Diversified conglomerate ITC Ltd on Friday said it has adopted a bold “Sustainability 2.0” agenda that has reimagined sustainability under the pressing challenges of climate change and livelihoods.

This agenda champions inclusive models that foster sustainable livelihoods, accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy, ensure water security, drive circularity and protect biodiversity through nature-based solutions, the Kolkata-based conglomerate said.

“At the heart of this approach is ITC’s philosophy of ‘Responsible Competitiveness’—a distinctive framework that integrates sharp business acumen with environmental and social responsibilities,” it said.

ITC Ltd has become one of the first Indian FMCG companies to release a comprehensive ‘Nature Report’, aligning with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). This initiative builds on ITC’s over two-decades-long legacy of transparent sustainability reporting. The move also underscored its leadership in integrating nature-based solutions into mainstream business strategy.

Founded by a coalition of organisations including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEPFI), Global Canopy and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), TNFD is a market-led, science-based and Government-backed global initiative that provides a framework for organisations to report on their nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities.

“As part of its governance structure, ITC has board-approved policies on Biodiversity Conservation, Deforestation and Resource Efficiency. Guided by these policies, ITC operates in a manner that minimizes impact on nature across own operations as well as supply chain,” the conglomerate said in its ‘Nature Report’.

“Sustainability 2.0, which reimagines sustainability, under the pressing challenges of climate change and social inequity, calls for inclusive strategies that can support sustainable livelihoods, pursue newer ways to fight climate change, enable the transition to a net zero economy, work towards ensuring water security for all and create an effective circular economy for post-consumer packaging waste,” the report said, adding the agenda entailed protecting and restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services through adoption of nature-based solutions.

S. Sivakumar, Group Head – Agri and IT Businesses and Sustainability, ITC Ltd, said, “ITC’s sustainability journey of over two decades is rooted in the belief that competitiveness and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Through our first Nature Report, we are reinforcing our strategy of Responsible Competitiveness—which embeds nature-positive actions into our business models while creating sustainable livelihoods and restoring ecosystems. Our large-scale and impactful efforts in afforestation, water stewardship, and biodiversity conservation have already made significant contributions towards safeguarding natural capital.”

Going forward, the conglomerate’s differentiated approach towards nature would continue to focus on replenishing the environment, while supporting resilient communities that depend on nature for their well-being, Sivakumar added.

Published on June 13, 2025