L&T’s track record as an environment friendly Company has been enviable by most accounts. And this record, built over years of perseverance, has been the result of strict adherence to sustainable norms and practices that apply to each of the Group verticals, and careful and meticulous formulation and implementation of processes – promoting and furthering eco-friendly measures as well as taking steps to maintain sustainability.
In 2019 and 2020, seven L&T campuses across India were conferred coveted awards and accorded recognition in the domain of environment protection and sustainability. L&T’s Hazira Manufacturing Complex in Surat, Gujarat, was the recipient of the Golden Peacock Award 2020 for energy efficiency. Of the 496 applications, 235 were shortlisted in four categories – energy efficiency, eco-innovation, occupational health & safety and environment management; and L&T MHI Power Turbine Generators won the award for energy efficiency. The final selection was based on a three-tier assessment by independent auditors and then by a grand jury chaired by former Chief Justice of India Mr M N Venkatachaliah.
Besides, the Hazira Complex also netted the Green Environment Award from the Baroda Productivity Council. In the engineering sector, L&T Heavy Engineering unit won the 1st prize for best environmental practices. At the same time, Ms Avni Joshi of the Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) department at L&T Hazira Central Services was conferred the Gujarat Rajya Shramdevi Award 2018-2019 for introducing eco-friendly digitally printed cloth banners that ensure a lower carbon footprint, by replacing PVC-made flex banners.
Then, L&T’s expansive learning facility, the Lonavla-based Leadership Development Academy (LDA) earned 1st prize in the 15th State-level Awards for Excellence in Energy Conservation & Management in 2020. The award, conferred by the Maharashtra Energy Development Agenc,y was in the commercial building category. The LDA also won the prestigious Energy Management Award 2019, conferred by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at its 20th national award ceremony. This was for implementing new and innovative energy efficiency measures and is a testimony to LDA’s commitment toward sustainable growth with initiatives focused on energy conservation and the reduction of carbon emissions.
Again in 2019, the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) awarded LDA Gold Rating in Green Campus Certification. The rating is awarded as recognition for implementation of green concepts and techniques to address national priorities such as conserving natural resources, demand-side energy and water efficiency, adoption of renewable energy, consumer waste management, biodiversity and occupational health and comfort.
Next, L&T Technology Services Ltd (LTTS) won the Mahatma Gandhi Award 2020 for CSR Excellence for a project involving solar electrification of tribal villages. Also, the LTTS Vododara Knowledge City office and canteen were awarded “A” level Swachh ranking by the Vadodara Municipal Corporation. In 2020, L&T Infotech (LTI) received a certificate from Earth Day Network in acknowledgment of its tree plantation drive. While LTI’s Powai head office enjoys a platinum-rating by the US Green Building Council, its Bengaluru software technology park campus has earned platinum-rating from the IGBC.
To top it all, L&T subsidiary Mindtree was recognised as a top performer in the 2020 Climate Change Ranking by Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), a non-profit environmental disclosure forum. With an A-score, Mindtree is among the top 6% of more than 9,600 companies worldwide across all sectors and among the only 15 companies in India recognised by CDP. Besides, Mindtree’s Whitefield campus in Bengaluru received the IGBC Platinum Emerson Cup Award in 2017-18, and its 2016 energy efficiency case study was showcased by CDP India in the Climate Change COP 21 Summit in Paris.
Last but not the least, recognising L&T Construction & Mining Machinery vertical’s collaborative and safety initiatives to promote sustainability at its sites in Noamundi, Khondbond and Joda in Jharkhand, its top customer, Tata Steel, awarded it a certificate at its Annual Sustainability Meet 2019.