Driving sustainability forward: How we helped an automotive leader build ESG-friendly operations in India
The shift toward sustainable practices featured multiple challenges:
- Navigating regulations: India's ESG framework, such SEBI’s Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting guidelines, that required detailed disclosures and compliance initiatives.
- Reducing supply chain emissions: A major part of the organization’s carbon footprint came from suppliers and logistics, areas that had little sustainability oversight.
- Balancing costs and impact: Our client needed to invest in greener practices without disrupting profitability or operational efficiency.
- Building ESG alignment across teams: Leadership, factory managers, and suppliers all had different levels of awareness and engagement regarding sustainability.
Without a clear roadmap, ESG goals risked becoming vague commitments rather than measurable progress.
Why do they partner with us?
The company hired SVOD Advisory because of its understanding of ESG strategy, regulatory expertise, and ability to integrate sustainability into real business operations.
What set us apart:
- Proven experience in the automotive sector, particularly in managing sustainability in complex supply chains.
- Regulatory knowledge, ensuring compliance with Indian and global sustainability frameworks like IFRS S1 & S2, TCFD, and SEBI BRSR.
- The focus is on practical implementation, not just policy recommendations.
- A business-first approach, ensuring sustainability efforts also supported financial and operational goals.
We developed a step-by-step ESG roadmap customized to fit the company’s industry, regulatory needs, and business objectives.
1. Assessing where they stood
Before making changes, we conducted a full ESG assessment, mapping the company’s sustainability efforts against:
- Global automotive sustainability standards
- Indian ESG compliance requirements
- Investor and stakeholder expectations
We identified several gaps in reporting, high-impact emission areas, and potential regulatory risks.
2. Regulatory compliance and reporting structure
The client was looking for a reporting system that was compliant and useful for investors and leadership.
- We structured their BRSR reporting process, streamlining data collection and disclosures.
- We integrated climate risk factors into their financial decision-making, aligning with IFRS sustainability standards.
- We developed an internal ESG reporting framework, making it easier to track sustainability metrics across different teams.
3. Decarbonizing the supply chain
We worked with the company to reduce emissions beyond direct operations, focusing on suppliers and logistics partners.
- Launched a supplier sustainability program, setting carbon reduction goals and incentives.
- Introduced low-carbon materials into production, cutting emissions without increasing costs.
- Designed a circular economy strategy, reducing manufacturing waste by 30%.
4. Making sustainability part of the company culture
For ESG to be effective, it needed to be understood at every level of the organization. We:
- Ran ESG training workshops for leadership, factory managers, and supply chain teams.
- Built sustainability KPIs into performance evaluations, ensuring accountability.
- Created an internal ESG task force responsible for ongoing sustainability improvements.
Making an impact
The company quickly saw the benefits of a structured ESG strategy:
- Fully aligned with SEBI BRSR and global ESG reporting requirements
- 15% reduction in supply chain emissions through sustainable sourcing and better logistics planning
- 10% improvement in energy efficiency across manufacturing plants
- 45% of suppliers onboarded into sustainability programs, creating a greener supply chain
- Strengthened relationships with ESG-focused investors, opening doors for new funding opportunities
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