The Tata Group is one of India's largest conglomerates, operating in over 100 countries across six continents. It has over 30 listed companies and 1000+ subsidiaries. The Tata Group focuses on sustainability across its businesses, with the Tata Sustainability Group coordinating efforts. Each Tata company works on sustainability measures in areas like human rights, ethics, gender equality, health, environment and innovation. The Tata Group aims to improve quality of life through long-term stakeholder value creation based on leadership with trust. It faces challenges with its diverse businesses and global operations but is committed to sustainability reporting and community initiatives worldwide.

1. Leadership with Trust
TATA GROUP SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
Ashish V Singh
Graduate Business School
2997755

2. Tata Trusts
Tata Sons
Tata Group
Tata
Companies
Almost 30 listed companies
1000+ subsidiaries
Operates in 100 countries
Across 6 continents
All national/
International Tata
companies are part of
Tata Group
Tata Sons is the
principal investment
holding company
66% of the equity
share of Tata Sons is
held by philanthropic
trusts support
education, health,
livelihood generation,
and art and culture
Tata Motors
Tata Consultancy
Tata Steel
Tata Power
Tata Chemicals
Tata Communications
Tata Global Beverages
Each company independently
works on their core Sustainability
measures along with
TSG
Integrity
Responsibility
ExcellencePioneering
Unity
Core
Values
Our Mission
To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally through
long-term stakeholder value creation based on Leadership with Trust.
Purpose & Value
ashishvarun.singh@student.griffith.ie

3. TATA’s Sustainability segments
Goals of Tata’s corporate communication on sustainability
• Simple and easy for employees to understand
• Flexible for changing and differing definitions of sustainability
• Creates a “roadmap” for employees and stakeholders
• Inspires new thinking for existing businesses and processes
• Articulates Tata’s aspirations for sustainability
Activities & Representation
ashishvarun.singh@student.griffith.ie
• Human rights
• Ethical sourcing
• Gender rights
• Education
• Poverty
• Health
• Recycling
• Research &
Development
• Lean business model
• Value chain
sustainability
• Carbon footprint
• Recycling water
• Water purification

4. Sustainable Innovation
ashishvarun.singh@student.griffith.ie
Food & Wellness –
•UAV based technology to boost efficiency of water,
pesticide and fertilizer use in agriculture
Energy –
•Cost efficient Fuel Cell Stack for automotive, defence and
stationary use cases
Pedestrian airbags on cars
from Jaguar Land Rover for the increased safety of
pedestrians
Digital consumer products and services
1stof its kind safety wearable for a factory floor worker, in
form of a smart watch, to track various health parameters
Cognitive automation technology
World’s first neural automation system for the enterprise –
TCS’ ignio–predicts and prevents IT outages before they
happen
Innovation and design
Innovation centres–Research, Development and Technology business of Tata companies
Examples
of
innovation
from
group
companies:

5. Sustainability in Action – Operating Businesses
Commitment to sustainable development and welfare of community in areas
• 40 group companies undertake sustainability reporting on the frameworks of United Nations Global
Compact, Global Reporting Initiative, Carbon Disclosure Project and Business Responsibility Report
• Group level programmes include: volunteering program Tata Engage (1.2 million volunteering hours in
FY18)
Active programmes around the world include:
• India: UN award winning program on HIV/AIDS, computer-based adult literacy, e-learning teaching
application for special children, whale shark conservation
• North America: Partnership with the First Book programme
• UK: Education Business Partnership centres providing learning facilities
• China: Support Operation Smile’s treatment of cleft lip patients
• Africa: Scholarships, skills transfer and training
ashishvarun.singh@student.griffith.ie

6. Challenges & Recommendations
• Diverse business nature
Calls for measures in all areas they operate.
• Global presence
a) Dynamic global economy poses threat of revenue fluctuations
which can impede contribution to sustainable & community activities.
b) Each country they operate have their own social, economic & environmental issues.
• Sustainability measurement
Tata council for community initiatives innovated TATA INDEX to assess
sustainability. Its evolving in collaboration with United Nations Development Program.
Recommendations
• Simplify Tata’s internal definition of sustainability
• Establish a “multi-local” strategy tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities of each country and business
Why do Tata companies care so much?
They do not do it because They do it because
ashishvarun.singh@student.griffith.ie

7. References
• Sustainability Challenges | Tata Steel in Europe (no date). Available at:
https://www.tatasteeleurope.com/en/sustainability/sustainability%E2%80%93challenges.
• Tata releases report on contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (no date). Available at: https://www.tata.com/newsroom/tata-
group-report-sustainable-development-goals.
• Tata Sustainability Group (no date). Available at: http://www.tatasustainability.com/aboutTSG.aspx.
• ‘Tata_Group_presentation.pdf’ (no date). Available at: http://www.tatawestside.com/pdf/Tata_Group_presentation.pdf
• ‘THE TATA WAY: EVOLVING AND EXECUTING SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS STRATEGIES •’ (no date). Available at:
https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/the-tata-way-evolving-and-executing-sustainable-business-strategies.
• Victoria, A. (2019) ‘Sustainable development’. doi: 10.13140/rg.2.2.16460.46720.
ashishvarun.singh@student.griffith.ie