Sustainability

At Amara Raja, we actively contribute to a more sustainable world, leading by example in our own operations and partnering with customers and suppliers to enable a low-carbon society, preserve resources, and promote social progress. With our robust industry expertise, market intelligence, creativity, get-it-done mentality and spirit of philanthropy, we are moving towards a more sustainable future to power the world.

At Amara Raja, our commitment to adopt world class sustainable practices provides a solid foundation for our business growth. We believe that building a more sustainable business creates a stronger Organization and greater value for all our stakeholders. And as a stronger company, we are well-positioned to lead the way in redefining what power can be.

Throughout our growth, our commitment to environmental stewardship and transparency not only remained steadfast but has also taken an accelerated trajectory with each passing year.

Initiatives

Energy & Carbon

  • Successfully commissioned additional 2.57MW roof top Solar generation plant, taking overall renewable energy capacity of ARE&M to 62 MW.

  • Setting up India’s first green hydrogen fueling station in Leh for NTPC.

  • Setting up 200MW AC/ 290MW DC Solar Power Plant at Gadag, Karnataka for Sterlite Power.

  • At ARE&M, we are committed to net zero emissions and have released our Net zero plan aligned to SBTi, in line with the national commitment.

  • Development of India’s First 21700 Cylindrical Cell (NMC 811) and 1st to achieve IATF 16949:2016.

  • Committed to increasing our Renewable Energy mix in all our businesses.

  • Installed Energy Monitoring System, a digital tool to enhance operational energy efficiency through real-time monitoring of energy use.

  • Conducting life cycle assessments for our major products to reduce the environmental impact.

  • Investments into developing Renewable Energy solutions. (EV chargers, Li-Ion packs for e-mobility etc.)

  • Investment into new energy start-ups in India and abroad.

Water Stewardship

  • We manage our water resources effectively and aim to be Water positive.

  • A total of 23 check-dams have been installed around the community in which we operate.

  • We have also carried out 6 ponds restoration works.

  • All our manufacturing locations have world-class Effluent treatment and Sewage treatment plants.

  • At ARE&M, we have Zero Discharge plants leading to an increase in effluent recycling rate and reduction in fresh-water consumption.

  • Water meters are installed at all strategic inlets and outlets to accurately measure water consumption and treatment.

  • Recharge pits have been developed for capturing rainwater and recharging groundwater levels.

  • As part of CSR Activities water storage tanks have been constructed in villages for collection of rain water during monsoon.

Circular Economy

As a result of our Technology and Research efforts, there have been a plethora of benefits that could be brought over the years and a list of such benefits but not limited to these alone are given below:

  • We are driving the movement to a circular economy—one that is aimed at limiting the use of virgin materials, minimizing waste and making the best use of natural resources. Circular systems use methods such as reuse, repair and recycling to minimize waste, pollution and carbon emissions.

  • 83% sourcing rate for recycled lead and alloys in ARE&M.

  • We are setting up a Greenfield lead recycling unit at Chennai with a recycling capacity of up to 1.5 lac Metric tonnes.

  • ARE&M is registered with CPCB as a producer under Batteries Waste Management Rules, 2022 and are working towards meeting our extended producer responsibilities (EPR).

  • Our Operations and research teams are constantly striving for Product innovations to increase product life, reduce weight, improve corrosion resistance & enhance product safety.

  • We are engaging with our suppliers through capability-building training, ESG data sharing, collaborations on joint sustainability projects and reward/recognition schemes.

Health & Safety

Through The Amara Raja Way®, the Company strengthened its commitment to people's safety and environmental protection. The leadership believes that an incident-free workplace boosts employee morale and confidence in the corporation. The resultant peace of mind pushes every team member to strive harder towards uplifting the organization to the next growth orbit. The Company's protection cover extends to the workplace and beyond - striving for a cleaner workplace and a green environment - leading to a healthy mind and body.

Health and Safety First

  • Our employees are provided with the right PPE in each workplace and are ensured 100% PPE compliance.

  • To improve 'safety culture,' we have deployed behaviour-based safety practices at all locations.

  • State- of-the-art occupational health Centre with 24x7 operations.

  • At the group level, we have formulated the HSE Council comprising members from HSE functions of all group companies.

  • We have identified critical health and safety risks in our operations and have released critical safety standards at the group level.

  • Closed loop fume and dust extraction systems with scrubbers/bag filters are installed at all plants to prevent workers’ exposure to process dust.

  • All our facilities are equipped with best–in–class fire detection and suppression systems. Additionally, an onsite emergency plan and systematic maintenance procedures bolster readiness.

  • Introduced eating nutritious food with spoons (a cultural change) to enhance hygiene conditions and avoid lead exposure.

  • Introduced readiness to work at all locations to promote and improve physical activity conducting pre-employment, half-yearly and annual health check-ups.

  • Provided helmets free of cost to all employees when they buy a two-wheeler and hold a valid driving license.

Environmental Sustainability

As a part of its commitment towards ecological sustainability, the Company is closely associated with multiple environmental protection programs within its business ecosystem and in the civic and social sectors beyond its operational boundaries.

The four pillars of Amara Raja's ecological sustainability program are:

  • Effective use of natural resources

  • Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions

  • Good practices in waste and pollution control management

  • Biodiversity

Ecological sustainability is a cornerstone of the company's charter on natural capital stewardship. The storage battery industry is built on the pillars of energy efficiency, greenhouse gases mitigation, responsible water management, pollution control and waste management. At Amara Raja, we use different tools to look for the reduction in natural resource usage. During this year, the company initiated the inventorization of greenhouse gas emissions and targeted its reduction.

Environmental Stewardship

  • Developed extensive green belt and social forestry in and around the factory premises by planting saplings which can survive in tropical, dry and shale-type soil with the help of good conservation techniques.

  • Pioneered in introducing air pollution control equipment with the latest technologies which include HEPA filters.

  • In the area of water and wastewater treatment, the company is using advanced technologies to remove heavy metals.

  • Increased use of recycled lead is preferred to conserve natural resources and to encourage locally organized smelters.

  • Following good practices in conserving electrical energy to reduce overall electrical energy consumption thus reducing the natural resources and also increasing the share of renewable energy sources by installing the panels on the rooftop and in premises.

  • The company continues to use good practices in the maintenance and monitoring of ventilation systems and ensures that a safe and healthy work environment is maintained.

Our Commitment

Hazard Communication

Hazard Communication

  • We constantly conduct employee awareness programs on reporting hazards, unsafe conditions and unsafe acts to help minimize on-the-job incidents.

  • Programs are conducted at all manufacturing locations on emergency response, mock evacuation drills, hazard recognition, first aid training, fire-fighting training etc. on a regular basis.

Safe Working Place

Safe Working Place

  • We ensure the workplace air quality and ventilation systems are periodically checked to provide a safe working place

Women's Health

Women's Health

  • Women's Health is given paramount importance. We periodically conduct awareness and screening programs such as cervical and breast cancer awareness across all plant locations.

Cafeteria Hygiene

Cafeteria Hygiene

  • We conduct regular inspections of the cafeteria by internal teams at periodic intervals to ensure a high level of hygiene is maintained

Sustainability Management System

The Company has aligned its business operations and manufacturing process to the globally accepted guidelines of the ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 framework for more than two decades now. All the manufacturing locations are certified to ISO 14001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 50001: 2018 standards.

Group-level Sustainability function headed by the Chief Sustainability Officer and a dedicated Sustainability team. The Sustainability Committee is headed by the Executive Director & and members comprising the Chief Sustainability Officer, Chief Operating Officer and all functional heads to drive ESG proactively.

Sustainability Reports & Disclosures

Through sustainability reporting, we communicate our performance and impacts on a wide range of sustainability topics, spanning environmental, social and governance parameters. It enables us to be more transparent about the risks and opportunities we face, giving stakeholders greater insight into performance beyond the bottom line.

Building and maintaining trust in businesses and governments is fundamental to creating a sustainable global economy and a thriving world. Every day, decisions are made by businesses and governments that have direct impacts on their stakeholders, such as decisions relating to financial institutions, labor organizations, civil society, citizens and the level of trust they have in them. These decisions are rarely based on financial information alone and often consider risks and opportunities related to a variety of short and long-term factors. Sustainability topics are increasingly integrated into these decision-making processes.

For ARE&M, we are disclosing our sustainability performance through the SEBI-mandated Business Responsibility & Sustainability Report (BRSR), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) aligned Sustainability report, and Carbon emissions and management through the Climate Disclosure Project (CDP).