New Delhi – Wipro Ltd started the replacement of single use cutlery and packing under Zero Plastic initiative.
The company aims to reduce plastic waste by looking at over 20 categories by introducing process changes and engagement with suppliers.
Generating around 120 tons of plastic waste every year, the company at present, sends waste to the approved recyclers.
Wipro works with Electronic City Industrial Township Authority (ELCITA) in Bengaluru on SWM issues to be a part of the sub-committee on ‘Waste’ in the CII National Environment Committee.
Associated with ‘Reimagine Waste’ hackathon for the past three years, being conducted in association with Indian Institute of science, Bengaluru, Waste Ventures and other partners, the company supported a study to understand the contribution of informal economy to waste and material recycling in Bengaluru.
The total environmental cost relating to Wipro’s operations and supply chain was equal to Rs 10,84.1 crore in FY 2018.
GHG emissions (47%), water consumption (26%) and air pollution (16%) contributed the most. The operational footprint accounted for Rs 524.6crore, the 48% of Wipro’s total environmental cost in FY 2018, a 11% decrease from previous year at Rs 587.4 crore.
In supply chain, fuel and energy related activities decreased by 8% year on year and purchased goods and services increased by 12% during the same period.
The biggest driver of overall environmental cost reduction by 126.5 crore which is around 6% increase from 115.2 crore in FY 2017 were emission reduction activities, water recycling and renewable energy procurement.
Valuation for FY 2019 is unlikely to vary significantly different and will be completed in July 2019.
The first flagship project of the company in biodiversity was the unique Butterfly Park and wetland biodiversity zone that uses recycled water at the Electronic City campus in Bengaluru.
The second project in Pune focussed on trebling, the number of native species and five thematic gardens including aesthetic and palm garden, spring garden, ficus garden, spice and Fruit garden.
This is a unique project in a corporate campus setting with a dense year-round flowering of more than 240 species of native plants serving multiple ecological purposes.
The company participates in biodiversity issues is through the Leaders for Nature programme from India chapter of International Union of Conservation Networks (IUCN).
The company has also been supporting the ‘World Sparrow Day’ and ‘Wipro-Nature Forever Society Sparrow Awards’ for the past six years.
