A change in mindset is needed for corporate social responsibility (CSR) to create a meaningful impact, rather than merely meet compliance requirements, speakers said at a session at The Hindu Sustainability Summit 2026 in Chennai on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).
Speakers observed that CSR has evolved from merely counting beneficiaries to understanding their needs and measuring the impact of interventions, driven in part by regulatory requirements. She also called for greater awareness of sustainability among the future workforce through the introduction of project-based learning in educational institutions. With many companies focusing on renewable energy and reducing emissions, Mr. For instance, tracking attrition levels provides insights into workforce trends. The summit’s sustainability-focused partnerships include Thermax as the Sustainable Cooling Partner, Treeni as the Sustainability Intelligence Partner, Chennai Port Authority as the Blue Economy Partner and Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company as the Climate Action Partner.
Addressing the session, titled Responsibility to Impact: Driving sustainable CSR through ESG, Data and Digital Innovation, Rohit Kumar Agrawala, Director (Finance), CPCL, said the environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework has become integral to the ecosystem driving industrial growth and is no longer merely a compliance requirement. “We need to move beyond incremental changes and shift from linear to exponential growth in our sustainability efforts,” Mr. Agrawala said and added that CSR metrics should focus not on money spent but on measurable outcomes and impact. Creating a wider impact in society requires a shift in mindset along with sustained commitment and collective action, she said. Noting that ESG data largely remains in the reporting phase, Akshay Kurian, head of consulting and supply chain sustainability at Treeni Sustainability Solutions, said it plays an important role in setting a baseline and tracking progress. Kurian said ESG data plays a crucial role in decision-making by helping organisations assess progress made and identify areas for improvement.
