in past, corporates in their announcements on World Environment Day 2021 have looked beyond just carbon footprints and sustainability.
Water conservation and wastewater management, zero waste to landfills and other critical aspects, impacting nature have made their way into this year’s corporates’ announcements.
“The pandemic has been a wake-up call for us to examine our actions with the lens of sustainability and mindfulness. While we are making great strides in digital advancements, we also need to be conscious of our efforts in the reduction of greenhouse gases and overall carbon footprint,” said Ramesh Kalanje, VP – Center of Excellence, Commvault.
The data management software company not only recognize the responsible production and consumption in physical realms but also digitally.
“We are working with our partners and customers to increase the responsible management of data and reduce the environmental impact from data storage, mobility to the use of data,” added Kalanje.
Commvault has participated in South Pole Energy Challenge (SPEC) and United Nation’s Business Avengers initiatives. And has come up with data management best practices, helping companies use data to think ‘green’.
“This Environment Day, let’s reinforce our commitment to responsibly manage the social, environmental and economic effects of our business. Businesses must embrace sustainability not just as a regulatory requirement. But as a business driver for a healthier and greener future for all,” stressed Kalanje.
The COVID-19 pandemic and its unprecedented circumstances, according to Equinix Asia-Pacific President Jeremy Deutsch have helped the global business community reconsider their priorities and the responsibility of building a sustainable world.
“Now, more than ever. It is critical to adopt strategies that drive innovative solutions, which do not adversely impact the environment,” said Deutsch.
As part of Future First sustainability strategy, Equinix is relying on renewables to reduce carbon emissions. The digital infrastructure company have achieved over 90% renewable energy in 2020 for three consecutive years. And the company said it is scaling to achieve 100% globally.
In 2020, the company leveraged from investments in renewables to avoid 1.95 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents. That’s equal to carbon emitted by 400,00 cars.
“Our renewables purchasing strategy has also helped us in reducing carbon emissions by 50% from 2015 to 2020. We are boosting investments in green data centres and offices. And are also deploying the best-in-class technologies and strategies to reduce the use of all resources,” said Deutsch.
Equinix also partners with Oracle, VMware and other like-minded companies to advance low-carbon energy policies and sharing renewable energy buying knowledge.
“We understand that no single organisation, government or community can solve a global issue like climate change alone. We actively work towards influencing our broader industry, customers and other stakeholders,” commented Deutsch.
On this year’s World Environment Day, Eaton announced receiving global zero water discharge certification for its three sites — Nasik, Ahmednagar and Ranjangaon in Maharashtra.
Under the 2030 sustainability goals, Eaton is aiming to certify some of its manufacturing facilities worldwide as zero-water discharge. In order to achieve zero water discharge, Eaton’s sites must discharge less than 2% of their industrial wastewater.
The company claimed to have saved over 20 million litre water at the three manufacturing sites through various measures. It includes the regular water tanks’ maintenance, fixing defective water pipes, minimizing effluents generation via continual improvements based on Kaizen themes.
“It is our responsibility to use water wisely to help save our planet and the lives that reside in it. We focus on reducing our carbon impact, optimizing the operational footprint to support Eaton’s Global 2030 sustainability targets,” said Shailendra Shukla, MD – Vehicle Group India, Eaton.
The global electrical and power management major is continuously making efforts towards water management as its communal responsibility.
For instance, the company’s Nasik facility conserved over 8000-kilo litres of water. It used a cooling tower storage tank, plumbing lines and chamber leading to seepage of water to conserve water.
Eaton also introduced automatic sensor taps and installed an ozone generator in the effluent and sewage treatment plants (ETP & STP) at all its sites to efficiently manage water.
Besides, Eaton’s Vehicle Group’s manufacturing sites at Nashik, Ranjangoan and Chennai have been certified as zero waste to landfill. Its zero-waste to landfill initiative had won CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020.
In addition, Eaton is using solar panels, motorized windows for natural ventilation, reflective roofs for low solar gain and a daylight-harvesting system that uses natural light to lower energy consumption.
Going ahead, these corporates will continue to make announcements, revealing their plans and efforts on environment day. But how effective and impactful those announcements will be in protecting the environment remains to be seen in future.