Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries aspires to be nature neutral and has taken a holistic and climate conscious approach to development. It is integrating climate related aspects into its overall decision-making process across different levels, including risk management, governance, performance management and the overall business strategy.
MUMBAI: Climate change is a reality that is shaping the way businesses plan in the 21st century. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Limited has planted mangroves on 875 acres of land around its Jamnagar refinery plant to preserve the ecological balance and has also planted saplings across its sites to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems.
The company has planted over 2.3 crore Saplings planted till this year 2020-21. Apart from these 2,600 acres of green belt has been added across all manufacturing divisions since inception, the company annual report 2019-20 revealed.
Reliance, which operates the world’s largest single location oil refining complex at Jamnagar in Gujarat with capacity of 68.2 million tonnes a year, as it looks to become a net zero-carbon company by 2035.
“Reliance conducts periodic environmental impact studies for its greenfield and brownfield projects to evaluate and mitigate ecosystem impact.”, the company’s annual report said.
“RIL ensures its operations have no net negative impact on local biodiversity and ecosystems.”, it said.
2.3+ Crore Saplings
“At Reliance, we are aligned to the global agenda of de-carbonisation, and targets to become a Net Carbon Zero Company by 2035.”, the company said.
During FY 2019-20, 8.7 lakh trees were planted.
Cumulative Saplings Planted
2020-21 2.3+ Crore
2019-20 2.2+ (FY 2019-20: 8.7 lakh)
2018-19 2.1+
(Source: RIL, Annual Report 2020-21)
Reliance participated in Government of India’s Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) – the nationwide campaign to address the issue of water scarcity – in 54 districts across 14 states since the launch of the campaign on 1 July 2019 to 15 September 2019. Under the JSA 1.4 lakh saplings planted in cluster locations.
Net Carbon Zero target
Holding the increase in global temperatures to 1.50C above pre-industrial levels as adopted in the Paris Agreement is no longer a choice but a necessity. Going beyond business imperatives and compliance requirements, this year, Reliance Chairman & Managing Director, Mukesh D. Ambani announced the Company’s target to turn Net Carbon Zero by 2035.
The Company considers the Net Carbon Zero target as its moral responsibility to protect the earth from the rising impact of climate change.
Environmental Action Plan
The Company has a robust governance approach to monitor, review and refine the way it manages natural capital usage. Reliance has deployed Company-wide annual environmental and sustainability action plans, which are monitored and reviewed regularly.
HSE
The Company follows a holistic Health, Safety and Environmental (HSE) policy at a Group level that defines Companywide HSE objectives and processes for plant operations to improve operational discipline and HSE performance. The Company has also designed a HSE audit programme to ensure management standards are adhered to across its operations. The company invested Rs. 592 crore on health, safety and environment (HSE) initiatives in FY 2020-21.
Reviews of environmental aspects
The Group Safety and Operation Risk team periodically monitors the quarterly review of business plans. They also conduct periodic reviews of environmental aspects, independently, at the segment and site levels. The comprehensive review mechanism covers the lifecycle of assets, across their implementation, operating and closure phases. Reliance continues to strengthen its compliance systems and processes through rigorous internal and external audits.
Reducing environmental footprint
The Company adopts a cross-business approach to reduce environmental footprint. It focuses on the areas of clean air and water, preventing soil contamination, preserving biodiversity, optimal utilisation of resources and digitisation of operations by utilising technology for direct energy savings and online collaborations for reducing travel needs. The Company’s state-of-the-art facilities and seamless adoption of technology solutions ensures sustainability of operations.
Sourcing ‘carbon-neutral oil’
The company has sourced the world’s first consignment of ‘carbon-neutral oil’ from the US. It got 2 million barrels of consignment from the Permian basin.
Investment on R&D
The Company’s investments are focused on R&D, inclusive growth and promotion of new businesses while addressing national and global priorities, including meeting environmental goals, and providing optimal returns for all stakeholders. Its R&D expenditure was Rs. 2572 Crores, used to promote clean energy and circular economy, waste plastic to road, Algae to Oil.
The company
Reliance is India’s largest private sector employer and has more than 2,30,000 employees working in different businesses. It added over 75,000 jobs to the Indian economy during the challenging year. An employer of choice, Reliance strives to offer a fair, inclusive, emotionally satisfying and professionally enabling environment to its employees. The Company’s efforts got it featured on LinkedIn’s list of Top 25 workplaces in India.
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