Tata Sustainability Month is a platform that helps Tata employees connect, adopt and act on sustainability as individuals and collectively see the change they can bring about in themselves, their businesses and in society. It encourages awareness of the connectivity of the world and the implications of individual actions.
Organized by the Tata Sustainability Group every June, the Tata Sustainability Month (TSM) aims to build an understanding of how the Tata group views sustainability, demonstrate how individuals and businesses can make sustainable impact and inspire our colleagues to take this understanding to the next level and make a change in their lives. Through the brand identity of Sustainable Meaningful Actions for a Responsible Tata (SMART), TSG works towards building a culture of sustainability among group companies through fresh themes and campaigns each year, developing knowledge resources and engaging activities to drive home the importance of sustainability from the individual, business and community perspective.
TSM aims to
Unpack 'sustainability'
to have a common understanding of the term and what it means for the Tata group.
Mainstream sustainability
and position it at the heart of business, by disseminating attributes of Tata sustainability policy, philosophy, principles and commitments.
Inspire colleagues
to take this understanding to the next level and to bring about a change in their lives through sustainable actions, making sustainability a habit.
TSM 2023: SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution
Plastic, an incredibly versatile and useful material, has revolutionised the world with its numerous applications in packaging, construction,
transportation, and various other fields. It is durable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive, making it a popular choice for manufacturers
and consumers alike. From water bottles and straws to grocery bags and food containers, plastic has become ubiquitous in our daily lives.
However, the rampant use and improper disposal of plastic waste have led to a massive environmental
crisis. Plastic pollution has become a global concern, today microplastics are found not just in drinking
water and seafood, but also in our bloodstream.
It is essential to recognise the urgent need to reduce our reliance on plastic and adopt responsible practices for its disposal, recycling, and
reuse to mitigate the catastrophic impact of plastic pollution on our planet.
In view of the urgent need to focus on solutions to plastic pollution, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) adopted #BeatPlasticPollution as the theme for World Environment Day 2023. In step with this pressing need, Tata Sustainability Month 2023 too focused on 'SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution'. You can find below, some of the interesting plastics-related content developed by the Tata Sustainability Group to create awareness on plastics across the 4 weeks of Tata Sustainability Month 2023.
Plastics are light, versatile, durable, inexpensive and have innumerable applications and benefits, making them a ubiquitous part of modern
life. What's the problem with that? The problem is that plastics do not disintegrate in nature. They persist for hundreds of years and
accumulate over time, breaking into smaller and smaller pieces. Accumulated plastic waste emits toxins into the air, ground, and water,
contributes to the climate crisis and has become a major threat to the environment. It negatively impacts human health, threatens marine
life and other biodiversity, and is now the most widespread pollutant on our planet.
There is an urgent need to develop SMART solutions to plastic pollution, and governments, industry, and other stakeholders are starting to
act. You too must join this fight.
The UN Member Nations have
committed to beat plastic pollution
and develop an international legally
binding agreement by 2024.
Watch the first episode of the mini-series on
‘SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution’.
The growing problem of plastic pollution requires a better understanding of plastics to effectively address it. What is plastic? Plastic is a
polymeric material that has the capability of being moulded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure, making it suitable
for a wide range of products.
While we generally term all of them as plastics, it is important to know that all plastics are not the same. The Resin Identification Code
(RIC) system categorises plastics into seven different types, including PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and Others. Each type has different
characteristics and uses, such as PET being used for water bottles and soft drink packaging, HDPE for grocery bags and shampoo bottles,
and PVC for plumbing pipes and vinyl flooring. Most important of all, each one has a different recyclability quotient.
Plastic products often contain multiple types of
plastics and chemical compounds that increase nonrecyclability
and toxicity. Multi-layered plastics used
for food packaging, are difficult to recycle, and
colourants and additives can increase toxicity.
To address plastic pollution, solutions
are emerging, such as adopting plastic
alternatives, reducing plastic use,
improving recycling infrastructure, and
promoting circular economy initiatives.
Thus, it is important to make informed
choices of where to use plastic and
where not to, which plastics to use and
which ones to avoid.
Watch the second episode of the mini-series on
‘SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution’, which throws light on the different types of plastics.
Be Plastic Wise
By reducing plastic use, adopting innovative alternatives, collaborating with partners, recycling plastic waste and creating awareness
among customers and communities for conscious decision making, Tata companies have been playing their part in the fight against plastic.
Watch the third episode of the mini-series on
'SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution' showcasing some of the innovative solutions implemented by Tata companies.
Explore Innovative Case Studies
There has been a lot of positive action to eliminate the plastic problem, but the truth is that we all need to pitch in and do our bit. This week,
we focus on how each one of us can adopt SMART Solutions to Beat Plastic Pollution. As a first step, we must change how we consume and
dispose of the plastic we use. We can start by making small adjustments in our everyday life - by avoiding products with excessive plastic
packaging and switching to non-plastic alternatives as much as possible.
Watch the fourth episode of the mini-series on
'SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution' where we look at practical tips on how to avoid plastics.
Play Your Part
TSM 2022: Be EarthSMART
Amidst innumerable celestial bodies spread across the endless space, there is only one Earth, only one planet that we can call home.
The adverse impact of human activity on the planet is now clearly visible and worsening by the year. World Environment Day theme for 2022, 'Only One Earth' highlighted the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes through our choices.
Aligning with the theme, Tata Sustainability Month 2022 was built upon the call to action ‘Be EarthSMART’. The month-long campaign helped employees learn, connect, adopt and act on sustainability as individuals and collectively see the change they can bring about in themselves, their businesses and society.
The campaign offered an exclusive e-course on sustainability ‘OnlyOneEarth’, contests and quizzes and several sustainability themed company-led on-ground activities.
Over 1,00,000 Tata colleagues across the globe demonstrating eagerness to embark on a sustainable path.
#OnlyOneEarth e-course
During TSM 2022, Tata Sustainability Group curated the ‘OnlyOneEarth’ e-course, with 19 bite size modules for on-the-go learning. The e-course helped Tata employees understand the history of earth, the challenges it faces today, and the transformative actions businesses and individuals must take to celebrate, protect and restore our planet. The modules were a mix of interactive content, videos, engaging visual elements and embedded quizzes to take a stock of learning.
22,733 employees completed the 'Only One Earth' course (online & offline)
More than 2 Tata colleagues completed the course every minute
All employees who successfully complete the e-course will be
awarded a certificate.
Quizzes, contests and on-ground engagement
Tata companies across the globe conducted various engagement activities based on the theme ‘Be EarthSMART’. From plantation and cleanliness drives, everyday sustainability challenge, street plays, eco-scavenger hunt to webinars on sustainability topics, awareness sessions on carbon emissions and environment footprint, the group companies leveraged every opportunity to motivate employees take their first step towards sustainability.
Over 1,30,000 employees participated in sustainability related quizzes, contests and on-ground activities.
To see how the campaign unfolded across Tata companies
Ecosystem Restoration – Well, before we move to Ecosystem Restoration (ER), let's understand what an ecosystem is. Broadly speaking, an ecosystem is a geographic area where plants, animals, and other organisms, interact with the environment - the weather and the landscape, to form a contiguous bubble of life.
Ecosystems face unprecedented threats today. Forests are being cleared; rivers and lakes polluted; wetlands and peatlands drained for agriculture or construction; seas and oceans polluted and overfished; mountains bald and eroded; and cities congested and polluted.
In view of the urgent need to drive ecosystem restoration, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 2021–2030 as the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. In step with this pressing need, Tata Sustainability Month too will focus on Ecosystem Restoration this year.
Watch this video to know more about Ecosystem Restoration.
Under TSM Spotlight, hear from Mr. Aromar Revi, founding Director of IIHS, on the ‘Urgency for Ecosystem Restoration’
Browse through the fun infographics to know more about different types of Ecosystems,
Explore Tata Group’s work on Ecosystem Restoration.
In alignment with the theme of World Environment Day 2020, TSM 2020 focused on celebrating Biodiversity and its SMART connections that sustain and enrich life. The campaign developed knowledge and engagement products like films, webinars, contests, quizzes, knowledge decks and case studies to help Tata employees globally demystify Biodiversity, decode its importance, discover how the Tata group is enhancing Biodiversity and play their part in conserving it.
Watch This Video to Know More About the Campaign
Let's Demystify Biodiversity: Watch This Video
TATA SUSTAINABILITY GROUP
Publication
Learn More about Biodiversity
Browse the knowledge deck
TATA SUSTAINABILITY GROUP
Publication
Explore Tata Group's Work on Biodiversity
Explore 15 select initiatives
through this Coffee Table Book
To view the various initiatives undertaken under Tata Sustainability Month and access the plethora of sustainability related case studies, infographics, quizzes, videos, etc., please visit:
