India’s leading carrier – IndiGo, published its first ESG Report today. Christened as IndiGo Green, the report shares the company’s outlook towards good governance and an overview of the environmental and social performance. The airline has been in the process of institutionalising a sustainable approach to operations over the last few years, where-in sustainability is being integrated with day-to-day operations. IndiGo is determined to be a leading airline in the world, focusing on enhancing sustainability.
IndiGo has made several strides towards sustainability, from investing in fuel-efficient engines, to planting trees, sponsoring biogas plants, and investing in water conservation projects. IndiGo has registered a reduction of 1,478,359 tonnes of carbon emissions from FY ’15 to FY ’21. In FY ‘23, the airline aims to reduce CO2 emission by 18% per ASK when compared to FY ‘16.
Ronojoy Dutta, Whole-time Director & Chief Executive Officer, IndiGo said, “As a socially responsible airline, we are deeply concerned about the scarcity of natural resources and the increasing impact of climate change on our planet; we understand the importance of sustainability for future generations. We believe it is important for us to contribute back to the community we serve and to maintain strong governance processes, to ensure long term success and stability. IndiGo is committed to enhancing long-term value for its stakeholders, investors, and customers by maintaining high standards of corporate governance at all levels of the organisation.”.
On the people front, IndiGo ensures a diverse and safe work environment, while demonstrating commitment towards sustainable governance, customer experience and employee engagement. Policies are fundamentally built to ensure diversity and inclusion, fairness, welfare, and the well-being of the employees. Even during the pandemic, the leadership team ensured that resources were allocated judiciously to strengthen operations and to ensure future sustainable growth. As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), the airline engages with the communities across four focus areas – children and education, women empowerment, environment, and heritage.
As part of ‘6E responsibility’, IndiGo reaches out to communities wherever there is a natural calamity. The airline extended support during the covid-19 pandemic by provided food packets to people in the Delhi/NCR region who were struggling for their daily meals. IndiGo inaugurated a Plasma Donor Bank initiative, employee assistance program and 24*7 helpline, vaccination drives and partnered with hotels for quarantine facilities for employees and their family members. IndiGo also established a central task force supported by regional taskforces, to monitor and review response strategies to covid-19.
The report also outlines the progress made by the airline and its efforts towards enriching the flying experience for customers, developing skills and diversity of employees, and protecting the biodiversity of the planet. The key initiatives for FY22 include renewing IOSA accreditation and continuous improvement of the safety management system; climate adaptation strategy & actions plan and supporting programs on environmental sustainability; and accelerating people capabilities through L&D programs, enhance automation of policies and processes and new programs on enhancing diversity and inclusion.
