Flexible Plastics and Social Responsibility

The Indian economy is growing fast.

We all expect that this will last.

For the plastics industry this bodes well.

This economic growth can propel

The industry to newer heights

Double digit growth is within your sights.

In many industries you play a role

So rapid growth is an achievable goal.

The opportunity is clearly there.

But the industry needs to take care.

Sustainability is a real threat.

All industries are beset.

Carbon emissions are too high.

For major reductions we all must try.

In every industry it is seen

That energy sources should be green.

Energy conservation’s the way to go.

Yet energy use continues to grow.

India, while at COP26

Suggested a presumptuous fix.

500 GW by 2030

Of energy that isn’t dirty!

This bold decision by our nation

Will aid us in decarbonisation.

But we will also have to make haste

In reducing plastic waste.

Most of the plastics in the trade

Regrettably don’t biodegrade.

For components that last very long

This isn’t all that bad or wrong.

But when you use and then dispose

The problem then rapidly grows.

Now plastic waste is a pain

On land and sea, it’s such a bane.

We need plastics that biodegrade

More and more are being made.

In India too, they’re on the way

A major role they will play.

For now the costs are rather high.

For local production we should try.

If we increase agricultural yield

In each and every farmers field,

Biological feed stocks can be our goal

Replacing gas, oil and coal

At a price that’s not to high.

We will succeed if we try.

We’ll soon, I hope, have at a low cost

Good plastics that we can compost

And also those that biodegrade.

A real boon for your trade.

As far as goes for the other kind

We should always bear in mind

We must recycle or reuse

Or else repurpose and reduce.

It must be clearly understood

Waste management has to be good.

The task is hard, the task is tall.

Collectively let’s take the call.

If we all collaborate

The outcome will be truly great.

On all these fronts we must strive

And if we do, we’ll surely thrive.

According to Steven Pinker

And supported by many a thinker,

The world’s becoming a better place

Though at a slow but steady pace.

And yet there are problems for sure

And climate change is at the fore.

Inequality is also dire

And maybe getting much higher.

If progress on all these is slow

The consequences are grave, we know.

Their abilities and constraints are such

That governments can't do much.

NGOs have few means but ability

And businesses have means but don't see

These issues as part of their core.

For profit is how they would score.

But businesses slowly realise

That profit is a short-term prize.

After all what do businesses gain

If they die out and don’t sustain?

But how much can they afford to spend

To ensure their existence doesn't end?

That answer's not easy to find

But a thought still comes to my mind.

If the efforts of all are combined

The synergies that we can find

Reduces costs and raises gain

And obviates inevitable pain.

There’s a capitalistic strain

That enthrones shareholder gain.

And Milton Friedman could see

That this simplistic philosophy

Could lead to great efficiency

But wherever there's externality,

This capitalism, red in tooth and claw,

Can prove to be a dismal flaw.

Correction can come from regulation

Or even from self-remediation

And Adam Smith himself foresaw

That business could address this flaw.

It should be clearly understood

One can do well by doing good.

Doing it smartly we do better

So why not be the trend setter!

In capitalism's early days we see

Social responsibility in some degree.

To dissipate the urban gloom

Both Cadbury, Lord Leverhulme

Then pioneered the company town.

Some observers would surely frown

At their extremely paternal attitude

But many might view it with gratitude.

We should remember in that age

It compensated their lowly wage.

It's time to get the Tata group

Now very much into the loop.

Because it seemed morally right

The Tata group then set its sight

 

At such a very lofty height,

For what Trade Unions had to fight

In Europe for several years

Was gifted by these worthy seers,

From the goodness of their heart.

Undoubtedly this played a part

In honing their great reputation

And then contributing to the nation.

And doing good is very sound

What goes around does come around.

Doing good isn’t just a cost

The gain outweighs all that’s lost.

My grandfather probably saw

These examples and found no flaw.

He bought faraway marshy land.

His critics just couldn't understand.

They concluded he had gone quite mad

But today we are glad, not sad.

A township then slowly arose

And this is where our business grows.

We provided every needed tool

Housing, hospital and school.

My uncle known as SPG

Way back could clearly see

The environment was under stress

Neglect he knew would be a mess.

Our creek side land was reserved

The mangroves there well preserved.

And from my office I gaze out there,

A Mumbai view that's very rare

With greenery all the way

Until you sight New Bombay.

And now and then, with friends I float

On a gently moving boat,

With pink Flamingos in full flight,

To my mind a splendid sight.

In saving tigers, he played a role.

The environment was a major goal.

And here I think that we all ought to

Pay careful heed to Michael Porter.

With Shared Value there's no cost

For doing good as nothing's lost.

All it takes is a thinking brain

To remove a societal pain

And combine it with a business gain

To create a sustainable chain

Of endless mutual benefit.

This concept is a tremendous hit.

We thought that we should also try

And see if we could apply

This philosophy to our group

Our employees also joined the loop.

In the year 2010

Studies were commissioned and then Dasra and FSG

Surveyed each company.

And Godrej Good and Green was born.

And with this program we could spawn

Substantial benefits to both

Society and business growth.

In good times this helps us thrive.

In troubled times to survive.

In the Godrej Industries Group

Sustainability is always in the loop.

 

Wherever we have a continuous operation

We use biomass cogeneration.

In fossil fuel use we’ve made a dent

Biomass will soon be 70%!

In own operations we’ve made great gains

We now focus on our supply chains.

Our own learnings have been great

If we now partner and cooperate,

Our suppliers could also learn

How to be green and still earn.

It would also be very wise

If our purchase contracts incentivise

Suppliers who happen to be green.

Steady progress will be seen

A little bit of early pain

Will ensure a long term gain!

Sustainability is at our core.

Products and packaging are at the fore.

Concentrates are one way to go

Environmental benefits steadily flow.

As there’s a good reduction in cost

Profitability isn’t lost.

Magic Hand-wash was the start.

A 7gm Sachet played its part.

In plastic reduction we succeeded

Only 10% was actually needed.

And indeed hand-wash isn’t all

On cleaners and body wash we took a call.

With refillable bottles it’s understood

The plastic savings are very good.

Label free bottles are a clever wheeze.

Recycling becomes a matter of ease.

Our plastic intensity has been reduced

Much less plastic is now used.

A different game can be played

If our plastics biodegrade.

Our Dairy business found it pays

If we replace MLP trays

With sturdy compostable packing.

Such innovations we’re constantly tracking.

Many benefits can be seen

Our waterways will be clean.

In achieving our sustainability goal

Manufacturing techniques play a role.

A higher cavitation hot runner mould

For us has proved to be pure gold.

Much less energy was used

And plastic waste was reduced.

If suppliers and users collaborate

The outcomes can be truly great.

With intelligent solutions nothing’s lost.

We can sustain and cut our cost.

Sustainability is not cost but gain

It helps you grow and to sustain.

Our Group’s future will be bright

If we always keep in sight

That our founders took a noble call

And our founding story says it all.

There was purpose, there were values.

For us this is the greatest news.

These always helped us in the past.

And they will ensure that we last.