Bengaluru: With water security in focus at Davos during the World Economic Forum's 'Year of Water', India Inc is integrating conservation into the core of its operational strategy, moving beyond treating it as just an optional ESG initiative.
From boardrooms to shop floors, companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, SAP, ITC, and Myntra are tightening controls on how water is consumed, reused, and monitored; hardwiring efficiency into design and nudging employees to rethink everyday use. The focus is on reducing dependence on freshwater, improving reuse, and building resilience against growing water stress, amid a growing recognition that this directly impacts costs, operations, and business continuity.
Not surprisingly, water stewardship or using water in a way that is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial is increasingly being embedded in the performance metrics of leaders.
At L&T, water stewardship is a core pillar of the sustainability strategy, with 'Water Neutrality by 2035' a publicly stated goal.
"Water stewardship forms part of our broader ESG-linked KPIs, which are cascaded to business leaders," said Anup Sahay, head, corporate strategy and special initiatives. Senior leadership monitors progress through regular ESG reviews. "Across all our offices and campuses, we are systematically reducing freshwater consumption through a combination of behavioural nudges, process optimisation, and technology adoption," said Sahay.
The engineering and infrastructure conglomerate shares dashboards with the executive committee and business heads, highlighting water consumption trends, percentage of recycled water use, and total performance against its annual reduction targets. Similarly, at SAP, water performance data is tracked at the campus level and shared through internal sustainability dashboards, reports, and engagement campaigns.
"Senior leadership and facilities teams are accountable for achieving water-positive performance targets, ensuring compliance with corporate EMS/ESG goals and regional water stewardship commitments." said Roshan Gowda, GRF regional head, Asia Pacific at SAP.
From boardrooms to shop floors, companies such as Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, SAP, ITC, and Myntra are tightening controls on how water is consumed, reused, and monitored; hardwiring efficiency into design and nudging employees to rethink everyday use. The focus is on reducing dependence on freshwater, improving reuse, and building resilience against growing water stress, amid a growing recognition that this directly impacts costs, operations, and business continuity.
Not surprisingly, water stewardship or using water in a way that is socially equitable, environmentally sustainable, and economically beneficial is increasingly being embedded in the performance metrics of leaders.
At L&T, water stewardship is a core pillar of the sustainability strategy, with 'Water Neutrality by 2035' a publicly stated goal.
"Water stewardship forms part of our broader ESG-linked KPIs, which are cascaded to business leaders," said Anup Sahay, head, corporate strategy and special initiatives. Senior leadership monitors progress through regular ESG reviews. "Across all our offices and campuses, we are systematically reducing freshwater consumption through a combination of behavioural nudges, process optimisation, and technology adoption," said Sahay.
The engineering and infrastructure conglomerate shares dashboards with the executive committee and business heads, highlighting water consumption trends, percentage of recycled water use, and total performance against its annual reduction targets. Similarly, at SAP, water performance data is tracked at the campus level and shared through internal sustainability dashboards, reports, and engagement campaigns.
"Senior leadership and facilities teams are accountable for achieving water-positive performance targets, ensuring compliance with corporate EMS/ESG goals and regional water stewardship commitments." said Roshan Gowda, GRF regional head, Asia Pacific at SAP.
