ABB India has announced that its Peenya campus in Bengaluru has achieved water positive certification from the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) Council. This milestone means that three out of its six manufacturing locations are now classified as ‘water positive’. The Peenya campus boasts a water positivity index of 1.05, demonstrating its commitment to replenishing a greater quantity of water for the environment than it withdraws for its manufacturing operations.
Previously, the Nelamangala campus and Nashik Plant had also received the ‘water positive’ certification from the GRIHA Council, in collaboration with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI). Rather than simply replacing the amount of water taken from the environment, ABB India has implemented a systematic approach towards achieving ‘Water Positivity’, aiming to replenish more water than it consumes at these locations.
This approach includes various initiatives such as rainwater harvesting and recharge, reducing the use of freshwater, water recycling, and real-time monitoring of water consumption, recharge, and savings. At the Peenya unit, there are currently 5 cross-wave technology-based recharge tanks and 1 conventional recharge well to capture runoff and recharge the groundwater table. Furthermore, the installation of water-efficient fixtures and fittings has reduced freshwater consumption for domestic purposes.
Additionally, domestic wastewater generated on-site is treated through an in-house sewage treatment plant (STP) and recycled for gardening using efficient water sprinklers and a drip-based irrigation system, resulting in a 12% increase in water recyclability compared to the previous year. The water positive index demonstrates ABB India’s increased reliance on secondary water sources, such as treated wastewater and rainwater, and reduced dependence on groundwater for its manufacturing facilities.
Sanjeev Sharma, Country Head and Managing Director of ABB India, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating that “sustainability in practice” is central to their operations. He highlighted the importance of water conservation, stating that achieving water positivity at 50 percent of their manufacturing sites is a significant milestone in their resource preservation journey. ABB India’s water management efforts have been endorsed by esteemed external organizations like the GRIHA Council, TERI, and IGBC.
These efforts focus on various aspects such as water monitoring systems, rainwater harvesting, water reduction initiatives, and wastewater treatment and recycling. For example, the ABB Peenya campus has reduced its freshwater demand by 22 percent compared to the previous year through conservation initiatives. All of ABB’s owned manufacturing facilities in India have been awarded the Green Factory Building rating by the IGBC. Furthermore, the company has achieved an 87.8% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions compared to its 2019 baseline, fulfilling its RE100 commitment and implementing various energy efficiency measures.
ABB stands at the forefront of technological advancement in electrification and automation, paving the way for a sustainable and efficient future. Through its innovative solutions, the company merges engineering expertise with cutting-edge software to enhance the manufacturing, transportation, energy, and operational sectors. With a rich history spanning over 140 years, ABB boasts a workforce of over 105,000 dedicated employees who are steadfast in their mission to propel industrial evolution through groundbreaking innovations.
