SUSTAINABILITY & US
Fundamentally Right is Arvind's bespoke approach to sustainability which focusses on input management rather than tailpipe intercessions. It systematically embeds sustainability across our six key inputs thereby ensuring that we produce more value while consuming less resource.
Our policies, practices and processes are geared not only to optimise utilisation of these resources, but also nurture their source and thereby ensure that they remain in abundant supply. Our focus is on managing, enriching and getting these inputs fundamentally right and thereby making our business sustainably sound.
The Fundamentally Right philosophy won many accolades, including Asia's Best First Time Sustainability Report and was declared the joint winner for the Best Materiality Reporting Award at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards 2016.
COTTON
Sustainable Sourcing
Cotton sourcing is crucial to our operations. Not just in terms of quantity and supply, but also in terms of sustainability. We harness methodologies and promote responsible farming techniques like organic farming and Better Cotton Initiative to ensure that cotton farmers, the communities and mother Earth reap the benefits of our fabrics.
Supply Chain Engagement and Transparency
We meet our suppliers periodically to ensure transparency and clear communication in the supply chain. We organised Supplier Day twice during the reporting period, to elaborate and familiarise our supplier group with Arvind's sourcing policy, sustainability practices and code of conduct.
CHEMICALS
We use the right chemicals judiciously and responsibly. It is our constant effort to find substitutes that have a smaller environmental impact. We treat not only the effluents but also extract useful salts from them; such that they can be reused.
ENERGY
Energy Management
Energy efficient technologies deployed across our units and offices help us to keep a keen eye on our energy consumptions
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions & Air Pollution
We strive to reduce the GHG footprint of our business by adopting green manufacturing technology and reducing our energy consumptions
PEOPLE
Labour Relations and Union Practices
We have clearly spelt out guidelines to ensure that we engage in fair labour practices. This includes payment of minimum wages, protection of human rights, prevention of child/forced labour and encouragement of health and safety best practices.
WATER
Water Use and Management
We have identified and implemented ways to reuse and recycle water and to minimise our water footprint. Our water conservation and recycling initiatives have helped us to lower our dependence on water resources in our key units.
During the reporting period, we implemented a breakthrough Public-Private-Partnership project at Ankur Textiles, where we extract process water from sewage waste taken from nearby communities through the local municipality's wastewater network. More details in water section of the sustainability report.
MONEY
Long-term Viability of Core Business
We try to be fundamentally right in our approach to run our business. This ensures that our core business interests remain protected and are sustainable.
OTHERS
Communication and Engagement
Continuous communication and engagement take place with our key stakeholders like customers, investors, and employees. Details of this engagement are elaborated in the stakeholder engagement section of the sustainability report.
Policies, Standards and Code of Conduct
We have policies, standards and code of conduct for our business processes, engagements with customers & stakeholders as well as product manufacturing and services. Please refer to the corporate governance section in this report for more details.
Customer Satisfaction
We try to anticipate short and long-term expectations of our customers. Our design and technology teams meet the customer groups at regular interval throughout the year.
Regulatory and Legal Challenges
All our operations and business processes are as per the legal and regulatory processes approved by the Government under the Companies Act 2013 in India.
As sustainability gains greater importance for our clients, we remain well poised to match up to their emerging expectations and perform at par with international benchmarks
The Fundamentally Right Manifesto
This year, to help put the philosophy to practice in day to day operations, we have released the Fundamentally Right Manifesto. It is a vital step forward in ensuring cogent implementation of 'fundamentally right' across the entire value chain.
It helps every employee, across the organisational hierarchy, take fundamentally right business decisions with an aim to create positive outcomes on all three fronts - economic, environment and society.
The Manifesto features principles for each of the six key inputs – Cotton, People Money, Energy, Water and Chemicals.
INITIATIVE
BROADENING THE FARMERS' PERSPECTIVE
For more details please refer to the Sustainability & Us Chapter (page 15 to 22) in our Sustainability Report 2014-16. Click here to view the Sustainability Report.