SDGs INITIATIVES

ISSUE 8: September 2020 - With the world population expected to reach approximately 9.7 billion by 2050, we face a range of issues, such as climate change, poverty, and ongoing urbanization leading to environmental degradation. In 2015, the United Nations moved to face these and other problems by adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 goals with accompanying targets and indicators that provide a powerful inspiration for improving our world by laying out where we collectively need to go, and how to get there. The SDGs call for worldwide joint action amongst governments, businesses, and communities to create a life of dignity and opportunity for all, and to ensure the planet's sustainability by 2030.

The Government of India has actively participated in contributing to the SDGs with initiatives like the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the Smart Cities Mission, the Namami Gange Mission, etc. Further, an ambitious 10-year government plan commencing in 2020 will help India to accelerate progress towards achieving its SDG targets by 2030. The emphasis will be on localized, cross-sector collaboration aligned with the Indian government’s national and local agendas, which will help unlock the collective strength of the ideas, networks and technologies needed to accelerate the pace of progress.

Not only governments across the globe but businesses, too, have a key role to play in achieving the SDGs by 2030. All business activities have the potential to bring fundamental impacts on delivering the goals regardless of the industry and business scale.

Toshiba Group recognizes that the basic responsibility of people living today is to hand over the environment to the next generation in a sound condition. The cornerstone of the basic commitment of Toshiba Group, "Committed to People, Committed to the Future." underlines Toshiba’s timeless commitment to contribute to the development of society through its corporate activities, a statement completely consistent with the SDGs.

Mr. Tomohiko Okada Managing Director Toshiba India Pvt. Ltd.

Toshiba Group has examined its impact on society across the value chain, and identified 10 SDGs where it can make particular contributions through its corporate activities, and also aims to cover all 17 goals in future. The commitment to the SDGs is an integral part of the Toshiba Next Plan, Toshiba’s 5-year blueprint for growth.

Mr. Tomohiko Okada, Managing Director of Toshiba India Private Limited said, “At Toshiba, our creed of ‘Committed to People, Committed to the Future.’ represents sustainability as the core of our business operations in the energy and social infrastructure sectors. These are both indispensable to people’s lives; we provide services, products and systems that solve various issues facing society. By partnering with foreign governments and businesses, we offer our expertise to support the realization of a better and more sustainable world, and to close the gap towards achieving the 2030 Agenda.”

Creating Opportunities to Build Prosperity for All

Toshiba Group has operated in India over 60 years, and is one of the leading B2B companies focused on energy, social infrastructure, and storage solutions. Aligning itself with the Indian government’s flagship programs, “Make in India” and “Export from India”, Toshiba Group has made India a hub for manufacturing and export base, and currently provides over 8,000 decent jobs in India.

Building Water Infrastructure Today to Stem the Water Crisis Tomorrow

India has the world's second-largest population, but just 4% of its potable water. Nearly 600 million Indians face high to extreme water stress, and by 2030, the country's water demand is projected to be twice the available supply, pointing toward severe water scarcity. The river Ganges is choking in effluents and toxic wastewater due to the impact of industrialization and the lack of a robust municipal and industrial wastewater treatment network.

Toshiba Water Solutions Private Limited (TWS) provides water treatment and wastewater solutions that support clean water supply and improve the water environment. Under the Indian government's “Clean Ganga” initiative, TWS is involved in eight projects in three states. In Uttar Pradesh, one of India's largest industrial states, it has already completed the construction of two sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of over 18 million liters per day (MLD), and laid down a 55km sewage network. One project is in Jharkhand, where TWS has completed the construction of two STPs with a combined capacity of 12MLD, and the required pumping stations. The other projects are in Bihar, for five sewage treatment plants with a combined capacity of 129MLD.

Toshiba JSW Power Systems Private Limited (TJPS) has been working to save water and respond to water risk by reusing rainwater and treated water. Specifically, the company waters plants in the premises by using rainwater stored in a pond, and treats and reuses wastewater in cooling and sanitation. By doing so has reduced wastewater discharged from its premises to zero.

These initiatives offer a glimpse of how Toshiba Group companies in India have aligned their growth strategies with national and global development needs. Toshiba is leveraging its existing partnerships to widen the scope of its reach and to derive value from hitherto unexplored synergies. These partnerships hold the key for making progress on the SDGs and augmenting businesses to enhance resilience while ensuring long term sustainability.

An integrated approach is crucial for progress across multiple goals. The SDGs can only be realized with a strong commitment to global partnership and cooperation. Toshiba Group will continue to partner with governments and businesses to contribute to a better and more sustainable world.

Toshiba Group is marking the start of the Decade of Action to deliver the SDGs, towards raising awareness of SDG implementation. During the Global Week to #Act4SDG which starts from September 18 to September 25, Toshiba Corporate will share stories about how the group contributes to the SDGs through the corporate activities on LinkedIn. Tune in to see more information.