ITC receives Platinum Level AWS Certification for water stewardship, enters CDP’s ‘A’ list for water security

Mumbai, India: Strengthening its large-scale efforts in water stewardship, multi-business conglomerate ITC Limited has attained the prestigious Platinum-Level AWS (Alliance for Water Stewardship) Certification for two of its state-of-the-art units in Ranjangaon, Maharashtra, achieving, the highest global benchmark for water management. In another significant milestone, ITC also secured an exclusive Leadership Level ‘A’ score for Water Security from CDP, a prominent not-for-profit organization that promotes engagement on global environmental issues.

The AWS certifications for Ranjangaon units follow the success of the Company in achieving the same feat for its Foods Unit at Malur in 2022, which was recognized as Asia’s first food processing facility to receive the certification. ITC’s Paperboards Unit in Kovai became the first site in India and the world’s first paper mill to achieve AWS certification.

The coveted AWS Certification involved rigorous onsite and community level assessments at the Integrated Foods facility at Ranjangaon in Pune district. The unit manufactures ITC’s popular food products brands such as YiPPee! noodles, Bingo! snacks and Aashirvaad Atta among others. Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is a global membership collaboration comprising businesses, NGOs and the public sector that focuses on contribution to the sustainability of local water-resources.

The certifications aren’t just badges; they signify the scale and impact of ITC’s comprehensive initiatives, ensuring sustainable water supply and responsible usage within the facilities. These interventions also extend beyond the confines of the factory, addressing water security for stakeholders in the catchments, and benefitting local communities. Notably, these efforts have already rendered the Ghod river basin water positive. Aligning seamlessly with the Jal Shakti Abhiyan, ITC supports small and marginal farmers in establishing Water User Groups (WUGs) for community-based participatory management of local water resources.

ITC’s integrated contributions in water management haven’t gone unnoticed. The CDP recognition positions ITC among the two companies in India to achieve the prestigious ‘A’ List status in ‘CDP Water’. ITC is the sole representative from the manufacturing sector in ‘A’ league setting a remarkable standard in the sector, surpassing the Asia regional average of ‘C’. Additionally, its ‘A-‘ grade in ‘CDP Climate’ for the third consecutive year underscores its leadership amidst escalating climate change threats.

Commenting on the developments, Mr. S Sivakumar, Group Head – Agri, Sustainability and Social Investment Programmes, ITC Ltd, said, ““ITC has been steadfast in strengthening its comprehensive water stewardship initiatives over the years. With four ITC facilities now rated platinum under the prestigious AWS framework, we will maintain the momentum and stay committed to attain this highest global certification in all our sites by 2035, wherever the threat of water shortage may arise in future. Entering the CDP ‘A’ List for water security is yet another testament to the innovative efforts by ITC, especially to ensure water security for all our stakeholders.”

ITC’s 360-degree water stewardship interventions:

Emphasizing a 360-degree approach to water stewardship, ITC’s Sustainability Program focuses on efficient water management and conservation through watershed development initiatives which have covered over 15 lakh acres and benefited more than 4.40 lakh people. Over 36,600 water harvesting structures have been constructed till date under the supply side water management program creating a storage capacity exceeding 51.85 million kl of water recharge structures. Rigorous measures within ITC facilities, based on the ‘3R’ principle—recycle, reuse, and reduce—have generated water storage potential exceeding 1 million kl during 2022-23, further contributing to water conservation efforts

ITC’s interventions in demand-side water management across agricultural catchments have yielded substantial water savings of 20-45% across 15 crops resulting in estimated potential saving of 1,080 million cu.m of water in the current year.

Looking ahead, as part of the bold Sustainability 2.0 agenda articulated by ITC Chairman Mr. Sanjiv Puri, ITC aspires to create rainwater harvesting potential equivalent to over five times its net water consumption by 2030, creating a saving potential of 2,000 million cu.m water through agri water use efficiency, alongside a targeted 40% reduction in specific water consumption compared to the FY 2018-19 baseline.

In essence, ITC’s journey in water stewardship exemplifies a harmonious blend of corporate responsibility and sustainable practices, setting a benchmark in the pursuit of a greener, more sustainable future.

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