A robust stakeholder engagement system is the foundation of Marico’s sustainability approach. Being a value-driven organisation, we have always worked toward building trust with shareholders, employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders based on the principles of good corporate governance, which are integrity, equity, Transparency, fairness, disclosure, accountability and commitment to values.
In 2011-12 Marico started its journey towards a sustainability report, and is currently putting a Sustainability Management Framework in place. This will help the company to collate sustainability information in a structured manner.
A task force comprising members from various functions in the Company's corporate office as well as manufacturing locations has been formed.
The Company has commenced capturing data for some of the environmental indicators. These include:
Marico also has systems to collect information regarding labour as required for compliance by various authorities.
Marico will initially focus on Indian business’s manufacturing plants as these locations are the most significant from sustainability risks point of view. The company will look to expand its reporting boundaries in the years to come.
Sustainability reporting initiative in Marico
Marico has been doing work in various areas related to sustainability over the past few years. There were a wide range of initiatives across energy conservation, water conservation, CSR, waste disposal apart from business initiatives involving communities such as farmers and associates.
Farmer First” Program was launched in Safflower growing Belts in June 2012 with the vision “Socially Responsible Growth by keeping Farmers as the pivot”
A series of initiatives were launched to maximize the ROI of farmers in Safflower growing areas by keeping Farmers as the central pivot. The aim was to promote Safflower as a very strong and viable alternative option in Rabi Season by adopting a win- win approach for Farmers, Marico and Society and thus arrest the Safflower area decline. Concentrated efforts were carried out in 325 villages spread across 6 states. Under the initiative 12500 saplings were distributed among the farmers free of cost for plantation, 1300 quintals certified seeds were sown over 32000 acres of land which improved farmers yield by up to 15%. A PPP model with Government of Maharashtra was worked out in Solapur and Akola districts covering 49 villages, 495 farmers, 900 hectares. This initiative has benefited (a) Farmers by increasing their yield by 20%, (b) Marico by improved Safflower buying surplus from Domestic and (3) society with a greener tomorrow.
The program is aimed at forming a cluster of coconut farms in an area without ignoring a single farmer in the designated area. Farmers then get together as a group and discuss the agriculture practices to be adopted under the help of a technical expert. Basis this, preparation of farm, fertilization, pest control, intercropping etc., were decided. Agri inputs were sourced through local cooperative societies and distributed to farmers. Marico’s Copra Collection centers in Malappuram district partnered actively with the Coconut Development Board for the rollout and execution of the program in which, the center uses its reach to farmers to form clusters to avail the benefit of the above program from Govt. of India.
The cluster program has come as a big revival for coconut farmers in the area. The scientific farming practiced by a group of farmers started showing big improvement in coconut crop. Further, planting intercrop basis soil condition started giving additional income from the same farms. Collective initiatives in getting labour force, technical hands in using pesticides etc., has given a new boost to the farming culture in the area.
Through the cluster program, Marico has coordinated for productivity improvement initiatives in 61 coconut clusters involving 7982 farmers covering 1737 Ha. of coconut gardens. The 2 years intensive productivity improvement program by scientific fertilization, inter-cropping and pest control has given a yield improvement close to 20% in coconut gardens covering over 3 Lakh coconut palms. The program has benefitted (a) Farmers by increasing their income by 20% and (b) Marico by improving its productivity by 20%.
Member Wellbeing has a direct impact on the Member Engagement with the organization. Marico gives importance to the overall wellbeing of a member and offers workshops and seminars in the areas of emotional, financial, health and community wellbeing. This year, Financial Planning workshops were conducted across the organization to educate and create awareness amongst members on how they can achieve higher financial security. Conducted by an expert in financial planning, the workshop covered the topics of Understanding one’s life phase and Pillars of financial planning- Accumulation, Preservation, Protection, Distribution.
In the area of Health Wellbeing, Marico participated in the Stepathlon, a unique, pedometer-based, mass participation event which takes place over 100 consecutive days. It encourages participants to take 10,000 steps a day to remain fit. A total of 35 members from across Mumbai participated in this event.
In the area of Community Wellbeing, Marico participated in the Joy of Giving Week, an initiative that promotes giving. During the Joy of Giving Week, the ‘Member Volunteering Opportunities’ initiative was launched, as a prototype in Mumbai. Through this initiative, members are offered a platform to offer their expertise to a not for profit organization. One our member has successfully completed content creation for the annual report for Maharashtra Dyslexia Association while other projects are currently ongoing. Marico also offers counseling services through an expert counseling agency. Members can avail counseling for themselves as well as their immediate family.
Assistance was provided to neighbouring communities through various health and education programs, help to underprivileged and deprived children and support to differently abled & Destitutes.
A unique project Pratyek Themb Mahatwacha - Each drop counts was undertaken in Jalgaon to educate the school children, their parents, and teachers and society in general about the importance of water conservation. 5000 plus students were connected directly across 8 major schools and 10000 booklets on water conservation were printed and distributed to many schools around Jalgaon rural areas.
Several Initiatives were taken to reduce GHG emission in Kanzikode, Dehradun and Baddi. Rain water harvesting and tree plantation activity were undertaken at Paonta Sahib. Reduction in Power consumption was reported in in Kanzikode, Paonta Sahib, Dehradun, Baddi and Pondicherry through various initiatives.
