Saint-Gobain Glass India (SGGI) has always championed the cause of not just socially responsible but also of environment-friendly business practices. In recent times, this fact has been reinforced by Saint-Gobain receiving 2 awards from Confederation of Indian Industries (CII):

• National  Award  for Water Management as an Excellent Water-Efficient Unit•   
• National Award  for Innovative Case Study  for  Water Management

Both these awards were received for the Saint-Gobain Glass India World Glass Complex located at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu. The sprawling 177-acre facility showcases the Company’s commitment to investing in state of the art, world class manufacturing facilities whose hallmark is efficient as well as effective use of natural resources and energy. Indeed, sustainability and eco-friendliness is truly the company’s motto, given that their portfolio of glass products also caters to the needs of green architecture.

The Effort

The Integrated Quality, Environment, Occupational Health & Safety Policy of SGGI clearly brings out the company’s single-minded commitment to protecting the environment through a Consistent Monitoring, Continual Improvement and Environmental Risk Management process. The Integrated Management System certification obtained under QMS, EMS and OHSAS enshrines the above policy.

The following diagram illustrates the Water Management approach at SGGI:

The monitoring & reviewing of the Water Management process at SGGI is performed at all levels, right from the Shift Engineer to the Corporate Delegation.

The Results

All this effort has yielded significant and measurable result. The per capita consumption of water has come down from 140 litres/day in 2006-’07 to 85 litres/day in 2008-’09.  Also on the decline is the generation of waste water - while 2006-’07 saw 92,652 kilolitres/day of waste water, 83,371 was the corresponding figure for 2008-’09.

Zero Water Discharge concepts is being applied whereby water is recycled and reused to the extent possible, beyond which it is put to non-industrial use as well. Over the 10 years of its existence, the SGGI World Glass Complex has nurtured 15,000 trees, 12 acres of lawn and 5 acres of foliage.

Awareness and consciousness towards the environment has also actively been spread by company representatives throughout the society; both to families, local communities as well as schoolchildren.

Environment, Health and Safety Initiatives have been taken for the local community as well. De-silting of local lakes, building of water channels and provision of water-efficient sanitation facilities are among these initiatives.

All in all, Water Management is a step in the right direction; a truly commendable and desirable effort on the part of Saint-Gobain Glass India.