In the lead-up to turning carbon neutral in accordance with PAS 2060 standards, Infosys has leveraged renewables, orchestrated energy efficiencies, and driven unique fully-funded community-based carbon offset projects.
With ESG being a vital aspect of operations since its inception, Infosys has in recent years reduced its per capita electricity consumption by over 55%, with the ambition to transition to renewable energy.
In 2020, over 44% of Infosys’ electricity consumption was met through renewable energy sources, and an investment was made in 60MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity.
N. R. Narayana Murthy, founder of Infosys, said, “Longevity and success for a company comes from living in harmony with the context in which it operates. Right from the first day, Infosys has recognised and fulfilled its responsibilities towards overcoming the challenges in our context.
“It has also taken on new responsibilities like reducing carbon emission, improving air quality, optimally using water and solar power. The Infosys Foundation has helped the poor by addressing their needs in education, healthcare, nutrition and shelter as well as providing shoulder to the efforts of our governments during times of disaster.
“Today, nearly four decades after embracing these values, I am happy that Infosys continues to strive hard for these values to make our context better.”
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Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and chairman of Infosys, commented: “Infosys has always balanced success as a business with unwavering focus on exemplary governance and responsiveness to the needs of the ecology and society.
“As an early proponent of responsible business, we understand our obligation to integrate ESG factors into what we do, which is only increasing in importance particularly in the wake of Covid-19. Our company began to take action to combat climate change in 2008, and I am delighted to announce Infosys’ carbon neutrality in 2020.
“Today, our 2030 vision reflects how ESG will continue to be integral to Infosys’ sustainable business performance.”
Future ESG goals
ESG goals going forward include eliminating 75% of scope 1 and scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, and further strengthen data privacy and information security standards across global operations.
In addition, Infosys are looking to nurture an inclusive and gender-diverse workforce and board, with at least 45% female employees, and expand reskilling initiatives to empower over 10 million people with digital skills.
The latter of these goals has been aided by Infosys’ learning platform, InfyTQ, which has seen over 700,000 students from India’s engineering colleges advance their digital skills.
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The ESG pledge from Infosys, the first Indian signatory to the RE100 campaign, is part of the IT consultancy’s long-standing commitments focused across core areas:
- climate change;
- tech for good;
- diversity and inclusion;
- energising local communities;
- ethics and transparency;
- data privacy;
- information management.
“As a progressive business committed to the well-being of stakeholders, Infosys is incredibly proud of the investments its founders have made to make the business truly sustainable and socially responsible,” commented Salil Parekh, chief executive officer of Infosys.
“The company’s ESG roadmap for 2030 reflects its continued aspiration to be a well-governed model organisation for diverse talent with an inclusive workplace and community strategies to leverage technology for good.”
