83rd Year | 2021-22 | Integrated Annual Report
A balanced, cost-effective funding mix (debt and equity) deployed for sustaining and creating value across all capitals.
We maintain focus on free cash flows (FCF) generation and prudent financial management to fund growth, reduce debt and pay dividends. We are investing in high value products and business to drive margins and build niche.
Our balance sheet position provides adequate access to internal funds and external funds to invest in growth opportunities. The current improvement in demand scenario provides opportunity to enhance cash position.
Infrastructure such as plants, warehousing and logistics facilities and physical assets in which we have invested financial capital to ensure efficient operations and generate long-term returns.
We undertake process safety, risk management and sustainability initiatives to enhance operational reliability. Project ACE (Agile, Competitive, Excellence) has been implemented to achieve operational excellence through cost optimisation and throughput increase initiatives. We emphasise digitisation to build smart factories.
Our sustained investments in plant, equipment and technology has enhanced plant availability. Projects have been implemented to fast-track the capacity expansion programmes for scheduled commissioning.
Science knowledge, R&D capabilities, information technology infrastructure and digitalisation enable development of competitive products and market share win.
We are strengthening synergies between R&D centres and investing financial capital to fund research projects as well as to improve R&D infrastructure.
Our high brand image enables us to retain and attract skilled people which drives our intellectual capital. We also continue to nurture our science knowledge through investments in R&D and collaborations with global institutions and academia.
The knowledge, skills, experience and motivation of our employees help us to create value.
We are investing in building future-ready capabilities among people and in digital initiatives and niche skills. We are focussing on diversity and inclusion to foster creativity and innovation.
We have steady access of skilled labour at our plants globally. We continue to train our people to build skills and provide them with various benefits to enhance retention as well as attract new talent.
The collaborative relationships with the communities, supply chain partners and customers, along with our welfare initiatives, led to strengthening of our reputation of being a long-term partner of choice and to secure licence to operate.
We are engaging with all stakeholders on a continual basis to address their needs.
Stakeholder’s expectations are constantly increasing in terms of the value we create for them and determining their association based on ESG performance. Our focus on core value of ensuring safety of our stakeholders, and serving them with Integrity, Passion, Care and Excellence enables us to meet their expectations.
The renewable and non-renewable natural resources that we use in our operations to generate social and economic value and the resultant environmental impacts.
Focus on Green Chemistry – Fermentation platform for Prebiotics, Silica, etc.
We have aligned our sustainability goals with Responsible Care, CORE and UN SDGs guidelines. We are strongly focussed on and investing in initiatives around carbon abatement, circular economy and biodiversity protection.
Our efforts in water management and reuse, sodium and CO2 recovery and energy efficiency (through renewable energy and operational efficiency) have significantly reduced our dependence on natural resources. We will continue to invest in these areas and in innovation.
(↑) Increase (over past financial year) (↓) Decrease (over past financial year) (+) Positive outcome (–) Negative outcome