Ahead of World Environment Day on June 5, Infosys has taken a pledge to make its campuses non-recyclable plastics-free by 2020. The company also pledged to reduce the per capita generation of plastic waste by 50% in the same year. This move is a part of its continued effort to conserve the environment and encourage sustainable development.
As part of the commitment, Infosys aims to replace PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) water bottles, plastic carry bags, food sachets, toiletries, garbage bin liners and business card holders among other plastic items used at its campuses with environment-friendly materials.
Three days back, Infosys, along with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), celebrated World Environment Day at its Hyderabad SEZ campus in Pocharam, focusing on the 2018 theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
The World Environment Day celebration at Infosys was graced by KT Rama Rao, Minister for IT, Electronics and Communications, in the Government of Telangana; Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment; Pravin Rao, Chief Operating Officer, Infosys; Atul Bagai, Head of Country Office, UNEP India and Almitra Patel, Member of Supreme Court committee for solid waste management.
At the event, Pravin Rao elaborated on how Infosys is pioneering environmentally sustainable campuses.
“As a responsible global corporation that is passionate about sustainable development, we take this opportunity to align with global sustainability efforts in combatting the issue of excessive use of non-recyclable plastic products. On this World Environment Day, we pledge to make our campuses a plastic-free environment, a clear reiteration of our commitment to environmental conservation,” said Pravin Rao.
This was followed by addresses from Erik Solheim who spoke about UNEP and the significance of World Environment Day. Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao highlighted the environmental initiatives undertaken by the state of Telangana, and Almitra Patel also shared her perspective on efforts to combat the growing problems of waste disposal in landfills. This was followed by a panel discussion on how information technology can drive sustainability.
“Infosys is the perfect example of how sustainability and profitability go hand in hand. The company is not only a green business leader for India, but also for the world. It’s raising the bar on energy efficiency, green buildings, clean power and building an operating culture that has embraced thinking big on environmental targets,” said Erik Solheim, Head of UN Environment. He added, “Infosys is an example of the kind of ambition and action we need.”