ABB India has received Gold-level certification under the internationally recognised Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard for its manufacturing campus at Nelamangala in Bengaluru Rural. The recognition marks a major milestone in the company’s sustainability journey and supports India’s efforts to promote responsible industrial water use and long-term water security.
With this achievement, ABB becomes only the fourth company in India—and the first in the automotive, electrical equipment and machinery manufacturing sector—to meet the stringent AWS requirements. The certification reflects strong alignment with India’s National Water Policy and reinforces national goals to improve industrial water efficiency, reduce groundwater dependence and balance manufacturing growth with responsible freshwater management.
The certification process involved detailed consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including suppliers, non-governmental organisations, local communities, neighbouring industries, regulatory authorities and sustainability groups. These interactions helped assess shared water challenges, validate initiatives on the ground and ensure that site-level actions addressed local priorities within the wider catchment area.
Spread across nearly 56,000 square metres, ABB’s Nelamangala campus employs more than 1,800 people across several divisions. The AWS recognition confirms that the facility meets global benchmarks in water governance, sustainable water balance, water quality management and shared catchment impact. According to studies by The Energy and Resources Institute, industry currently accounts for about 8–10 percent of India’s freshwater withdrawals, with demand projected to grow significantly by 2050. ABB’s initiatives demonstrate how advanced manufacturing can operate while conserving water resources and supporting surrounding communities.
Among the site’s achievements, water replenishment now exceeds consumption by nearly 1.25 times, about 85 percent of treated water is reused within operations, and rainwater harvesting systems can capture more than 200 million litres annually. The company has also worked with 44 suppliers in the catchment area to share water-management practices, encouraging similar initiatives across the supply chain.
“Responsible water management must benefit both industry and communities,” said Saju SR, Senior Vice President, Smart Power Division at ABB India. “Our work at Nelamangala shows that manufacturing growth can move forward while reducing dependence on freshwater and strengthening local water resilience.”
Beyond its campus, ABB has partnered with Third Planet Foundation to implement groundwater recharge programmes across 70 villages in Nelamangala, supporting agriculture and community water needs. Together, these initiatives position ABB India’s Nelamangala site as a scalable example of collaborative and responsible industrial water stewardship.
ABB is a global leader in electrification and automation technologies, enabling a smarter, more sustainable, and resource-efficient future. Leveraging over 140 years of innovation and the expertise of around 110,000 employees worldwide, ABB empowers industries to operate with greater efficiency, productivity, and environmental responsibility — truly “Engineered to Outrun.”
