A Candid Conversation With Ms. Priyamvada Bhumkar, MD - Soujanya Colour On Creating Synergy In Corporate And Environmental Goals

Climate Change, Environment Conservation and Sustainability were the hot topics this week as World Environment Day was celebrated with much fanfare in India and across the globe. An industry which has a predominately negative perception when it comes to adherence to environmental norms is the chemical industry. Outlook spoke to Ms. Priyamvada Bhumkar, Promoter & Managing Director, Soujanya Color Pvt. Ltd; a chemical enterprise which is among the global leaders in colorant manufacturing and research.  

Ms. Bhumkar shared her views on a wide range pressing environmental issues and the holistic green approach her company - Soujanya has embarked on to integrate sustainability across all aspects of their business. Excerpts from the conversation.  

1. It is considered that the growth of the chemical industry is directly proportionate to environmental degradation. Being a leading stakeholder in the Indian Chemical space, what is your take on this?  

Across the world, the societal perception of the chemical industry is that of one which cares little for the environment. People are often oblivious to the fact that the chemical industry provides the backbone materials and critical components to many things they absolutely can’t live without right from food (agrochemicals), medicines, shelter (construction chemicals), clothing (textiles), power, electronics, home personal care products, etc. If indeed the chemical industry is to continue to provide for basic necessities, the only way this is possible in the long term is if we actively think about preserving the environment that we consume so much from. It is now imperative for every company in this business to have this long-term view, and to have sustainability agenda at the core of its business.  

The proliferation of the chemical industry in India in the last few decades can at least in part be attributed to Western countries’ firm drive to move away from polluting or hazardous chemical production. 

2. This year’s World Environment Day theme is “Beating Plastic Pollution” How is Soujanya dealing with this challenge? 

At Soujanya, we believe in optimising resource use to the bare minimum and drive many initiatives along that principle. You will see that our consumption of most resources measured per unit of production gradually decreases over time despite production volumes increasing year over year.  

The usage of plastic in our business comes in the form of packaging material for our products. We track the quantum of plastic which we put out into the environment and have set targets to reduce the use of plastic by curbing waste at the plant level and by tying up with government-authorized plastic recyclers for recycling certifications. We are working on reducing the use of plastic in our secondary packaging as well as moving to more sustainable grades of plastic for packaging such as Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET). There is an overarching awareness of plastic within the company and we work towards minimizing the impact on a continual basis. 

3. For any business to be viable profitability is key. How does Soujanya strike the delicate balance between profitability and sustainability? 

We believe that sustainability must be at the core of any business for its long-term profitability. At Soujanya, all choices we make for our business are governed by the agenda of sustainability. In fact, our consistent efforts have enabled us to achieve significant progress on our sustainability goals in FY2022-23 including – a 43% reduction in the volume of hazardous waste sludge generation and a 34% reduction in water intensity in Production.  

We have a firm belief that the sustainability agendas we follow, help differentiate and position our company as a reliable partner for the long-term. Rather than a detractor, we see it as an enabler for the profitable growth of our business. 

4. Women are nurturing by nature. Do you think women are better served to take up sustainability roles in Corporates and Government? 

Aah! You are asking this question to a woman entrepreneur - one who has played all roles in a business. Nevertheless, you are right in a way - with the inherent nature of women being one of nurturing, roles in the realms of sustainability in both corporate and government do strike a natural chord. Having said that, I do also believe that we need to see more women in professional life - not only in sustainability roles but in all aspects of business and government, whether they are at the strategy level, policy and governance, or marketing, finance, technology, and human resource functions. Women can be major contributors to both businesses and governments. 

5. Can you briefly elaborate on a few pioneering or innovative initiatives of Soujanya which have had a positive impact on the environment? 

Our ‘Green’ philosophy is holistic and resonates across all aspects of our Business. We have deployed ‘green’ design of our manufacturing facility to minimise electricity consumption. We are pioneers in bio product development for the cosmetics industry which is first such initiative anywhere in the world. We are leaders in the development of VOC-free colorants to make the paints used in homes safe. Similarly, there are many such initiatives that are mitigating the negative impact on the environment; these initiatives give me great personal satisfaction as a corporate leader.