Building a Supply Chain That’s as Clean as the Energy We Deliver
If you’ve ever stood inside a solar plant at sunrise, you’d know exactly what we mean when we say the energy feels different. It’s clean, it’s intentional, and it carries a sense of purpose that goes beyond generating power. At Mahindra Susten, that purpose is simple: build sustainable green energy solutions that don’t just light up grids but uplift ecosystems.
But here’s the plot twist
most people miss; clean energy isn’t truly clean unless the supply chain behind
it is clean too. With the world shifting toward greener choices, a clean energy
brand can’t just deliver sustainability, it has to live it across every node,
partner, and process. From responsible sourcing to lifecycle thinking, the
entire sustainable green energy solutions ecosystem needs to function
like a well-oiled, carbon-light machine.
And that’s exactly
what we are doing at Mahindra Susten.
Where responsibility actually begins
Most folks
assume that delivering sustainable green energy solutions starts at the
project site; the moment panels hit the earth or turbines start spinning. But
if you zoom out, the real story begins much earlier, in the unseen layers of
our value chain.
At Mahindra
Susten, we treat our supply chain as the engine room of our sustainability
mission. And because the engine room must be spotless, we’ve embedded ESG
principles into every procurement handshake, every vendor conversation, and
every material we source. All our partners are guided by the Mahindra Susten
Supplier ESG Code of Conduct, aligned with globally recognised frameworks like
the UN Global Compact and ILO conventions. From human rights and labour
standards to environmental management and ethical governance, the code
establishes a clear north star for how we grow together.
In corporate
jargon: Delivering sustainable green energy solutions isn’t a KPI for us;
it’s our operating system.
Setting the rules of the
game: The Supplier ESG Code of Conduct
With over 445 vendors, you can imagine the scale at which we operate our sustainable green energy solutions projects. So, we created our Supplier ESG Code of Conduct. It outlines exactly what we expect:
- Environmental responsibility
- Ethical practices
- Safe working conditions
- Respect for human rights
- Zero tolerance for shortcuts
Think of it
like onboarding the Avengers where everyone must align on purpose before
joining the mission of driving sustainable green energy solutions
forward.
Screening for Impact: ESG as a Cornerstone
To
align procurement with our vision for sustainable green energy solutions,
this past year, we elevated our due diligence through the Supplier ESG
Assessment Initiative, jointly led by our Procurement
and Sustainability teams. What began as a target to review the top eight Class
A suppliers expanded into a detailed assessment of 21 suppliers, using a
179-point checklist aligned with international standards such as IFC
Performance Standards.
Each vendor submitted evidence-backed responses, which our sustainability team reviewed meticulously. Beyond assessment, suppliers received structured feedback, improvement roadmaps, and awareness sessions to help them scale their ESG maturity. Today, our ecosystem includes:
- 445 total vendors
- 100% locally sourced components
- ₹244.459 crore spent on local sourcing in FY25
A supply chain built for resilience, not just compliance
Sustainability on paper means nothing if real people on the ground don’t feel the change. That’s why our ESG screening also evaluates:
- GHG emissions & energy consumption
- Water usage
- Waste disposal
- Worker welfare
- Occupational safety
- Governance & ethics
Every vendor must sign a declaration affirming compliance with our ESG Code. And yes, we conduct checks to ensure no one falls off the sustainability wagon.
Turning assessments into action
Before onboarding vendors as part of our mission to scale sustainable green energysolutions, their performance isn’t only reviewed; it is elevated, through the following processes:
- Procurement teams conduct preliminary studies
- Sustainability experts analyse submissions
- Suppliers engage in capability-building sessions
- Feedback loops ensure real improvements
This isn't
your typical “audit”. This is partnership. This is co-creating India’s sustainable
green enegy solutions ecosystem. This multi-step process strengthens due
diligence, mitigates operational risks, and builds a supply chain as resilient
as it is responsible. By aligning our partners with the principles that guide sustainable
green energy solutions, we safeguard the integrity of every project we
deliver.
Empowering MSMEs: Growth That Uplifts Everyone
India’s sustainable
green energy solutions ambition thrives on the strength of its MSME
ecosystem. If clean energy is the future, MSMEs are the power cells that keep
the ecosystem running. They’re agile, innovative, and hungry to grow. At
Mahindra Susten, we don’t just source from MSMEs, we invest in them. In FY25,
our collaborations with over 170+ MSMEs generated ₹150 crore in financial
value, driven by procurement partnerships, technology transfers, and focused
capability-building programs.
Our teams
regularly conduct hands-on digital training, sustainability workshops, and
skill development initiatives tailored to each partner’s needs. Because when
MSMEs grow stronger, renewable energy grows faster. Together, we’re shaping a
vendor ecosystem that is agile, future-ready, and deeply rooted in
sustainability.
Where we’re headed next
Now that the
foundation is strong, the next phase is scaling impact with more supplier
assessments, deeper collaborations, and tighter integration of ESG metrics
across the value chain.
Our goal is
simple but ambitious:
Build a supply chain that’s as clean,
resilient, and future-ready as the renewable power we deliver.
Because when
we say sustainable green energy solutions, we don’t just mean the
electrons flowing through a grid. We mean every decision, every vendor, every
component, every partnership and the India we're building together.
Comments
Post a Comment