New Study: 68% of Indian Organizations Rely on Tech for Sustainability, Kyndryl & Microsoft Report

Kyndryl, IT infrastructure services provider, partnered with Microsoft to unveil the Asia Pacific edition of The Global Sustainability Barometer study. This collaboration with Ecosystm delves into India's sustainability landscape, spotlighting the gap between intent and action and emphasizing the transformative power of sustainability initiatives for innovation and competitiveness.

In the face of escalating climate crises, environmental sustainability takes center stage in India, with technology emerging as a pivotal tool for sustainable solutions. While 68% acknowledge technology's pivotal role, only 34% believe they fully utilize its potential. Notably, customers lead the charge for sustainability (60%), followed by employees (52%) and supply chain partners (40%).

Faith Taylor, Kyndryl's Chief Sustainability and ESG Officer said: “Organizations are at diverse levels of sustainability maturity. Visionary companies are harnessing technology to meet regulatory standards and to pursue sustainability objectives effectively. They are leveraging technology to fulfill customer expectations, reduce expenses, and innovate, thereby unlocking the full potential of sustainability." 

AI's potential in sustainability remains largely untapped, with only 20% leveraging it for predictive analytics on future energy consumption. The study advocates for stronger alignment between sustainability, finance, and technology teams to drive innovation and quantify sustainability measures effectively.

Ullrich Loeffler, Co-Founder & CEO, Ecosystm, said: “India aims to reduce carbon intensity of economy by 45% by 2030 – this will require collective action from governments, industries, enterprises, and individuals. Together with Kyndryl and Microsoft, we are pleased to offer this study, providing forward-thinking organizations with actionable steps to drive measurable sustainability impact."

Key findings:

Technology's Significance: While 68% of surveyed organizations recognize the importance of technology in achieving sustainability goals, only 34% believe they are fully utilizing its potential.

Stakeholder Influence: Customers are identified as the most influential stakeholders advocating for sustainability (60%), followed by employees (52%) and supply chain partners (40%).

Sustainability Maturity: Organizations exhibit diverse levels of sustainability maturity, with visionary companies leveraging technology to meet regulatory standards effectively and drive sustainability objectives.

Essential Components for Sustainability: The study underscores the importance of strategy, people, and technology in successfully executing sustainability initiatives.

Role of AI: Artificial Intelligence (AI) emerges as a game-changer, empowering organizations with data-driven insights to enhance decision-making, mitigate risks, and optimize resource allocation.

Challenges in Data Accessibility: Over 50% of organizations find their sustainability goals hindered by challenges in accessing relevant data and integrating necessary information for environmentally conscious decision-making.

Integration of Sustainability with Business Strategies: While 86% acknowledge the significance of sustainability in shaping business strategies, only 16% base their sustainability goals on factual data.

Government Influence: The Indian government significantly influences sustainability adoption, with 89% of organizations acknowledging its role.

Underutilization of AI in Sustainability: While 79% of organizations use AI to monitor energy usage and emissions, only a smaller percentage utilize it for predictive analytics on future energy consumption, natural disaster preparedness, recognizing inefficiencies, and identifying risks.