Overview
Tata Sustainability Group (TSG) is the sustainability arm of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata conglomerate. Established in 2014 as a Centre of Excellence (building on climate initiatives dating to 2007), TSG serves as the nodal resource on sustainability for the entire Tata group – one of India's largest business conglomerates with over 30 companies spanning steel, power, automotive, IT services, consumer products and more. TSG's mandate is to embed sustainability into business strategy across all Tata companies, coordinate climate action at group level and position Tata as a global leader in corporate sustainability.
Their Approach
TSG integrates climate action with business strategy through three pillars:
- Mitigation: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions through renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, low-carbon technologies and process innovation. More than 50 Tata companies have undergone carbon footprinting exercises and developed emission mitigation strategies.
- Adaptation: Helping Tata companies assess and respond to climate risks. TSG has commissioned climate risk studies for states like Gujarat where major Tata operations are located, incorporating findings into Enterprise Risk Management frameworks.
- Responsible Advocacy: Engaging with global initiatives including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), World Bank's Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition, and WEF CEO Climate Leaders. Tata companies help shape policy discourse on climate action.
In 2022, TSG launched Project Aalingana ('embrace' in Sanskrit), the group's comprehensive environmental sustainability vision. Aalingana commits seven major Tata companies (Tata Steel, Tata Power, Tata Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Chemicals, TCS and Tata Consumer Products) to net zero emissions by 2045, with interim targets including 25% reduction in absolute carbon emissions by 2030.
Key Focus Areas
Decarbonisation
Supporting Tata companies in setting science-based targets. Tata Power became the first Indian power utility to commit to net zero before 2045. Tata Steel is developing low-carbon steelmaking technologies including hydrogen-based production. Tata Chemicals built India's first industrial-scale Carbon Capture and Utilisation plant in Cheshire, UK.
Renewable Energy
Tata Power's renewable energy portfolio spans ground-mounted and rooftop solar, wind power and decentralised renewable energy for rural livelihoods. Through the Powering Livelihoods programme (partnership with CEEW), TSG supports deployment of clean energy technologies to rural communities.
Circular Economy
Zero waste to landfill targets by 2030, resource efficiency initiatives and sustainable product development across group companies.
Nature & Biodiversity
Conservation initiatives including Tata Power's 50-year Mahseer conservation programme, mangrove restoration and tree planting drives. Greening of Tata-owned buildings, including Bombay House – the first heritage building in India to receive IGBC Gold certification.
Capacity Building
Training over 200 C-suite executives and 800+ "climate champions" across Tata companies to lead low-carbon transitions.
Recognition & Impact
GlobeScan Sustainability Leaders Survey 2024
Tata Group ranked No. 1 on Sustainability in Asia Pacific, leading regional peers by a significant margin. The group has featured in the global top 15 for multiple years and is the only Asian company to do so consistently.
World Economic Forum Recognition
- Tata Steel: Three manufacturing sites in Global Lighthouse Network (IJmuiden, Kalinganagar, Jamshedpur) are among few enterprises globally with this distinction
- Tata Steel: Global Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Lighthouse 2023
CDP Performance
Multiple Tata companies consistently feature in Carbon Disclosure Project leadership indices, demonstrating transparency in climate reporting.
Key People
- Chacko Thomas – Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Tata Sons (Over 30 years with Tata Group, including leadership roles at Tata Coffee)
- Abhishek Goyal - Assistant Vice President, Environment and Sustainability Services, TSG
- Shrirang Dhavale - General Manager, Social Services Cluster, TSG
