Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) marked World Environment Day by announcing a significant sustainability achievement: 12 of its crucial ports have been awarded the coveted Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) certification. This landmark accomplishment unequivocally underscores APSEZ’s unwavering commitment to embedding sustainable practices throughout its extensive operational footprint and signifies a major advancement in India’s journey towards cleaner, greener industrial infrastructure.
This notable initiative by APSEZ exemplifies a proactive and comprehensive approach to managing various waste streams, with a clear objective of drastically minimising contributions to overflowing landfills. Over the past year alone, the flagship company of the Adani Group has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in its waste management efforts, successfully recycling, reusing, or repurposing nearly 300 tonnes of plastic waste. To contextualise this considerable volume, it is equivalent to the immense weight of approximately 100 elephants, a stark illustration of the scale of their impact on plastic pollution, a critical environmental challenge for India and the world.
As a core component of its broader sustainability roadmap, APSEZ has articulated an ambitious target of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2040. This bold commitment is underpinned by tangible investments already made in renewable energy; the company has commissioned a significant 225 MW of renewable energy capacity, reinforcing its dedication to clean energy transition and proactive climate action. Such robust decarbonisation strategies are essential for port operations, which are traditionally energy-intensive, and are crucial for fostering zero-net carbon cities.
In parallel with its emission reduction targets, APSEZ is deeply committed to implementing nature-based solutions for climate mitigation. The company has showcased impressive results in this domain, successfully reforesting a vast 4,240 hectares of mangroves and actively conserving an additional 2,915 hectares. These vital coastal ecosystems serve as powerful natural carbon sinks, absorbing atmospheric carbon dioxide, and simultaneously provide crucial safeguards for local communities against the escalating threats of extreme weather events, thereby enhancing coastal resilience and biodiversity.
APSEZ’s extensive efforts have not gone unnoticed on the international stage, garnering significant recognition from leading global sustainability assessments. For the second consecutive year, APSEZ has secured the top position in the Environment dimension in the prestigious 2024 S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), a testament to its industry-leading environmental performance. Furthermore, in the overall ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating, the company distinguished itself by ranking among the top 10 global transportation and infrastructure firms. Achieving a score of 68 out of 100, a three-point improvement from the preceding year, placed APSEZ in the remarkable 97th percentile of its sector, highlighting its comprehensive ESG leadership.
Further international commendation arrived from CDP, which awarded APSEZ an impressive “A-” rating in both climate change and water security assessments for 2024. Significantly, this marks the company’s inaugural entry into the leadership band for water security, underscoring its integrated approach to resource management. Sustainalytics, another reputable global research firm, also reaffirmed APSEZ’s leadership within the port sector, assigning it the top rank in low carbon transition rating. This indicates a strong alignment between the company’s projected greenhouse gas emissions and the critical global net-zero target. On overall ESG risk, Sustainalytics assigned a low-risk rating of 13.7 to APSEZ, placing it among the top ten in the marine ports sector globally.
The company’s robust ESG performance has also earned it a coveted place in the Nifty 100 ESG Index and a prestigious ‘Prime’ status from ISS ESG. This distinction is particularly significant, as it qualifies APSEZ’s equity and bond instruments for responsible investment portfolios, attracting capital from sustainability-focused investors and reinforcing its financial standing in the green economy.
In a collaborative push towards broader industrial decarbonisation, the Adani Mundra Cluster – which includes APSEZ Mundra Port, Adani New Industries Ltd., and Ambuja Cements Ltd. – has joined the World Economic Forum’s ‘Transitioning Industrial Clusters’ initiative. This collaborative platform is geared towards achieving net-zero emissions for the entire Cluster by 2050, demonstrating a collective commitment to industrial transformation.
As the world observes Environment Day, APSEZ’s multi-faceted achievements serve as a powerful and inspiring reminder of the profound impact that dedicated corporate action can have on the planet. The company continues to champion the global call to #BeatPlasticPollution, actively inviting stakeholders and communities to join in building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. This commitment to environmental stewardship is not just about compliance but about shaping a truly sustainable and equitable future for India’s coastal regions and beyond.
Also Read: Vadhvan Port Road Connectivity Project Reviewed for Fast-Track Execution
