MUMBAI (India CSR): In a pioneering move toward environmental sustainability, ICICI Bank has introduced Atmospheric Water Generators (AWGs) at its offices in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. These high-tech units can generate 8,000 litres of potable water daily by extracting moisture from the air, ensuring clean and 100% microbe-free drinking water for 4,200 employees.
This initiative is a significant step in reducing dependency on packaged drinking water while promoting an eco-friendly and self-sustaining water solution.
Harnessing Air Moisture for Sustainable Drinking Water
ICICI Bank’s new water-generation system leverages cutting-edge AWG technology, which extracts humidity from the atmosphere and converts it into fresh, purified drinking water through a multi-stage filtration process. Essential minerals are added at the end to enhance the water’s quality.
These units can function throughout the year, as they operate efficiently in a wide temperature range (18°C- 45°C) and humidity levels (25%- 100%). This ensures a consistent supply of clean water in all seasons.
Leadership’s Vision for Environmental Responsibility
Speaking about the initiative, Soumendra Mattagajasingh, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, ICICI Bank, emphasized the Bank’s commitment to sustainability:
“At ICICI Bank, we are committed to conducting business sustainably and reducing the environmental impact of our operations. Our environmental strategy follows the 4R principle—Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Responsible Disposal. Since the atmosphere holds vast amounts of moisture, we are leveraging this renewable resource to produce clean drinking water, reducing our reliance on packaged water while promoting environmental conservation.”
ICICI Bank’s Strong Focus on ESG Goals
This initiative aligns with ICICI Bank’s broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy, which includes several sustainability-driven targets:
- Carbon Neutrality Goal: The Bank aims to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2032.
- Green Building Certification: As of March 31, 2024, over 180 bank locations (spanning 4.95 million sq. ft.) have been certified by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).
- Net Zero Waste Achievement: The ICICI Service Centre at Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), Mumbai, was declared ‘Net Zero Waste’ in fiscal 2024.
- Increased Renewable Energy Usage: The bank quadrupled its renewable energy consumption in fiscal 2024, reaching 75.73 million kWh, a significant jump from the previous year.
- Tree Plantation & Water Harvesting: Since fiscal 2022, ICICI Bank has planted 3.7 million trees and created water harvesting potential of 25.8 billion litres annually in schools and water bodies.
A Step Toward a Greener Future
ICICI Bank’s adoption of AWG technology reflects its forward-thinking approach to sustainability and responsible business operations. By embracing renewable water sources, the Bank is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also setting an example for corporate India to integrate green technology into workplace infrastructure.
This initiative marks another milestone in ICICI Bank’s journey toward carbon neutrality and sustainable business practices, reinforcing its commitment to making a tangible environmental impact.
