OPINION

Sustainability - An Important Core Value

We are evolving from being takers to givers

AMITABH RAI CLUSTER GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE WESTIN HYDERABAD MINDSPACE AND HYDERABAD MARKET FOR MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL

Ibelieve that the global environmental change mitigation, has pivoted from being a distant concern to a priority responsibility for organisations in the previous few years. Organisations have owned goals and adapted programs that have far-reaching impact and rightfully so. As a business leader in a company that races to the goal of becoming net-zero, I take the sustainability commitment very seriously. As a citizen of the world, I am truly grateful that through the initiatives, I am contributing to the global cause that needs urgent attention. As a revenue generator, I realise the cost benefits in utilities by being 100 per cent green powered. When I communicate the sustainable living upgrades to my guests and stakeholders, I feel that I am a part of a collective responsibility. As a father, it is as simple as making a difference striving towards a cleaner environment for my children. The benefits are manifold. Organisations are driven to a positive and sustainable impact wherever they do business, and this rigorous climate commitment to reach net-zero emissions is a needed step to do our part to help the communities and environments where we live, work and visit remain resilient and vibrant. If one delves into the power of this movement towards sustainability, it originates from an awareness of treading gently and with genuine care. And, that has been our culture for eons, learnt from the scriptures, to be mindful of our actions, to live simply, to be grateful for what we have and most importantly to give more than we take. In all aspects, we must take responsibility for the reckless plunder of nature and its resources.

Sometimes, one questions if they can make a difference to something so much bigger than them. I have learnt that you can because every small step counts. It has only been a few months for me at The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace, and we are the first and only hotel in Hyderabad to be 100 per cent green powered. We launched our electric vehicle charging station a couple of months ago. These and many other initiatives create pockets of responsible change that are all adding up. In 2018, in my previous assignment, I spearheaded sustainability initiatives such as the eradication of single-use plastic with an on-site bottling plant, local and responsible sourcing of ingredients to reduce the carbon footprint, being powered with 100 per cent renewable energy resources to water harvesting.

It is fascinating to learn that our guests, who lead organisations across sectors, truly appreciate these initiatives and are grateful for the opportunity to indulge in living sustainably with us. We are their preferred choice because we are adopting sustainability upgrades in every department. Moreover, there is a very strong correlation between investing in sustainability and the cost savings that flows through in time.

Hence, sustainability is the most powerful resource in business today. Investing and implementing initiatives that use renewable energy and are eco-friendly, and reducing dependence on non-green sources enable benefits that are far-reaching even in terms of return of investment. The impact that these initiatives have on minimizing the carbon footprint and climatic change is very important to account for as a collective global responsibility. I believe the world has been converging, with technology but more importantly through a powerful united wave of thoughtprocesses that wants to contribute to the larger good. We are evolving from being takers to givers. Imagine your body where you are not depleting its resources recklessly, but are investing in its well-being and longevity. Imagine your home, where you engage in a responsible lifestyle, reduce wastage and adapt nurturing choices. Now, imagine a world, where you are responsible for climate-change mitigation and environmental sustainability. BTI

Investing and implementing initiatives that use renewable energy and are eco-friendly, and reducing dependence on non-green sources enable benefits that are farreaching