The Hindu Business Line : Over 20 firms sign CII code for green business growth

Chennai, March 29 Over 20 companies across a range of sectors in Chennai have signed the Confederation of Indian Industry’s code for ecologically sustainable business growth at a meeting of the CEOs organised.

The code, part of CII’s initiative, Mission on Sustainable Growth, aims to promote conservation of natural resources in Indian industry without compromising on high and accelerated growth.

Addressing the meeting, Mr R. Seshasayee, Past President, CII and Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said India’s ecological footprint — the measure of land and water needed to produce the resources it consumes and to dispose the waste produced — is bound to increase with economic growth.

Energy use

But in some areas like power consumption, industries have done well in promoting efficiency. Even if the primary goal was to reduce costs, the benefit to environment is significant.

From 0.30 kg of oil equivalent per dollar GDP in 1972, energy consumption has been brought down to 0.19 kg in 2003. But more needs to be done as the primary energy consumption is on the increase.

But the industry has not done as well in water conservation where the situation is grim, Mr Seshasayee said.

The water availability has dropped to 1,869 cubic metres per capita in 2001 from 5,177 in 1951. This is set to drop further to 1,341 cubic metres in 2025. Over 85 per cent of the surface water is polluted and only about 10 per cent of the wastewater generated is treated, he said.

Seeking commitments

CII hopes to involve top level management in its mission, seek voluntary commitments to set targets themselves by member companies and to work together in meeting the targets for sustainable growth.

The objective is to bring down water and energy consumption by 2-6 per cent a year over the next 10 years, bring down by similar levels green house gas emissions, waste generation and quantity of waste going to land fills, increase use of renewables and recyclables by 2-10 per cent a year, increase rain water harvesting, incorporate life cycle assessment criteria, green purchase policy and promote product stewardship programmes.

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