Our comprehensive stakeholder engagement program facilitates a good understanding of the Company's key thrust areas from stakeholders' perspective. We constantly evaluate the sustainability considerations across our product life cycle and strive to reduce Green House Gas emissions, improve energy efficiency, adopt sustainable procurement practices, and employ renewable energy sources while reducing waste generation in our operations.

Sustainability focus

We have formalised focus areas under the themes of Climate Change, Resource Optimisation, and Corporate Citizenship. At present, we are implementing projects in the realm of energy efficiency, renewable energy, water positivity, recycling and reuse of materials, sustainable procurement, societal wellbeing, skill development & employability, education of underprivileged children and creating sustainability awareness. A tracking mechanism for sustainability performance is developed and review system is being established. The FY17 measurements will be used for setting up long-term Sustainability Goals at Marico.

1. Sustainable Procurement

Sustainable supply assurance is at the heart of Marico's Procurement Excellence Framework. As a part of our business initiatives, we have been able to forge strong and long-lasting relationships with farmers under the 'Farmer First' program.

3. Collaboration with Coconut board of India:Marico's Copra collection centre in Malappuram district partnered actively with the Coconut Development Board for rollout and execution of the CPS (Coconut Producer's Society) program. As a part of the program, the collection centre will be leveraging its reach to the farmers to form clusters in order to avail benefits from the Government of India. This initiative has brought about a transformation in the lives of coconut farmers in that area. Overall, 110 clusters were formed from FY08 to FY14 and 121 CPS were formed in FY15 to FY16. These efforts influenced the lives of 7,700 farmers covering more than 6,700 acres.

3. PPP Programs with Government of Maharashtra
   Public-Private partnership programs with state agriculture departments are undertaken in order to help Government drive agenda of welfare and income maximisation of farmers. Depending on the program, Marico pledges either free inputs in the form of effective seeds or gives a buying guarantee to the participating farmers.
4. Experiment/Demonstration Plots & Field days
   Marico regularly organises experiment/demonstration plots to showcase the effectiveness of new technology to farmers in adjoining areas. These plots help us in screening any new technology on the basis of their on-field results. Marico's agri-extension team recommends new practice to farmers only if it works in our experiment plots.
   
   For instance, this year we did experiment plots with Biostat (a soil amendment technique). Application of this technique increases yield by improving the capacity of soil to retain nutrients. We were able to observe yield increase to the tune of 66% on aggregate levels.

2. Efficient Manufacturing

Optimising the resource consumption and improving operational efficiency has always been a priority for all our manufacturing locations. Most of our manufacturing locations are certified as per ISO:14001 Environment Management System. Our largest manufacturing plant in Baddi has been certified as per ISO: 50001 Energy Management System.

3. Green Building

Our corporate office in Mumbai is a Green Building certified by USGBC (LEED Certification for Commercial Interiors). In order to achieve this certification we have taken up several energy and water conservation projects and have demonstrated efficient use of resources. We have recently completed an important project on 'Reduction of Illumination energy reduction' as a result of which, it is expected that we will be able to better our credentials and achieve further reductions in energy consumption. We have also rolled out projects for water free Urinals and recycling of waste water which has brought down fresh water demand considerably. The LEED Certification given by USGBC is a testimonial to the efforts taken in this direction.

4. Care for Communities

1. Marico Innovation Foundation
   Marico Innovation Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation working towards the cause of innovation since 2003. The Foundation creates impact through its four core programs:
1. MIF Scale-up program works closely with innovative social organisations, which are driven to achieve large-scale impact. Our network of domain experts, CXOs, B-Schools and like-minded corporates consult organisations on their scale-up. We diagnose the challenges, implement prototype solutions and integrate successful solutions into the business offering of the organisation.
2. MIF Innovation Awards celebrate the most breakthrough Indian innovations that hold the potential to have a large-scale impact. 49 breakthrough innovations have been recognised over the last 12 years.
3. India Innovates: A video series that showcases some of the most amazing innovations of India that are truly transforming lives, communities, businesses and more
4. hack2incubate: A platform created and designed to inspire innovations and incubate them into successful businesses
2. Education for all
   Marico launched programs called 'Chotte Kadam Pragati Ke Aur' (Small Steps to progress), 'Going to school' to support the education of underprivileged children under the age group of 6 - 18 years in India. Under this program, projects were undertaken with a prime focus of mobilisation and retention of children in the schools. Last year, education strategy was built on three core pillars to a drive combined brand and social impact:

3. Saffola World Heart Day

Saffola's vision is to create a Heart Healthy India! Through its not for profit initiative Saffolalife, it is on a mission to make people realise the need and importance of heart health by educating them on early markers of heart health & enable them to start on this journey in a manner that is simple, effective yet measurable.

Over the years, Saffola has reached out to Millions across the country via large-scale mass media awareness programs, helped over 2,00,000 people over 90 cities with diagnostic check-ups, dietician services, 'Heart Age Finder' tool.

In 2014, Saffola undertook the task of driving awareness of Women's Heart Health. In 2015, the brand stayed committed to the cause of Women's Heart Health through its campaign 'Protect her Heart'. Saffolalife launched one of its kind– Heart Fitness Test that helps people assess their Heart Health basis their Fitness Parameters. Over 46,000 Heart Fitness Tests have been taken till date.

4. Nihar Shanti Amla Mobile pathshala

The Mobile Pathshala (Mobile School) program was designed to aid schooling in deep rural pockets especially for 4 - 8 year old children. It was based on principals like 'Teach by Principles rather than linear directions', 'Mnemonic devices aid retention' and 'Paint a picture with words'. Overall, 15.82 Lac user registered till date.

5. Marico Bangladesh- Dhaka Ahsania Mission Children Learning Center project

As part of our continued efforts to create a positive lasting impact on society, Marico Bangladesh formed a partnership with Dhaka Ahsania Mission (DAM) to bring the light of education to underprivileged communities. Through this partnership, free access to quality education is being provided to out-of-school children who unfortunately had to drop out of mainstream schooling due to life's hardships.

The partnership has so far provided education to over 3,000 out of school children in the Melandah Upazila of Jamalpur district, which has historically suffered from very low literacy rate. The team has established and today operates 75 Children Learning Centers comprising 75 teachers selected and trained exclusively.

Based on the unique model of community mobilisation, multi-grade teaching- the project is witnessing great participation from teachers, parents and the community at large. While the parents are applauding this initiative, teachers are enjoying working at CLCs, students are making most of the learning experience

6. HERCULES Smart School Campaign – South Africa

Marico South Africa launched the HERCULES Hygiene and First Aid Awareness Campaign in 2015. HERCULES reached out to 50 schools in 2 townships within major metropolitan areas. The primary objective was not only to create brand awareness, promoting early engagement with the brand but to also educate and empower school learners in previously disadvantaged communities on health and wellbeing. It was a huge opportunity for Marico South Africa to give back to the community by supplying these schools with muchneeded materials and supplies such as educational posters, leaflets, frisbees and water bottles (to encourage a healthy lifestyle). A significant contribution to these schools was the donation and installation of a fully stocked, metal branded first aid kit, which was placed in strategic areas within the premises (i.e the sick room, office area and sports areas).