Intertek Group plc (“the Group”), announces the launch of its innovative Total Sustainability Assurance programme in India, providing companies with an industry-leading, independent assurance solution enabling them to demonstrate their end-to-end commitment to sustainability.
India’s status as the world’s most populous democracy, together with its vibrant demographic landscape and high-tech revolution, present enormous opportunities for continued rapid economic growth. At the same time, the expectations of all stakeholders - consumers, employees, suppliers, regulators, communities, students, government and shareholders - have continued to rise, with the effects of climate change becoming more apparent and requiring companies to balance rapid growth with a sustainable, socially responsible approach.
Having reached a tipping point in the world of sustainability, today’s launch event follows on from the global unveiling of Intertek’s Total Sustainability Assurance programme. Intertek Total Sustainability Assurance heralds a truly exciting breakthrough innovation for businesses and broader stakeholders across the Indian corporate landscape, representing a pioneering initiative that provides an end-to-end, independent, systemic sustainability programme from both an operational and corporate perspective.
In India, Intertek has been supporting the needs of its clients over the years with a real depth and breadth of innovative Operational Sustainable Solutions across industries including Textile and Footwear, Electrical and Electronics, FMCG, Oil and Gas & Chemical, Banking and IT, and a range of Industry Agnostic Solutions. Intertek’s Operational Sustainability Solutions address the important operational areas of every company, covering environment, products, processes, facilities, assets and systems. (As detailed in the Appendix)
Powered by a global network of technical experts and advanced software platforms to track progress against sustainability goals, Intertek’s new Corporate Sustainability Certification provides companies with independent verification across their entire sustainability footprint, authenticating their end-to-end commitment to sustainability, building stakeholder trust and corporate value. This in turn helps overcome the proliferation in ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) reporting standards, definitions and terms that has made it difficult for corporations to build clear, measurable and authenticated sustainability objectives into their business models.
Having been based in India for over 25 years, with 21 labs and 15 offices spanning the breadth of the country, Intertek is ideally positioned to provide systemic operational sustainability solutions to companies across all sectors, from the fast growing ready-made garment market, to the FMCG and automotive industries as India’s economic growth powers ahead.
André Lacroix, CEO of Intertek, said: “Today marks a truly exciting moment for Intertek in India, as we build on our incredible growth journey together at a time when stakeholders are seeking genuine reassurance that corporations are taking an end-to-end sustainability approach across their entire value chain. “Sustainability has to start at the heart of the company’s operations - where quality, safety and sustainability are seen as the foundations of driving sustainable growth - and has to take a holistic approach to cover all aspects of corporate activities. “Our unrivalled expertise in delivering Total Quality Assurance solutions in India means Intertek is uniquely positioned to support the needs of our clients here in delivering truly sustainable results. Sustainability is the global movement of our time and we are passionate about supporting the needs of our clients in India and across the world to help them address their complex sustainability challenges of today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow.”
Sandeep Das, Regional Managing Director of Intertek South Asia, said: “For over 25 years, Intertek has been delivering innovative, end-to-end solutions to its clients across India, supporting them through their growth and becoming the market leader in Assurance, Testing, Inspection and Certification services. “It is clear that a growing number of companies are taking steps to be more responsible in how they treat their employees, communities and the planet; however they also realise that ESG is necessary but not sufficient. Ever higher stakeholder expectations mean corporations across all sectors recognise that their commitment to sustainability must be end-to-end. “That is why, as the dynamic Indian economy continues its rapid ascent, we are launching Total Sustainability Assurance to support our clients’ end-to-end commitment to sustainability. Our unrivalled expertise in Total Quality Assurance means we are uniquely positioned to support the needs of our clients in operating sustainably and we are truly excited about the journey ahead.”
