Sustainability - A way of life
“The need for truly sustainable options for 21st century life is one of the most critical challenges facing the global community. As time passes, it is increasingly fundamental to give back the globe that has been sustaining us for so long, what we take and keep in mind that every single thing we do daily has an impact on the planet.”
From our manufacturing processes, to the emphasis on clean energy, to sustained commitment and investment to be eco- friendly, we at
VRV are making a concerted effort towards making sustainability a conscious choice, to make sure that we do today all we can to keep the promise of a better future. We are aware that sustainability is a conscious choice of not just the
organisation, but each employee as well as our stakeholders.
When
VRV Asia Pacific was built near Chennai, India, the Management decided to ensure that sustainability had to be kept in mind every step of the way and the measures that have been taken far exceed those required as per law. The pickling booth in the facility, a concrete structure
24m long x
10m wide x
9m height, has special acid proof epoxy coated flooring, walls and ceiling . Effluent water is chemically treated to ensure that the final discharge from the effluent treatment plant is neutral so that the environment is protected from contamination. This water is used for gardening purpose. The grit blasting booth
20m x
10m x
10m high is equipped with grit recycling facility and a dust collection system comprising 5 different hoppers containing filter bags, allowing clean air to pass through a chimney into the atmosphere for environmental safety. The painting booth
20m x
10m x
10m high is equipped with state-of-the-art airless spray painting system and replaceable air filters which arrest the paint particles and allow clean air to pass through chimneys into the atmosphere. All these factors together ensure that the facility is one of the most environmentally friendly facilities manufacturing cryogenic equipment.
In Italy,
polysilicon panels have been installed to ensure that part of the power required for the manufacturing facility comes from solar power. During summer all the power required for the facility comes from these solar panels and the electricity generated in excess is sold. Up to 1.2 MW of electricity can be generated in one day from these solar panels.
Apart from these major decisions, there is an effort to make corporate responsibility and sustainability a lifestyle for
VRV employees. A lot of the paper that is used in
VRV is recycled, the
VRV balance sheet and calendars every year are printed only on recycled paper. Employees are encouraged to print less and use more electronic formats.
VRV is not lax in other fields of corporate responsibility either. In India the company contributes to the local community in various ways. The gifts that employees are given for festivals are usually sourced from local women’s groups. The company is active in tree planting initiatives and welfare for the local people. This year 14 youth from the local technical institute in Chennai have been given a chance to work with the company for 6 months and get training, in addition to which a salary is given as well. This is an effort to empower the community and contribute positively.
Corporate social responsibility and sustainability are an integral part of the strategy and vision of the Group which translates into large and small actions towards this effort every day.