Sector Update | 21 December 2017
Sustainability
NEW MANTRA OF INTEGRATED INVESTING
Our previous report
on Sustainability
India Inc. gearing up for a more constructive approach
We attended a conference on 'Strategic CSR and Sustainability Summit 2017,' which saw
participation of representatives of large corporate houses like Reliance ADA Group, Tata
Power, JSW Group, UPL, Idea Cellular and IDFC Group. The event not only proved highly
insightful in that a rich blend of sustainability and CRS perspectives were offered, but it
also served as a much-needed reminder that while India Inc. is moving progressively to
adopt sustainability in corporate culture, a lot still needs to be done to achieve the
desirable results. Key highlights of our conference discussions:
India moving progressively on adopting sustainability
Movement toward sustainability has gained traction in India over the last three
years after the government introduced a law that requires companies to plough
back at least 2% of their net profit on CSR initiatives for the betterment of the
society.
Company board meetings now not only focus on growth, but also sustainability
and CSR initiatives. Notably, sustainability is gradually becoming part of the
business DNA – core to how and why business exists.
Interestingly, corporates have also started acknowledging the benefits that CSR
brings along with it. Globally, efforts made to achieve only four of the stated
sustainability development goals (SGDs) could open up economic opportunity
worth at least USD12t by 2030.
Sustainability reporting is gradually becoming a mainstream among corporates
over the last few years. In the long term, this should help to create
accountability, ensure activity benchmarking and make goals time-bound.
However, this remains a work-in-progress in India – the concept of materiality
and disclosure standards varies among corporates, even among those operating
in the same industry.
Youth are increasing becoming part of the CSR departments in companies.
What’s on sustainability agenda today?
A lot of emphasis is being placed on community development and opportunity
creation to uplift the weaker sections of the society. Education, primitive
healthcare, sanitation, job creation and promoting entrepreneurial capabilities
for youth are the key focus areas.
Banks are employing technology to reach remote places, where people have
little or no access to basic banking.
Corporates have started realising that climate change is not only real but
already at hand. Renewable and alternative sources of energy are becoming the
focus areas. More ways to drive energy efficiency are being explored.
Sandeep Gupta – Research analyst
(S.Gupta@MotilalOswal.com); +91 22 3982 5544
Lopa Thakkar
–
Research analyst
(Lopa.Thakkar@MotilalOswal.com); +9122 3027 8029
Motilal Oswal research is available on www.motilaloswal.com/Institutional-Equities, Bloomberg, Thomson Reuters, Factset and S&P Capital.
Investors are advised to refer through important disclosures made at the last page of the Research Report.
8 August 2016
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