~This 35kW solar rooftop plant will strengthen sustainable future, reduce energy bills~
Mumbai, October 31, 2018: Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) today commissioned a 35kW solar rooftop plant at St. Xavier’s High School in Fort area of Mumbai as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. With estimated generation of about 53000 kWh, this noteworthy initiative will assist the well-known educational institution to become more environmental friendly and also shave off about INR 3.5 lakhs from its annual energy bills.
This initiative is in line of the Godrej Group’s sustainability strategy of ‘Good & Green’ that aims to create a more inclusive and greener India. As part Good & Green, renewable energy is one of its key environmental goals. The company has a relentless focus on productivity and environmental sustainability and over 50% of the energy used at Godrej Industries is from renewable sources. In addition, the company is also installing renewable energy ecosystems in rural communities and educational institutes. It aims to address the shortfall of energy supply through renewable energy sources and spread awareness on cleaner sources of power.
Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Adi Godrej, Chairman, Godrej Group said, “As a group, we have always actively championed the cause of social responsibility. According to our vision for 2020, we aim to be 10 times our current size in 2010. But for us, it is also essential that we remain a good corporate citizen besides achieving robust financial performance. Giving back to communities remains important and this project is a step forward.”
Mr. Nadir Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej Industries Limited said, “Our sustainability vision and goals spur us to make investments both on social and environmental imperatives. The chosen approach will allow us to assist in building a greener and more inclusive India through adoption of shared value approach. I am delighted to extend our support to St. Xavier’s School since it will enable this well-known educational institution to harness solar energy and reduce bills at the same time. This is a small initiative but remains integral to the overall goal of energy conservation.”
Dr. Vikas Goswami, Head Sustainability, Godrej Industries Limited and Associated Companies said, “Environmental sustainability is an integral part of our business. Besides our manufacturing facilities, we are also working closely with communities and education institutes to adopt eco-friendly measures of operations. We have already worked with 25 schools and colleges in Mumbai for processing their waste and diverting it from landfills. Now, we are installing rooftop solar power plants that will help provide a clean source of energy. GCPL’s association with St. Xavier’s is to equip the school with a renewable means of power source and provide a working example to students on green sources of energy.”
Principal Mrs. Sharmila Sunny, St. Xavier’s High School said “It is a Landmark achievement for the school where by we are actively supporting the Global endeavour to use renewable resources and save energy wastage… a proud moment for all Xavierites as our very own alumni have spear-headed this initiative for their Alma Mater..they have put into practice what we teach….”
Fr. Francis Swamy, St. Xavier’s High School said, “We sincerely thank Godrej Group for installing solar rooftop plant at our school under their CSR project. This plant will not only help us in preserving the environment but also contribute in reducing energy bills. It will also help us to tackle the shortfall of energy supply through usage of renewable energy.”
The company has a comprehensive CSR policy that outlines programmes and projects undertaken to create a positive impact on stakeholders. They have a CSR committee in place to review, monitor and provide strategic inputs on sustainability efforts. Over the years, GCPL has aligned initiatives with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, Government of India’s social development programmes, and the needs of our local communities to deliver high-impact programmes.
About Good & Green
At Godrej our sustainability strategy, Good & Green, is driven by the desire to help create a more inclusive and greener India. Launched in 2011 as one of our four key imperatives for 2020, Good & Green is based on shared value, a principle that aligns business competitiveness and growth with social and environmental impact. By 2020, we aspire to create a more employable Indian workforce, build a greener India, and innovate for ‘good’ and ‘green’ products. ‘Good’ products are designed to address a critical social issue (e.g. healthcare and sanitation) for consumers at the base of the income pyramid. ‘Green’ products are those that are environmentally sustainable.
About Godrej Consumer Products Limited
Godrej Consumer Products is a leading emerging markets company. As part of the over 120-year young Godrej Group, we are fortunate to have a proud legacy built on the strong values of trust, integrity and respect for others. At the same time, we are growing fast and have exciting, ambitious aspirations.
Today, our Group enjoys the patronage of 1.15 billion consumers globally, across different businesses. In line with our 3 by 3 approach to international expansion at Godrej Consumer Products, we are building a presence in 3 emerging markets (Asia, Africa, Latin America) across 3 categories (home care, personal care, hair care). We rank among the largest household insecticide and hair care players in emerging markets. In household insecticides, we are the leader in India and Indonesia and are expanding our footprint in Africa. We are the leader in serving the hair care needs of women of African descent, the number one player in hair colour in India and Sub-Saharan Africa, and among the leading players in Latin America. We rank number two in soaps in India, are the number one player in air fresheners in India and Indonesia, and a leader in wet tissues in Indonesia.
But for us, it is very important that besides our strong financial performance and innovative, much-loved products, we remain a good company. Approximately 23 per cent of the promoter holding in the Godrej Group is held in trusts that invest in the environment, health and education. We are also bringing together our passion and purpose to make a difference through our ‘Good & Green’ approach to create a more inclusive and greener India.
At the heart of all of this, is our talented team. We take much pride in fostering an inspiring workplace, with an agile and high-performance culture. We are also deeply committed to recognising and valuing diversity across our teams.