Imagine tiny eco-friendly cafes built specifically for bees and other pollinators! This vision comes to life in the bustling urban sprawl of Bengaluru, where a quiet yet impactful initiative—the Insect Café project—has taken root. Nestled amidst the lush botanical gardens, EY Global Delivery Services (GDS) is taking significant strides in fostering biodiversity and championing sustainability. A collaboration with Bhumi and Vibhinna India Foundation, the Insect Café project epitomizes EY GDS's commitment to environmental stewardship. These eco-friendly structures, crafted from upcycled materials, provide safe havens for pollinators crucial to our ecosystem's balance.
In an inspiring interview with TheCSRUniverse, Ms. Rumi Mallick Mitra, Director of Corporate Responsibility at EY GDS, delves into the broader vision of their sustainability efforts. From reducing carbon footprints and achieving net-zero emissions to engaging employees in meaningful environmental actions, she shares insights on how EY GDS is leading the charge in operational sustainability. The Insect Café project is just one example of their innovative approach. She also discusses their initiatives in waste management, employee engagement, community outreach, and broader environmental and social impact projects that align with their global sustainability goals.
Join us as we explore how EY GDS is not only making a difference in the corporate world but also driving significant positive change for our planet.
Q&A
Q. Why is sustainability important to EY GDS, and what are its top priorities in operational sustainability and environmental action?
A. Climate change is one of the defining issues of our time, demanding urgent action to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as outlined in the Paris Agreement.
At EY, sustainability is central to our operations, and we are committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions through responsible business practices.
Our corporate responsibility focuses on environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and robust governance. We strive to reduce our carbon footprint, foster an inclusive culture, and promote sustainability through EY services, workplace practices, and community engagement. These efforts help enable sustainable growth and value creation for all stakeholders while upholding ethical practices globally.
The EY organization has adopted the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for absolute carbon emission reductions. We prioritize reducing emissions from office energy consumption, transportation, and purchased goods and services. Also, EY GDS is focused on achieving zero waste to landfills and managing office waste. Our dedicated portal regularly updates performance data, goals, and progress, helping ensure accountability and transparency.
Our EY Ripples program aligns corporate responsibility with environmental action, supporting adaptation to climate change and sustainable development. EY GDS supports initiatives in environmentally vulnerable areas, including afforestation, urban greening, water management, and promoting ecosystem diversity.
The EY organization has a broad approach to corporate responsibility, leveraging our talent to support NGOs and non-profits for long-term social and environmental value. Our sustainability and social impact actions are complemented by significant skills volunteering from professionals , reinforcing our commitment to positive change.
Q. How does the Insect Café project align with EY GDS's broader mission and vision, particularly in supporting biodiversity conservation and addressing the decline of insect populations within the context of global climate change initiatives?
A. EY Corporate Responsibility focuses on three key areas: supporting the next generation with skills (SNG), growing impact entrepreneurs (WIE), and helping accelerate environmental sustainability (AES). Within the AES theme, we drive impact through business models, technologies, and behaviours that protect and regenerate the environment while unlocking economic opportunities. We aim to support people to make sustainable choices and engage in activities that positively impact the planet.
Our community projects emphasize natural resource management, including conservation and preservation in environmentally vulnerable zones like the Himalayas, afforestation in deforested areas, and protection of forest-dependent communities, such as those in the Simlipal area of Orissa. We also work to strengthen wetland ecosystems, including the mangroves in the Sundarbans of West Bengal, Gujarat, and coastal Tamil Nadu. This year alone, we have supported the planting of over 150,000 trees in India, benefiting more than 50,000 community members.
One innovative project we have undertaken is the creation of insect cafés to nurture pollinators, which are crucial for maintaining the food chain and ensuring food security. These cafés support bee and pollinator populations, which are threatened by land-based economic activities and human settlement growth.
We believe that visible environmental actions can inspire broader change. Raising awareness about climate change and initiating behavioral change are more effective when people see tangible actions being taken.
Q. What specific actions has EY GDS taken to reduce carbon emissions, promote sustainability in waste and paper management, and engage its employees in these efforts?
A. GDS has significantly reduced carbon emissions and promoted sustainability by transitioning to a hybrid work environment, incorporating electric vehicles into the fleet, helping implement energy-efficiency measures, and using renewable energy. We have also cut non-client-related air travel, reducing carbon emissions equivalent to removing ~3,500 fuel-based cars from the road annually.
Our zero-waste-to-landfill goal prioritizes waste reduction at the source and tracks all waste disposal methods. We use recycled paper, default to double-sided printing, and track print usage.
Additionally, we have switched to reusable cups, significantly cutting paper waste. Communication strategies promote these sustainable practices.
Q. Beyond the mentioned initiatives, could you share additional CSR and ESG projects EY GDS is involved in and explain how they align with the company's values and objectives?
A. As we continue to evolve into a global skilled workforce company, we aim to complement this growth with true value creation through community actions that reinforce our core values and purpose. Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities have become priorities for many organizations, and we embrace societal change and sustainable development as roadmaps to long-term success.
Our Responsible Business practices go beyond reducing our carbon footprint; they also involve helping EY professionals to participate in sustainability actions. We enrich employees’ experiences and foster a strong culture, bringing our people and communities together and helping accelerate our transition to a purpose-driven organization. While orienting current and new employees on the importance of giving back is the first step, we strive to keep community service at the forefront of our employees’ minds.
We have equipped EY people with knowledge about sustainability and climate change through in-house learning portals. Nearly 10,000 professionals have completed sustainability training this year, and over 15,000 have participated in volunteering programs aligned with our environmental initiatives in communities worldwide.
Recognizing that the future of jobs is green, we engage youth through our EY Green Skills Passport program. Designed for youth aged 16+ who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), this program offers an introduction to sustainability, green jobs, and employment skills. In India alone, 50,000 participants are developing skills for employment and building confidence to enter or re-enter the workforce.
Green skills learning is now imperative. EY GDS adopts an ecosystem approach to green skills through our Corporate Responsibility programs, integrating climate education and sustainable development into school, vocational, and college education. We support communities, NGOs, impact entrepreneurs, and academic institutions in growing knowledge and capacity for transitioning to a green economy and adapting to climate change.
Q. Can you provide examples of EY GDS's community engagement activities and partnerships aimed at driving social impact and addressing societal challenges?
A. In recent years, the emphasis on preparing the upcoming workforce has grown, focusing on nurturing distinctly human attributes like self-reliance, complex problem-solving, and critical thinking, alongside financial, entrepreneurial, and innovation skills. EY GDS’s ‘Skilling the Next Generation’ initiative aims to build the skills and talent essential for sustainable development now and in the future.
For instance, the EY SkillBridge program supports youth, especially young girls in government schools, with 21st-century skills that help them anchor their aspirations and carve successful career paths.
To foster innovation and scientific temperament among young girls, the EY organization introduced the EY STEM program to over 10,000 girls in Indian schools. This program raises awareness of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and cultivates essential skills like design thinking and innovative problem-solving for real-world issues.
The GDS India Nextgen Employability Initiative Student Development Program upskills over 5,000 college students and 2,500 faculty members in Tier II and Tier III cities with data analytics and cloud computing skills, helping empower and accelerate youth employment in the digital economy.
Non-profits engaged in social impact missions often face challenges in upskilling their staff and running operations efficiently due to limited budgets and a shortage of skilled personnel. To address this, EY Global Delivery Services launched capacity-building programs along with leading Indian social aggregators.
EY GDS conducts year-round workshops for social impact organizations on topics such as project management, monitoring and evaluation, organizational development, human resource management, and technology tools, ensuring NGOs stay proficient and continue driving sustainable social impact.
Q. What advice and message would you share with others in the social sector about fostering collaboration and addressing gaps to promote environmental sustainability and social change
A. Collaboration, especially with multiple stakeholders, are essential for long-term value creation. Climate change and environmental issues intersect with health, agriculture, and community livelihoods, requiring diverse skill sets to address. Collaboration brings this experience together, helping in the identification of urgent issues and strategic interventions.
Organizations must move beyond bilateral to multilateral partnerships in ideating, designing, and executing impact programs. The social and CSR sectors should re-evaluate program priorities to include environmental objectives, integrating these into ongoing initiatives like education, skills development, and community projects.
It's also crucial to take risks. While environmental outcomes may take longer to manifest, research-based interventions and long-term funding commitments can effectively address critical issues. This approach helps in enabling sustained impact and meaningful progress in tackling today's most pressing environmental challenges.
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