Sustainability LIVE Singapore: Mahindra Group Fireside Chat
Speaking at Sustainability LIVE Singapore, Ankit Todi, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mahindra Group, offered an ambitious and practical overview of how one of India’s largest conglomerates is tackling climate change.
With operations spanning more than 100 countries and industries from automotive and agriculture to real estate and finance, Mahindra’s strategy is rooted in what Ankit called a ‘planet-positive’ approach.
“It’s not just about emission reduction,” he explained, “it’s about fundamentally reshaping how industries operate.”
Mahindra’s strategy is structured around several pillars. The first covers operational emissions – addressing Scope 1 and 2 through renewable energy, waste management and sustainable materials like recycled aluminium.
“We’re currently at 30% renewable energy and aiming for 60% within the next year,” Ankit said.
The second pillar centres on product innovation and green business models. This includes electric vehicles, green real estate developments, sustainable financing and scaling Mahindra’s renewable energy arm.
“We’re investing in businesses that embed sustainability in their core,” he said.
Beyond Mahindra’s internal efforts, the group is also taking a broader view – supporting farming communities with climate resilience tools, leading on biodiversity conservation and creating closed-loop, circular economies through recycling ventures.
Tackling the hard-to-reach challenges
Despite strong momentum, Ankit acknowledged that significant hurdles remain.
Transitioning operations to cleaner energy is well underway, but decarbonising supply chains and developing infrastructure for electric mobility presents a different kind of complexity.
“We don’t manufacture steel,” he noted, “but it’s one of the biggest Scope 3 contributors in both our auto and real estate businesses.”
To tackle this, Mahindra is engaging suppliers and participating in global collaborations. The company is part of the World Economic Forum’s First Movers Coalition, which brings together large buyers to accelerate the commercialisation of green steel.
“As a mature buyer, we can influence the system,” he said.
Electric vehicle adoption, particularly in rural areas, remains a major focus. Mahindra has plans for mass-market electric tractors and light commercial vehicles, but infrastructure and consumer readiness are not yet universal.
“Charging infrastructure, customer perception and government incentives will all be key,” he said.
Nonetheless, Ankit expressed optimism that Mahindra could achieve 20–40% penetration in key segments in the coming years. To support this growth sustainably, the group is also investing in renewable-powered charging stations, seeking synergies between their clean energy and mobility businesses.
Collaboration as the cornerstone of progress
Throughout the session, Ankit underscored the importance of partnership.
“Sustainability is about collaboration,” he said. Mahindra works with a wide network of government stakeholders, industry associations, and climate organisations to overcome systemic barriers.
He pointed to Mahindra’s work with The Climate Group to advance renewable energy adoption across India, focusing on policy reform and knowledge-sharing at a granular, state-by-state level.
On steel decarbonisation, the company collaborates not just globally, but also at a national level—working with Indian industry bodies, the Swedish government, and suppliers to create a roadmap for low-carbon procurement.
“These are not problems one company can solve alone,” he said.
Ankit also shared examples from battery and tyre recycling, where Mahindra is developing circular models and looking beyond carbon to reduce material waste and water use.
“Our focus is holistic – we look at environmental impact in the broadest sense,” he said.
Though the audio during the session was at times affected by background noise from the event floor, Ankit’s message came through clearly: sustainability must be embedded at every level of a business – from products and policies to partnerships and purpose.
And Mahindra, he made clear, is not just adapting to this reality – it’s helping shape it.
Essential diary dates for 2025
Discover the essential diary dates for Sustainability Magazine and its sister publications – Procurement Magazine and Supply Chain Digital.
To follow Sustainability LIVE on LinkedIn, click here.
To enter for the Global Sustainability & ESG Awards, click here.
- Sustainability LIVE Dubai | 22 April
- Sustainability LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May
- Procurement LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May
- Supply Chain LIVE Chicago | 28-29 May
- Sustainability LIVE London | 9-10 September
- The Global Sustainability & ESG Awards | 10 September
- Sustainability LIVE: Climate Week NYC | 22 September
- Sustainability LIVE: COP 30 Brazil | 11 November
Explore the latest edition of Sustainability Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Sustainability Magazine is a BizClik brand
