This commitment further cements SRK's role in the diamond sector as a global leader in ESG. The most compliant company in the gems and jewellery industry, SRK has committed to establishing near-term science-based emission reduction targets and to achieving net zero emissions for its diamond crafting facilities by next year.
SBTi is recognized as one of the world's most influential emission reduction mechanisms. It was launched in 2015 in partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC). The SBTi was developed to advance the goals set in the Paris Agreement and drive ambitious climate action by enabling organizations to set science-based emissions reduction targets.
SRK is committed to working closely with SBTi to develop emission reduction action plans covering various domains, including corporate operations, product research and development, and supply chain management.
"Over our six decades of operation, SRK has proved time and again our commitment to serving the planet and building a better India and beyond. SRK embraces sustainability at each step and has been recognized for notable growth in corporate social responsibility commitments, leadership in community welfare initiatives, implementation of more sustainable practices, and improvements in stakeholder experience," said Dr. Nirav Mandir, Chief Human Capital Officer at SRK. "We firmly believe in the power of collective action to address climate change and are honoured to work alongside the other companies around the world who are part of the SBTi network to advance a zero emissions world."
Decarbonization is the crown jewel of SRK's sustained efforts. Their two flagship diamond crafting facilities, SRK Empire and SRK House, are both LEED Platinum certified, and thanks to ongoing improvements and real-time monitoring of their operational performance in energy, water, waste, transportation and occupant experience, the two buildings rank among the highest performing LEED buildings in the world, continuously outperforming tens of thousands of certified buildings globally. In partnership with the Global Network for Zero, SRK has also committed to achieving net zero certification at both SRK Empire and SRK House and is on track to achieve this by 2024 – six years ahead of their original commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) of 2030. SRK's unwavering commitment to achieving net zero emissions stands firmly rooted in industry best practices, science-based frameworks, and third-party validation.
Furthermore, in May 2023, SRK hosted their inaugural SRK Sustainability Conclave to present itself as a model for effective and efficient net zero realization, and to bring together Indian business leadership in a landmark call to action for accelerating a net zero India. This first of its kind gathering was also designed to explore best practices for transforming businesses across operations, the potential for cross-sector collaborations, and the critical role industries across sectors must play in meeting ESG standards and realizing a decarbonized world.
Later this month, SRK will also release their Pure Impact report, which details six decades of SRK's achievements in education, healthcare, community, employee welfare, sustainability, and more. This report will not only highlight SRK's pioneering work in these spaces, but also publicly identify how the company's initiatives specifically align with the UN SDGs and the 2015 Paris Agreement.
