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India Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- India Gazette
ITC Hotels sets new benchmarks in sustainability with LEED Zero water certification and eco-friendly initiatives
New Delhi [India], June 4 (ANI): ITC Hotels continues to redefine the hospitality industry's approach to sustainability. With a strong commitment to 'Responsible Luxury,' ITC Hotels has implemented numerous initiatives across its properties to minimise its environmental footprint. Notably, ITC Mughal in Agra and ITC Rajputana in Jaipur have achieved the prestigious LEED Zero Water certification, showcasing the brand's dedication to water conservation and sustainable practices, said Mr. Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) and General Manager. LEED Zero Water certification, offered by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), recognises buildings that achieve a net zero potable water use balance over 12 months. This means the building's total water consumption is balanced by water recycling and reuse, effectively offsetting potable water usage. ITC Hotels' innovative approach to sustainability includes rainwater harvesting, wastewater treatment, and the use of eco-friendly alternatives to Single-Use Plastic (SUP) items. The brand's SunyaAqua initiative processes and bottles international-quality drinking water at its hotels, reducing carbon footprint and promoting sustainable practices. As part of its sustainability journey, ITC Hotels has also adopted a stage-by-stage approach to make sustainable living accessible and the norm for its guests. With LEED Platinum-certified buildings and a focus on eco-friendly design and operations, ITC Hotels is setting new benchmarks in sustainable luxury. According to Amaan R Kidwai, Area Manager Luxury Hotels (North) & General Manager ITC Maurya, 'Our efforts towards sustainability are driven by our commitment to responsible luxury and a greener future.' According to the company, ITC Hotels pioneered the concept of 'Responsible Luxury' in the hospitality industry, drawing on the strengths of ITC Groups' sustainability practices. Responsible Luxury personifies an ethos that integrates world-class green practices with contemporary design elements to deliver the best of luxury in the greenest possible manner. The Responsible Luxury commitment of ITC Hotels blends elements of nature to deliver a unique value proposition to guests, conscious of their responsibility to be planet positive. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
22-04-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Beyond the Earth Day theme: Corporates in action mode
A theme itself will not move the needle and get things done. While the 2025 Earth Day theme, Our Power, Our Planet, is a powerful statement crafted to inspire and ignite conversations, turning this into reality will depend on action. This year's theme also underscores the growing responsibility of businesses in shaping a sustainable future through definite actions -- decisive, sustained, and far-reaching. In India, many corporates have become trailblazers in sustainability by stepping up to take ownership of the environmental impact of their operations and investing in impactful change. Studying some of these corporate-led green initiatives offer not only an inspiration for others to follow suit but also provides a practical action blueprint to combat climate change meaningfully and at scale. One example of a long-term champion of sustainability is ITC which aims to meet 100% of its electrical energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. This is backed by substantial investments in green infrastructure and supply chain decarbonisation. Twelve of the company's hotels are the first in the world to receive LEED Zero Carbon certification and five are the first to ever be LEED Zero Water certified. As the country strives for net-zero emissions by 2070, it becomes pivotal to how public-private synergy can drive systemic, scalable climate action. ITC is well on their way to achieve their sustainability goal as in FY 2023-24, the company has already met over 50% of its total energy requirements from renewable sources such as solar, wind and biomass. In October 2024, it commissioned a new solar project in Karnataka, which took the company's share of renewable energy in its total electricity consumption in the state to nearly 90%. Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) is another company that has committed to achieving 100% energy needs from renewable energy sources. And HMIL is aiming to reach the target by 2025! One of the strategies adopted by Hyundai India is purchasing green power since October 2022 from the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) to increase its renewable energy portfolio to 64%. Apart from action and awareness, innovation is a key driver to scale results. AvanStrate, has recently launched its latest innovation—a display glass that enables a 95% reduction in carbon emissions. It is also the industry's first display glass to incorporate at least 50% recycled content. This innovation exemplifies how sustainable transformation in high-volume industries can create outsized impact. A growing number of companies are taking green actions and are reframing their business models to operate on the cutting edge of sustainability and climate action. Global initiatives like RE100, which bring together hundreds of large and forward-looking businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity, have made some real impact. But imagine the scale of the impact if every company in the world commits to meet all of their electrical energy needs by a defined timeline. So, to save our planet, it makes perfect sense for all companies to start talking about and taking action to weave in sustainability across their respective operations. This article is authored by Ranganath Tannir, secretary general, Think Change Forum, New Delhi.
News18
21-04-2025
- Business
- News18
Earth Day 2025: Building A Greener Future, Together
ITC Mughal, Agra too, proudly stands as the first hotel globally to receive a LEED Zero Water certification, setting benchmarks in sustainable hospitality. In the consumer space, brands are noticing a sharp shift. Dr. Blossom Kochhar, pioneer in aromatherapy and Founder of the Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies, observes, 'The consumer industry is undergoing a transformation as individuals seek products that are effective, ethical, and eco-friendly. Sustainability is no longer a trend—it's a deeper awareness of how our choices impact the planet." Brands like Akshayakalpa Organic are nurturing this change. As Shashi Kumar, CEO and Co-Founder proudly shares, 'Sustainability is not a separate chapter at Akshayakalpa—it is the central narrative. From our 'Give Back the Milk Pack' initiative, which has recycled over 50,000 kg of plastic, to pioneering biodegradable packaging, we are working hand-in-hand with consumers toward greener choices." Retail giants are also stepping up meaningfully. At Flipkart, sustainability is embedded into growth. As Nishant Gupta, Head of Sustainability, Flipkart, highlights, 'Sustainability isn't just a goal—it's our driving force. From deploying 10,000+ electric vehicles to sourcing 100% renewable energy for data centers and warehouses, we're creating real impact." Advertisement Meanwhile, the Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) industry, often criticized for its environmental footprint, is responding with clear action. KFC India has pledged to build all new outlets around '11 Green Building Must Haves", including solar panels, CO2 sensors, water-saving plumbing, and eco-friendly gas systems. Their 'Future First" journey aims for carbon neutrality by 2030, with a significant milestone already achieved—reducing 3,500 MT of plastic and ensuring that 80% of their packaging is now recyclable or compostable. advetisement And it doesn't stop there. Smita Jatia, Vice Chairperson, Westlife Foodworld Ltd. (which operates McDonald's in West and South India), shares, 'Through our Replace, Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce pillars, we are minimizing environmental impact while maximizing positive community action. Sustainability is not just part of our business—it drives how we do business." Manufacturing giants are equally leading change at scale. Siemens India, for instance, is driving a tech-powered sustainability approach. Their Mumbai, Goa, and Aurangabad factories now run on solar energy delivering 9MWp of green power and reducing over 4,800 tons of carbon emissions. Their digital technologies are helping customers accelerate their own green transitions—from optimized power consumption to real-time insights in plant maintenance. 'We adhere to the DEGREE framework—a 360° commitment to sustainability," states a Siemens India spokesperson. advetisement In FY 2024 alone, Siemens achieved 90% renewable energy consumption and 80% waste recovery through recycling and reuse, a remarkable stride toward carbon neutrality. Education and community initiatives are crucial for long-term environmental stewardship. At Jindal Foundation, sustainability is deeply human-centered. Prashant Hota, President and Group Head (CSR and Education), Jindal Steel & Power, notes, 'At Jindal Foundation, we place people, planet, and nation at the heart of everything. Through Eco Clubs across 259 schools, clean drinking water access for 12 million people, afforestation, and waste management initiatives, we are empowering communities to lead sustainability from the grassroots." The momentum across industries shows that businesses in India are moving beyond performative gestures to genuine, systemic action. As Ankit Mathur, Co-Founder & CEO of Greenway Grameen, perfectly sums up, 'Investments in renewable energy, sustainable sourcing, farm-to-table initiatives—these are not just trends, but essential steps towards a cleaner, greener economy."
