The industrial and logistics park claims to meet 50 per cent of energy demand through solar power and save water through 100 per cent recycling
When Ather Energy shifted from Bengaluru to TVS Industrial and Logistics Parks (TVS ILP) in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, the electric mobility start-up had more than one reason. Apart from easier availability of manpower in Hosur, the facility was green.
TVS ILP provides warehousing and logistics services to fast moving consumer goods, fast moving consumer durables, electronics (CDE) and e- commerce companies. Apart from Ather Energy, its other clients include Flipkart and Amazon.
Manikandan Ramachandran, chief operating officer, TVS ILP, says, “We are committed to a broad range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices that elevate our business, create value for our shareholders and investors, and support our employees and customers.” He adds, “By incorporating ESG principles in warehouse construction, one can ensure sustainability, minimise negative environmental impacts, promote social responsibility and enhance overall governance practices.”
He adds further, “We are committed to actions that make our environment greener, more sustainable and safer for everyone. Sustainability is more than skin-deep for us. It has permeated into the way we do things at TVS ILP. Our impact on the environment puts on us a greater responsibility with every action we take, every industrial park we design and every corner of the country we connect to.”
It begins with selecting land for construction of logistic parks. A conscious choice is made to select barren dry land, which not suitable for agriculture and has low groundwater level. In construction, green materials like sustainable recycled products and low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used to lower the carbon footprint. About 50 per cent of energy demand is met through solar power. To ensure water saving, 100 per cent water recycling takes places by installation of sewage water treatment plants. At Hosur, Ramachandran claims, the water table has improved.
He elaborates, “The construction is on the basis of national (energy conservation) building code. For example, during day time the LED lights are not operated except in a few areas of docking. Everything is based on natural lighting during daytime. This gives us almost 50 percent energy saving. Finally, when I save energy, the biggest beneficiary is the company.”
TVS ILP is certified by World Bank’s International Finance Corporation’s EDGE Green Buildings Market Transformation Program. This certification of EDGE Champion ensures that ILP TVS is a partner of IFC’s EDGE Green Buildings Market Transformation Program, which works to move the construction industry to “a lower carbon, more resource efficient path through green buildings’.
Ramachandran says, “Similarly, we do rainwater harvesting. Once we start recharging the ground water during the peak summers, our consumption of water from outside comes down. (Apart from saving money), what this whole exercise is doing is making us more self –reliant, too. Going green helps the business ultimately.”
Following sound ESG practices, local community is engaged for employment, and inclusion and diversity is also ensured with fair employment practices. Presence of a large number of young female workforce at Ather Energy operations is a testimony.
It is hardly surprising that TVS ILP is growing. Ramachandran says, “We aim to increase our operations in another 30 cities across the country and achieve 20 million square feet in the next 3- 4 years.”
He adds, “Over the next few years the annual spend would be approximately $75-85 million per year. The management is evaluating various options for future growth capital. TVS ILP has seen a 30 per cent growth year-on–year consistently.”
(The author was in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, on the invite of TVS ILP.)