Nearly two years ago now, when we were first contemplating ranking Indian companies on their sustainability scores, I was faced with several questions. How do we get this right? These companies are large players that contribute to India’s economy, uplift the society, create employment opportunities and in many ways steer India towards its growth goals. Many engage with BW Businessworld in different ways and we know more than we often write about what they do to make a positive difference. To my mind, even then, it was clear that sustainability is a mandatory element of growth – both from a country and companies standpoint. Sustainability is not doing good to be recognised by people or for some good PR. Instead, it is a must include for profitability and building future markets. Companies that do not have sustainable strategies or that have not factored in what sustainable development will mean for them will very soon be in very awkward positions. The world has already moved in this direction, and those not making the change will be left behind.
At BW Businessworld, we were the first among our peers to appoint a Sustainability Editor. Today, there are more writers from the teams that focus on the subject. That is the significance of sustainability and in creating a Sustainable India. This issue, in that sense, is a very special issue to us. In this special edition, we have looked at several KPIs that together indicate a company’s sustainable performance. Along with our partners in this exercise, Sustain Labs Paris, we looked at more than 2000 companies before arriving at the top 200 that you will see listed in the issue. We have also looked deeper at the top 20 and what they got right to be among the frontrunners.
This issue also has a feature on the BW Social Impact Awards 2022. Under the aegis of our startup community, BW Disrupt, this set of awards looks at the social impact entrepreneurs and professionals whose efforts are making a difference in several walks of life and sectors. This jury-led process gave us many learnings on why measuring impact is critical for any growth.
Any endeavour or initiative can lose focus, and even direction, if it is not measured and course-corrected in time. As our jury panels, which comprise some of the brightest and wisest minds, question people and companies on their outcomes and strategies, they also leave food for thought and a direction on how changes can be made for more optimal results, which together then change India for the better. As chroniclers, these are the stories that we love to tell, the ones that will make a broader impact. I hope you find meaning in some of these too, much as we did in documenting these success stories.
Happy Reading!