Maruti Suzuki increases focus on CSR, unveils sixth Sustainability Report

Maruti Suzuki today unveiled the sixth edition of the Sustainability Report, which presents extensive economic, social and environmental performance of Maruti Suzuki for 2013-14. The report has been prepared as per the latest GRI G4 guidelines and has been externally assured.

Adopting the theme, ‘Making it Matter’, the report outlines the carmaker’s focus of taking action in the social, environment and economic sphere that makes a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of its stakeholders. Maruti says it is committed to set new benchmarks and build excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as in all areas of business.

Highlighting key focus areas, R C Bhargava, chairman, in his address said, “Our CSR activities will be primarily in the areas of village development, skill development and road safety. The village development will include construction of household toilets to prevent open defecation, upgrading government schools, separate toilets for girl students, upgradation of sanitation and water facilities in villages.”

He added, “The company will focus on skill development initiatives to make students from Industrial Training Institutes (ITI) industry ready. Under the Road Safety programme, we intend to create capacity for training drivers in large numbers, train the trainer and partner with government to make select towns model from road safety point of view. We are also working on a scholarship scheme to support students orphaned due to road accidents.”

The key focus areas of the Company’s CSR direction have resonance with the national goals like skill development, school upgradation (especially toilets for girls) and road safety.

The sixth Sustainability report highlights important company initiatives to bring down stress on natural resources. To name a few, Maruti has been able to bring down its energy costs by over 5 percent. The company installed a 1MW photovoltaic solar power plant at the Manesar facility during the fiscal. All manufacturing sites have a zero waste water status. Over 48 percent of water requirement at the plants is met through recycled water. In a conscious effort, since 2010, Maruti sends all hazardous waste to cement industry for co-processing. This has eliminated the need for creating landfills for hazardous waste. The report also covers the company’s focus on environment friendly cards and green supply chain and the initiatives in greening its supply chain include ISO 14001 certification for Tier 1 suppliers and the implementation of Green Procurement Policy.

In a forward looking initiative, in the sixth edition, Maruti Suzuki has adopted the GRI G4 reporting framework, which is the most updated GRI framework for sustainability reporting, being practiced by several developed countries.