Working for a Happier Planet

As defined by the Brundtland Commission in 1987, "Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Today, sustainability is no longer a mere buzzword—it has evolved into a fundamental benchmark for industries that genuinely care about their communities and the environment. Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles form the three core pillars of sustainability. These pillars are interdependent; if one weakens, the entire framework is affected. Therefore, progress must be pursued in a balanced manner, ensuring that all three dimensions of ESG remain aligned and robust. At the national level, ESG has gained regulatory significance, with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandating Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) for large organizations. We are now in an era where long-term success belongs to organizations that achieve economic growth while simultaneously safeguarding their people and the planet.

Adopting the path of ESG has become an imperative for all. As organizations prepare themselves to deal with new kinds of risks hitherto unknown, especially with rising crises in economic, environment, public health & social issues; there is an increased focus on Sustainability and ESG efforts. With the changing business landscape, companies are expected to deliver results that bring a positive impact on the environment and the society along with shareholder returns. Corporations across the globe have additional responsibility as a collective to address issues like global warming, climate change, diversity, inequity etc., and every organization is making their own efforts to address the same. Customer expectations and interactions with brands are also going through major transition, especially with the onset of digital platforms.

Against this background, leaders are committing themselves beyond sheer compliance on ESG aspects to help deliver robust returns. These actions are creating value for the stakeholders – employees, customers, suppliers and wider society. Being integral to business strategy, ESG guides how firms serve society and impact both their current & future performances.

Another dimension that is driving enormous interest in ESG performance is Financial, as it’s playing a larger role in companies’ decisions around M&A and divestment. There is adequate research that shows positive linkages between better ESG scores and financial performance be it equity, profitability or valuation multiples and now even on lower cost of capital due to reduced business risks.

As ESG continues to evolve in scope and regulatory importance, Welspun Living’s ESG framework has matured in parallel. We have adopted a scientific and data-driven approach to our climate transition journey, supported by approved Science Based Targets (SBTs). At Welspun Living, sustainability is a top-driven priority, led by committed leadership and supported by experienced Board members with strong ESG expertise. Our commitment to stakeholders remains central to our business strategy and decision-making.

At Welspun India,

• We are taking a strategic and structured approach to reducing our environmental footprint by embedding principles of circularity, 7S, reduction, reuse, and recycling across our operations. Our objective is not only to minimize environmental impact but also to create long-term environmental value.
• On the Social Front, our focus is on fostering responsible business relationships that drive inclusive growth, promote women’s empowerment, ensure safe and healthy workplaces, and support sustainable community livelihood generation.
• From a Governance perspective, the Executive Management and the Board actively address stakeholders’ interests, ensure honest and transparent accounting practices, and establish strong policies and frameworks that enable robust ESG performance.