Global warming, climate change, deforestation and air pollution have assumed epic proportions. The future of the human species depends on the way nations grapple with these enormous challenges. The time is ripe for responsible action by the peoples of the world, by industrial enterprises globally.
All of us need to change the way we live, the way we consume, the way we think, even. Builders will need to change the way they build. Manufacturers will need to change the way they manufacture.
At Sanmar, we believe that to be truly successful, businesses will have to integrate a sustainability mindset into our business models.
They need urgent solutions that address the world’s energy and environment issues directly and transparently. They need to forge global alliances to address environmental challenges. They need to invest in research, development and technology to solve energy and sustainability challenges.
As a forward-looking corporate citizen, Chemplast has already demonstrated these requirements.
On a wider platform, The Sanmar Group as a whole is known for its ethical manufacturing and management practices and corporate governance. It also has a consistent track record of acute sensitivity to the economic, social, cultural and health needs of its employees and the community at large.For instance, sustainability is derived from our backward and forward integrated business model.
We have pride in our consistent record as a responsible citizen, discharging our duties to the community around our businesses and society at large—as a matter of faith.
discharging our duties to the community around our businesses and society at large—as a matter of faith. With our thoughtful, systematic actions, we have time and again demonstrated our conviction that the impact of our businesses should be both positive and sustainable. again demonstrated our conviction that the impact of our businesses should be both positive and sustainable.
The environmental response at Sanmar has not been knee-jerk, nor has it been inspired by the trends of the day. Ecological sensitivity has been central to the technology decisions we have made from time to time.
CSR is embedded in our very DNA, refl ected in all we do, including client services, employee relations and community and societal links.
The Group’s commitment to sustainability has gained strength even as the global economy has weakened in the recent past, emerging stronger from this challenge, demonstrating that green business is indeed good business.
“At Mettur Dam, we are not just an industrial house engaged in manufacture – we view ourselves as an integral part of the local community. Our relative importance and correspondingly our responsibility in a local sense, has increased signifi cantly over the last couple of decades.
Parts of what are today Chemplast Sanmar at Mettur Dam, started as early as in the mid 30’s. Till the 70’s and 80’s there were several large corporations operating at this location. Most of them have gone into oblivion for different reasons. One constant feature here has been Chemplast Sanmar. We view ourselves as an integral part of the local community.
And this has not just been the result of providing employment and economic opportunity. This responsible citizenry is the result of running schools (up to fi ve at one time) for the benefi t of the local community, and supplying potable water to over 20 villages around us for several decades now. The quantity of water supplied is almost as much as we use within our plant. We pay electricity charges, and other levies to draw the water, but supply it free, in a sense of service to the local community. And this service commenced decades before the term ‘business sustainability’ was even coined.” - N Sankar
As a responsible corporate citizen, Sanmar has continuously improved its manufacturing processes and stayed well ahead of mandated norms in compliance with environmental standards.
The Governing Principle of the Group:
• Every facility of the Group to be Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) – that is, not a drop of treated effluent will be let out on to land or sea
• All new plants will implement water conservation at the design stage • Coastal plants will not draw any ground water but will rely on desalination.
Chemplast Sanmar has not discharged a single drop of treated effluent since September 2009 in Mettur, while in Cuddalore and Karaikal there has been no discharge since inception.
TCI Sanmar Chemicals SAE, Egypt, employs environment friendly membrane cell technology sourced from internationally renowned Asahi Kasei of Japan in its production of caustic soda. With the guidance of ERM (Environmental Resources Management), the company has developed a QRA (Quantitative Risk Analysis) study, a full environment and safety management system.
In Sanmar Foundries at Viralimalai, 80 kilolitres of water is recycled and treated through the three-layer reverse osmosis plant.
A sewerage treatment plant has been commissioned at Viralimalai with a capacity of 100 KL/day.
The ultra filter in the treatment plant treats 4.5 kilolitres per hour. This water is reused for production purposes.
All Sanmar ships are run under very strict safe working norms with regular monitoring and capturing near misses and potentially hazardous work environments.
It is Sanmar Shipping’s constant endeavour to exceed the minimum expectations of Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW) and follow the mandatory recruitment procedures.
Sanmar’s concern for the environment is refl ected in the several proactive ecology conservation initiatives it has launched including the green belts it has developed over the years around all its manufacturing facilities. Many of Sanmar’s plants have won ‘Green awards’ for environment-friendly initiatives.
Chemplast Sanmar was part of a massive tree planting drive launched by the Government of Tamil Nadu at Cuddalore.
A hundred thousand saplings have been planted in and around SIPCOT industrial area and
neighbouring villages.World Environmental Day is celebrated at Sanmar businesses every year.
At Sanmar Engineering Corporation, Karapakkam, every employee plants a sapling in the sprawling premises.At Sanmar’s Engineering and Metals businesses at Viralimalai, over 20 acres of green cover have been developed, with more than 1500 trees and a lawn. To control air pollution, wet scrubbers are connected to the fume generating equipment thereby reducing the discharge of potential air pollutants.
A thermal reclamation plant for sand has been commissioned to reclaim sand, which has better properties than fresh sand. Procurement of fresh sand has been reduced to almost 10% after installation of this plant.Several thousand tons of
river sand and fuel have been saved.Sanmar’s salt manufacturing facility at Vedaranyam is eco-friendly in its operations.
The place is home to many rare species of shore birds and other aquatic birds.
Award for Excellence in Water Management :
Chemplast Sanmar won two awards at the Seventh
National Award for Excellence in Water Management organised by the CII at Hyderabad recently. The fl agship company of The Sanmar Group won the “Innovative Case Study” and “Excellent Water Effi cient Unit” awards for the successful case study of zero liquid discharge at Mettur.Chemplast has the principle of “not a drop of effl uent to be discharged on land or in water” and has not discharged a single drop of treated effl uent since September 2009 in Mettur while in Cuddalore and Karaikal there has been no discharge since inception. The CII Water Awards are presented for effective and positive water management efforts in the industry.
The Sanmar Group has long been involved in ensuring a better quality of life for the community around it and the underprivileged. Social entrepreneurship Chemplast Sanmar is actively involved in the empowerment of individuals at society’s grassroots.
Two tailoring training centres at Kozhipannai and Mottur are run for rural women who are otherwise jobless. Sanmar provides training to motivate women to start self- sustaining garment units. The company is assisting the women to mobilise loans for sewing machines from banks and micro-fi nance organisations.
Rural health programmes The rural health care project was initiated by Chemplast Sanmar to provide preventive healthcare and diagnostic services to the community.
These Rural Health Centres function in four neighbourhood locations at Veeranur, Mottur, Thangamapuripattinam, and Kunjandiyur.
The service comprises medical diagnosis, free medicine supply and monitoring blood pressure.
The service also provides awareness on healthy living. All the centres are serviced by Sanmar doctors and medical professionals. More than 15,000 patients are benefi tted.
“Without compromising on my household work, I am able to earn a minimum of Rs.50/- per day. Thanks to Chemplast Sanmar for teaching me to stitch….”
Twenty-one year old Priya of Kozhipannai village, located behind plan II of Chemplast at Mettur got
married to Prabhu of the same village a year ago and was idle at home. She wanted to take up a job for additional savings but the household work did not permit her to take any outside job.The self help group organised by Chemplast facilitated women to take up tailoring training by setting up centres at nearby villages and imparted training by a local trainer, who had undergone a certifi ed course in tailoring.
Since the course timing was fl exible, Priya was able to complete her household tasks and still attend the training. A diligent Priya soon learnt the skill of stitching blouses, churidhars and kids wear. She is
now self-reliant and earns a minimum of Rs.50/- per day without compromising on her household work, having bought a second hand sewing machine from her sister.
“At least I am able to save five hundred rupees every month from medical expenses. Thanks to Chemplast for running rural health centres at our
ward and providing free treatment andmedicines for all of us”.
Madhavi, a resident of Thangamapuripattinam, a part of Mettur Municipality, located behind the coal storage yard of Chemplast Sanmar Limited, is a mother of four children.
Madhavi and her family enjoyed a happy life till her husband Murugan was left jobless all of a sudden when the Mettur spinning mill he was working closed down. Like Murugan many were left jobless when the Mettur Mill was closed.
Most of the shops including medical shops were closed or shifted from Thangamapuripattinam due to the financial crisis faced by the residents in this village.
To avail a basic medical facility the populace of Thangamapuripattinam has to travel a minimum of 10 kms to Mettur, besides losing the income for a day.
Today, the Rural Health Centre operated by Chemplast Sanmar through its company doctors, is providing timely help to the populace of Thangamapuripattinam.
Educational programmes
Sanmar is committed to the overall development of the communities in the areas of its presence. As a prioritised focus, Chemplast invested in child education. It has built and maintained schools, priced fees nominally, selected instructors systematically, managed school resources meticulously and encouraged healthy parent-teacher interaction sustainably.
Saravanan is in charge of the evening study centres run by Chemplast in the villages around Mettur. Despite his physical disability (suffering from polio) Saravanan has successfully implemented two systems – periodical parent-teacher meetings and performance monitoring system – in the study centres.
Supported by enthusiastic volunteers from Chemplast, Saravanan is relentless in his efforts to enhance the knowledge of the rural students through science exhibitions, general knowledge classes and language classes.
Saravanan is also running a Primary school at Mettur Dam and his school is the only one in the State collecting tuition fees less than that prescribed by Tamil Nadu State Government.
Chemplast runs three schools at Mettur – Vaideeswara Higher Secondary School, Vaideeswara Primary School and Vidya Mandir – touching the lives of 2500 children.
Evening study centres are run at Kozhipannai, Mottur and Veeranur with the objective to educate and enable rural students to compete with urban counterparts.Chemplast has set up tuition centres at Vadukku Vanjore, Karaikal, along with a computer training centre.
Potable water is being supplied to over 20 villages daily for several years now. The quantity of water is almost as much as we use within our plant. People around Mettur belonging to three panchayats are benefitted by the supply of treated drinking water from Chemplast. The water supplied to these villages is of the order of 3,00,000 lakh litres every day.In Cuddalore, the Semmankuppam and Kudikadu panchayats experienced acute drinking water shortages in summer. Chemplast has made monetary contribution to the drinking water scheme proposed by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Chemplast also supplies drinking water to feed animals living in the reserve forest in and around Vedaranyam.The company maintains the water level in reservoirs to attract a large number of migratory birds. The company also supplies drinking water to surrounding villages during festivals and special occasions.
To benefit the citizens of Mettur and nearby locality,Chemplast Sanmar has built a new railway station with attendant facilities in Mettur Dam at an investment of Rs.90 million.
This has immensely benefitted the local population.
Chitrapettai is a coastal village where Chemplast Marine Terminal Facility is located. The region suffered from poor toilet facilities.
Chemplast constructed ninety toilets in consultation with the local village heads supported by a 35% Government grant under the Total Sanitation Scheme of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
The Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional Children (MNC) was established in Chennai in December 1989.
It provides early intervention services to children with developmental delays/ mental retardation, with autistic tendencies, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, Attention Defi cit Hyperactive Disorders (ADHD), microcephaly, hydrocephaly.
Among these are also children with additional handicaps such as visual, hearing or physical impairments, as also children with brain damage due to various reasons such as antenatal/ natal problems in mothers, birth asphyxia, illnesses in children during infancy and early childhood years.
The training is provided to children from birth to 6 years of age using ‘UPANAYAN’, a software package developed especially for children with special needs.
The early intervention programme was developed indigenously by an interdisciplinary team of experts in the Indchem Research and
Development Laboratory promoted by The Sanmar Group.
Early intervention can help special children to achieve remarkable independence. This was proved by the 130 special children who participated in the sports day organised by Madhuram Narayanan Centre for Exceptional
Children on 18 February 2011.
Children with cerebral palsy, autism and attention defi cit hyperactivity disorder aged between zero and six competed in 25 different tasks ranging from sorting vegetables, stringing beads, bursting balloons and fi nding hidden shells in sand bowls.
Over six special schools and two regular schools participated in the sports day.According to the teachers, the sports day was a way to access the children’s abilities. Those who fi nish training go to special schools or are mainstreamed.
This year ten children of MNC will join main stream schools and eight will leave for special schools for older children.
IIT Sanmar Cricket ground, Chennai.
Sanmar has been in the vanguard of sports promotion for nearly four decades. The Group has supported cricket unstintingly while also lending a helping hand to tennis. Many young cricketers have benefi tted from Sanmar’s patronage. They not only get to play on the IIT-Sanmar cricket ground, a world-class facility, but also fi nd in the Group a strong catalyst in their efforts to gain national and international recognition. The Group is a systematic contributor to the talent pool and infrastructure needs of the country in cricket. The Sanmar Group was the fi rst sponsor of TATE (TamilNadu Academy for Tennis Excellence), the coaching arm of TNTA. The Group sponsors the Sanmar Inter-club League Tournaments in the men and veterans categories.
The Sanmar Group made an entry into niche journalism in December 2005. The Chairman of the Group, N Sankar, assumed the leadership of the reconstituted Sruti Foundation, a not-for-profi t trust committed to the preservation of tradition
and promotion of innovation in the fi eld of Indian performing arts.
Among its activities, the Foundation publishes the monthly Sruti, India’s leading voice in classical music, dance and theatre, respected across the world for its high quality,reliability and integrity.
Its excellent archives are much sought after resources and its consistent work has among other things earned it an annual grant from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the apex body for the performing arts in India.
The IACC-Sanmar Indo-US Business Cooperation Award instituted by The Sanmar Group in partnership with the Indo American Chamber of Commerce, is an effort towards encouraging
Indo-US business relations. The award entered the third year.
In other ways too, the Group has been a quiet integrator of peoples and cultures, acting as a bridge between India and other countries, the West in particular. In a rare instance of a single organisation performing consular services for three different nations, the Sanmar Headquarters is home to the consulates of Denmark, Greece and Spain.
GE India President and CEO John L Flannery receiving the IACC-Sanmar Award on behalf of GE USA. (From l to r): Usha Srinivasan, Chairperson, IACC Tamil Nadu Branch, Andrew T Simkin, US Consul General in Chennai, Adil Zainulbhai, Managing Director, McKinsey & Co. India, N Sankar, Chairman, The Sanmar Group, John L Flannery, GE India President and CEO, Syed Baderuddin, National President IACC and Vasanth Kini, Regional Vice President IACC.
N Sankar, Chairman of The Sanmar Group, is the Honorary Consul General of Denmark in South India, N Kumar, Vice Chairman, is the Honorary Consul for Greece and Vijay Sankar, Deputy Chairman, is the Honorary Consul for Spain.
KS Narayanan and N Sankar have both been decorated with Knighthood by Denmark, with N Sankar receiving the honour of Knighthood First Class from the Queen of Denmark for his services.
Several need-based, philanthropy initiatives:
• School in Sankarnagar for the benefit of employees’ children
• Polytechnic Institute to provide technical training to local youth and increase local hiring
• Vaideeswara Higher Secondary School established in Mettur
Revival of the Sankara Schools in Chennai
The Mrs Madhuram Narayanan Charitable Trust established
• The Mrs Madhuram Narayanan Charitable Foundation established
• Vaideeswara Vidya Mandir Matriculation School (Primary) established in Mettur
Vaideeswara Vidya Mandir Matriculation School (Secondary) established in Mettur
The Sanmar Welfare Trust established
Study by KPMG to defi ne and document management policies, ethical philosophy and people philosophy, defi ne the organisation’s stakeholders and develop the Code of Conduct
Independent Group Corporate Board formed Major achievements in Environment Sustainability process Mettur – Zero Liquid Discharge status Cuddalore – Zero Liquid Discharge
status Egypt – Equator Principle compliant
Dedicated training institute, The S R Seshadri Training Institute established to provide training to new recruits Commissioned environment-friendly
membrane cell process for caustic soda production at Chemplast Sanmar’s Mettur facility
Chemplast Sanmar releases fi rstSustainability Report as per Global Reporting Initiatives’(GRI) G2
Guidelines
Landmark zero liquid discharge facility, goes on stream at Mettur
•Chemplast Sanmar qualifies for CII-ITC Sustainability Awards - Receives Commendation Certifi cate for Signifi cant Achievement in Sustainability Practices
• Chemplast Sanmar’s second Sustainability Report assured by Deloitte, verifi ed by GRI for A+ Application Level of G3 Guidelines for sustainability reporting Clean Development Mechanism projects at Chemplast Sanmar- positive
carbon footprint at Mettur and Karaikal Pioneered an incinerator that completely incinerates HCFC-23 in the refrigeration gases facility
Health centres set up around Cuddalore; several environmental/ quality certifi cations were awarded to the Group companies
Mettur Dam railway station commissioned by Chemplast Sanmar at a cost of Rs.9 crores CII water awards for Chemplast Sanmar for excellence in water management.