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Advocating for Strong ESG Strategies at KAIZEN™ Congress India 2024
The 13th Annual KAIZEN™ Congress India, held on April 18th and 19th, 2024, marked a significant milestone in promoting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategies within the business community. This established event for Continuous Improvement and KAIZEN™ methodologies, drew over 150 professionals from more than 40 companies to discuss the integration of sustainable practices into core business strategies. The congress emphasized the critical role of ESG in business operations and the necessity for organizations to adopt more sustainable, socially responsible business models.
The Importance of Proactive Measures
Vinod Grover, joint managing director of Kaizen Institute South Asia & Africa, highlighted the dynamic challenges faced by businesses today, including rapidly changing technologies, regulations, and market demands. He emphasized the necessity of moving beyond reactive measures to openly address the challenges. “We need to establish effective processes not only to tackle immediate issues but also to proactively prevent potential problems,” stated Grover. He advocates for a structured problem-solving approach, ensuring robust process development with active employee participation to transform all employees into adept problem-solvers.
Sustainability in Business Operations
A key theme at the congress was the imperative of embedding sustainability into the heart of business operations. Anant Maheshwari, General Manager EHS Sustainability at ITC Ltd, highlighted this point in his keynote address. “The future of business hinges on integrating sustainability into core operations, ensuring that environmental stewardship becomes a fundamental aspect of our business ethos,” Maheshwari stated. This call to action was echoed across various presentations, emphasizing that sustainable practices are not just ethical but also enhance long-term profitability.
ESG Compliance and Global Business
Avinash Kumar, Executive Director of Earthood, focused on the global imperative for ESG compliance. He discussed how adhering to ESG standards is not only a moral duty but also a strategic business advantage. “In the global marketplace, ESG compliance is not a cost but an investment that drives future success and stability,” Kumar explained. This perspective underlines the growing importance of ESG factors in maintaining competitiveness on the global stage.
Health and Safety as a Corporate Priority
Pramod Pandey, from Philips, shared insights into how health and safety are integral to the company’s ESG goals, particularly aligned with SDGs 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action). “Our commitment to ESG is demonstrated through initiatives aimed at impacting 2.5 billion lives by 2030, with a significant focus on sustainable production practices and health and safety standards,” said Pandey.
Governance and the Circular Economy
Pradeep Panigrahi of Larsen and Turbo addressed the role of governance in fostering a circular economy, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. He argued for governance structures that support incremental improvements and facilitate the adoption of circular economy principles. “Effective governance is the cornerstone of sustainable development, facilitating the transition to a circular economy that not only conserves resources but also generates economic value,” Panigrahi noted.
Transparent Reporting and Climate Action
Tejashree Joshi from Godrej & Boyce highlighted the importance of transparency in corporate reporting on environmental impact and climate action. Joshi’s presentation focused on how transparent reporting mechanisms are essential for credible climate action. “By openly reporting our environmental impact, we not only hold ourselves accountable but also lead the way in corporate responsibility for climate action,” Joshi emphasized.
In summary, the KAIZEN™ Congress India 2024 successfully illuminated the growing relevance of ESG strategies in business. Through a series of expert presentations and case studies, the event showcased practical applications of KAIZEN™ and Continuous Improvement methodologies that align with sustainable business practices. As companies worldwide strive to balance profitability with social and environmental responsibilities, the insights provided by the congress serve as valuable guidelines for integrating ESG strategies into the core of business operations, ensuring a sustainable future for all.
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Kaizen Institute, Ltd.
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Switzerland
Phone + 41 (0) 41 725 42 80