IIMB reaffirms climate responsibility with Net Zero targets and community action
The IIMB Sustainability Report, a core course on Responsible Business, and a fleet of EVs are among the newly launched initiatives
5 June, 2025, Bengaluru: “Climate change is the biggest challenge that mankind is facing, but most people are unaware of it, which puts twice as much responsibility on those of us who are aware”, said Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson, Sustainability Taskforce at IIMB, and faculty of the Production & Operations Management (POM) area, as she extended her gratitude to the various stakeholders, contributors, and enablers of climate action on campus who came together on World Environment Day.
IIMB announced its commitment to achieving Net Zero Scope 2 emissions by 2030 and Scope 1 emissions by 2035. These targets cover the operations of a densely populated residential campus, home to over 1,200 students, faculty, and staff, and a green expanse of over 20,000 trees, encompassing native, flowering, and fruit-bearing species.
IIMB Sustainability Report
The IIMB Sustainability Report, audited by a third party, was formally released at the event in the presence of Prof. Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Director, IIMB; Prof. Haritha Saranga, Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean Alumni Relations and Development, and faculty in OB&HRM; Prof. M Jayadev, Dean Administration, faculty in the Finance & Accounting area; and Ms. Kavitha Kumar, Head of Communications at IIMB. The report captures both retrospective insights and a forward-looking roadmap aligned with internationally recognized sustainability frameworks to maintain transparency, accuracy, and accountability. It details data from FY 2019–20 to FY 2024–25, mapping the Institute's transition towards transformations that it aspires to lead.
The report is now available on the IIMB website: iimb.ac.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/iimb-sustainability-report-2025.pdf
The document outlines operational boundaries, stating, Scope 1: Direct emissions under the Institute's control; Scope 2: Indirect emissions from electricity consumption; and Scope 3: Indicative indirect emissions, including commuting, goods procurement, and embodied emissions.
Critical initiatives to reduce carbon footprint, foster innovation, and leverage technology in advancing campus-wide sustainability, from energy-efficient infrastructure and renewable energy systems to integrated rainwater harvesting and reclaimed water systems, have been detailed in the report.
Making a note on a key finding from the assessment, Prof. Haritha said, “Our absolute emissions have reduced by nearly 10% from 2019 to 2024 despite an increase in campus population by 20%”. She added, “Our per capita emissions have also reduced by nearly 25% during the same period”.
She also took stock of landmark achievements over the last decade, such as the Carbon Footprint Report released last year, and long-term investments across water conservation, sewage treatment, natural carbon sink development, circular economy practices, energy efficiency, community-led ecological stewardship, and equity-driven social outreach.
Commenting on the findings, Prof. RT Krishnan said, "The Sustainability Report marks the next step in our journey by building on the release of our carbon footprint analysis last year. It broadens the lens to include our performance across key dimensions such as water conservation, green energy adoption, treatment, and recycling”. He added by saying, “This year, we are seeing significant improvements in both the depth of our reporting and the rigour with which we document our initiatives. I encourage everyone to lend their support and actively engage others in the community as we work towards our shared goals”.
Third-party consultants also spoke on the process of compiling the report. “IIMB is the most audit-ready campus we’ve worked with. Departments worked collaboratively to share data openly across Scope 1,2, and 3 fields. The integrated approach has been exemplary, and we’ve learned a lot from the process. A green-certified campus is next on the agenda”.
Solar PV capacity required to neutralise Scope 1 emissions between 2025–2035 was also discussed as part of IIMB’s predictive strategy toward Net Zero. “Energy is the primary contributor to our carbon footprint. Scope 1 is mostly under our control, and we are currently able to capture five out of fifteen categories in Scope 3,” explained Prof. Haritha.
New Core Course on Sustainability
The event also marked the rollout of a new core course for the PGP-2 cohort titled ‘Responsible Business & Sustainability’. Delivered to all eight sections of the cohort, the course aims to equip students with critical tools for addressing environmental, managerial, and developmental challenges.
Prof. Sourav Mukherji reflected: "We are experimenting with horizontal teaching to confront complex problems from multivariate business lenses. Our aim is not to offer immediate solutions, but to foster deep engagement with difficult questions."
He also referenced the International Sustainability Conference hosted by IIMB earlier this year, in partnership with Wipro, and its broader role in facilitating forums that encourage deeper private sector engagement with climate action.
Launch of EV fleet on campus
As part of the Institute’s shift to sustainable transport, new electric vehicles were inaugurated, including golf carts, a bus, and an ambulance, generously donated by the PGP 1998 batch. Speaking on behalf of the batch, alumna Sushma Kadali, Strategy Leader, CTO Office, IBM Consulting, noted: "We wanted our contribution to align with IIMB’s larger vision and to reflect our collective ethos”. The Class of ‘98 was represented by Sushma Kadali, Vikas Goyal, Business Director, BT Group, and Kapil Raizada, Co-Founder & Director, IntrCity.
A prior initiative, Project Saksham, implemented in collaboration with Saahas Zero Waste—provided support to government schools in Karnataka through the distribution of eco-friendly furniture made from recycled materials. The effort was also made possible with contributions from the PGP Class of 1998. In FY 2024–25, IIMB facilitated the delivery of: 88 eco-friendly benches, 50 computer tables, 93 study desks, and 100 chairs. These were distributed to 40 government schools across the Tiptur and Madhugiri taluks in Karnataka.
Grassroots and Circular Economy Initiatives
In a bid to reduce Scope 3 emissions, the Institute has undertaken several targeted initiatives focused on reusing, recycling, and resource efficiency across campus operations.
One such effort is the conscious reduction in the procurement of new books for academic programmes. Led by Ms. Komala Devi, Administrative Officer, the initiative reinforces the principle of academic circularity by extending the lifecycle of learning materials while simultaneously lowering the demand for virgin pulp. In FY 2024–25, 1,089 books were collected from outgoing PGP students, carefully segregated, and repurposed for future use by IIMB staff members. Findings have revealed the reuse of 311 book units and an estimated savings of 349.3 kg of paper. Over the next 3–4 years, the initiative is expected to provide complete course coverage through circulated books for an entire batch.
In another effort to address waste responsibly, IIMB partnered with Padcare, a startup incubated at NSRCEL, to implement a sanitary waste recycling system across campus. Seventy sanitary pad recycling bins were installed, enabling the safe processing of approximately 8,400 sanitary pads annually. This translates to a reduction of nearly 224 kg of waste and the avoidance of 4,222 litres of landfill use per year. In parallel, the Institute’s kitchen and biodegradable waste management system diverted over 35,000 kg of organic waste to biogas digesters and compost pits during the year.
Commenting on the Institute’s approach to ecological stewardship, K.M. Mayana, IIMB’s Horticulture Executive, said, “We are green even in the summer because of the initiatives IIMB undertakes throughout the year, in preparation and consideration of the abundance of life that this campus houses. If greenery is treated well, the lifespan of the trees increases by 50–60 years”.
Tokens of appreciation, upcycled and recycled, were presented to key contributors of IIMB’s mission, as Prof. Rishikesha thanked the many individuals and groups who continue to shape its sustainability journey.
Please click here for photo gallery
IIMB reaffirms climate responsibility with Net Zero targets and community action
The IIMB Sustainability Report, a core course on Responsible Business, and a fleet of EVs are among the newly launched initiatives
5 June, 2025, Bengaluru: “Climate change is the biggest challenge that mankind is facing, but most people are unaware of it, which puts twice as much responsibility on those of us who are aware”, said Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson, Sustainability Taskforce at IIMB, and faculty of the Production & Operations Management (POM) area, as she extended her gratitude to the various stakeholders, contributors, and enablers of climate action on campus who came together on World Environment Day.
IIMB announced its commitment to achieving Net Zero Scope 2 emissions by 2030 and Scope 1 emissions by 2035. These targets cover the operations of a densely populated residential campus, home to over 1,200 students, faculty, and staff, and a green expanse of over 20,000 trees, encompassing native, flowering, and fruit-bearing species.
IIMB Sustainability Report
The IIMB Sustainability Report, audited by a third party, was formally released at the event in the presence of Prof. Rishikesha T. Krishnan, Director, IIMB; Prof. Haritha Saranga, Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean Alumni Relations and Development, and faculty in OB&HRM; Prof. M Jayadev, Dean Administration, faculty in the Finance & Accounting area; and Ms. Kavitha Kumar, Head of Communications at IIMB. The report captures both retrospective insights and a forward-looking roadmap aligned with internationally recognized sustainability frameworks to maintain transparency, accuracy, and accountability. It details data from FY 2019–20 to FY 2024–25, mapping the Institute's transition towards transformations that it aspires to lead.
The report is now available on the IIMB website: iimb.ac.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/iimb-sustainability-report-2025.pdf
The document outlines operational boundaries, stating, Scope 1: Direct emissions under the Institute's control; Scope 2: Indirect emissions from electricity consumption; and Scope 3: Indicative indirect emissions, including commuting, goods procurement, and embodied emissions.
Critical initiatives to reduce carbon footprint, foster innovation, and leverage technology in advancing campus-wide sustainability, from energy-efficient infrastructure and renewable energy systems to integrated rainwater harvesting and reclaimed water systems, have been detailed in the report.
Making a note on a key finding from the assessment, Prof. Haritha said, “Our absolute emissions have reduced by nearly 10% from 2019 to 2024 despite an increase in campus population by 20%”. She added, “Our per capita emissions have also reduced by nearly 25% during the same period”.
She also took stock of landmark achievements over the last decade, such as the Carbon Footprint Report released last year, and long-term investments across water conservation, sewage treatment, natural carbon sink development, circular economy practices, energy efficiency, community-led ecological stewardship, and equity-driven social outreach.
Commenting on the findings, Prof. RT Krishnan said, "The Sustainability Report marks the next step in our journey by building on the release of our carbon footprint analysis last year. It broadens the lens to include our performance across key dimensions such as water conservation, green energy adoption, treatment, and recycling”. He added by saying, “This year, we are seeing significant improvements in both the depth of our reporting and the rigour with which we document our initiatives. I encourage everyone to lend their support and actively engage others in the community as we work towards our shared goals”.
Third-party consultants also spoke on the process of compiling the report. “IIMB is the most audit-ready campus we’ve worked with. Departments worked collaboratively to share data openly across Scope 1,2, and 3 fields. The integrated approach has been exemplary, and we’ve learned a lot from the process. A green-certified campus is next on the agenda”.
Solar PV capacity required to neutralise Scope 1 emissions between 2025–2035 was also discussed as part of IIMB’s predictive strategy toward Net Zero. “Energy is the primary contributor to our carbon footprint. Scope 1 is mostly under our control, and we are currently able to capture five out of fifteen categories in Scope 3,” explained Prof. Haritha.
New Core Course on Sustainability
The event also marked the rollout of a new core course for the PGP-2 cohort titled ‘Responsible Business & Sustainability’. Delivered to all eight sections of the cohort, the course aims to equip students with critical tools for addressing environmental, managerial, and developmental challenges.
Prof. Sourav Mukherji reflected: "We are experimenting with horizontal teaching to confront complex problems from multivariate business lenses. Our aim is not to offer immediate solutions, but to foster deep engagement with difficult questions."
He also referenced the International Sustainability Conference hosted by IIMB earlier this year, in partnership with Wipro, and its broader role in facilitating forums that encourage deeper private sector engagement with climate action.
Launch of EV fleet on campus
As part of the Institute’s shift to sustainable transport, new electric vehicles were inaugurated, including golf carts, a bus, and an ambulance, generously donated by the PGP 1998 batch. Speaking on behalf of the batch, alumna Sushma Kadali, Strategy Leader, CTO Office, IBM Consulting, noted: "We wanted our contribution to align with IIMB’s larger vision and to reflect our collective ethos”. The Class of ‘98 was represented by Sushma Kadali, Vikas Goyal, Business Director, BT Group, and Kapil Raizada, Co-Founder & Director, IntrCity.
A prior initiative, Project Saksham, implemented in collaboration with Saahas Zero Waste—provided support to government schools in Karnataka through the distribution of eco-friendly furniture made from recycled materials. The effort was also made possible with contributions from the PGP Class of 1998. In FY 2024–25, IIMB facilitated the delivery of: 88 eco-friendly benches, 50 computer tables, 93 study desks, and 100 chairs. These were distributed to 40 government schools across the Tiptur and Madhugiri taluks in Karnataka.
Grassroots and Circular Economy Initiatives
In a bid to reduce Scope 3 emissions, the Institute has undertaken several targeted initiatives focused on reusing, recycling, and resource efficiency across campus operations.
One such effort is the conscious reduction in the procurement of new books for academic programmes. Led by Ms. Komala Devi, Administrative Officer, the initiative reinforces the principle of academic circularity by extending the lifecycle of learning materials while simultaneously lowering the demand for virgin pulp. In FY 2024–25, 1,089 books were collected from outgoing PGP students, carefully segregated, and repurposed for future use by IIMB staff members. Findings have revealed the reuse of 311 book units and an estimated savings of 349.3 kg of paper. Over the next 3–4 years, the initiative is expected to provide complete course coverage through circulated books for an entire batch.
In another effort to address waste responsibly, IIMB partnered with Padcare, a startup incubated at NSRCEL, to implement a sanitary waste recycling system across campus. Seventy sanitary pad recycling bins were installed, enabling the safe processing of approximately 8,400 sanitary pads annually. This translates to a reduction of nearly 224 kg of waste and the avoidance of 4,222 litres of landfill use per year. In parallel, the Institute’s kitchen and biodegradable waste management system diverted over 35,000 kg of organic waste to biogas digesters and compost pits during the year.
Commenting on the Institute’s approach to ecological stewardship, K.M. Mayana, IIMB’s Horticulture Executive, said, “We are green even in the summer because of the initiatives IIMB undertakes throughout the year, in preparation and consideration of the abundance of life that this campus houses. If greenery is treated well, the lifespan of the trees increases by 50–60 years”.
Tokens of appreciation, upcycled and recycled, were presented to key contributors of IIMB’s mission, as Prof. Rishikesha thanked the many individuals and groups who continue to shape its sustainability journey.
Please click here for photo gallery