In a significant move to enhance its environmental reporting and sustainability efforts, Infosys has initiated a comprehensive survey to collect household electricity consumption data from employees who are working from home. This initiative aims to accurately measure and offset the company's greenhouse gas emissions through increased clean energy production, reinforcing a sustainability program that the IT services leader has actively pursued for more than 15 years.
Hybrid Work Policy and Data Collection Drive
Under Infosys' hybrid work policy, employees predominantly work from home, with a requirement to be physically present in the office for at least 10 days each month. To support its sustainability goals, the company has launched a work-from-home electricity consumption survey, urging employees to dedicate a few minutes to respond. In an email to staff, Jayesh Sanghrajka, Infosys' Chief Financial Officer, emphasized the importance of this data collection.
CFO's Message on Environmental Impact
In the communication, Sanghrajka stated, "With hybrid work becoming an integral part of our operations, the environmental impact of our work increasingly extends beyond our campuses and into our homes. Electricity consumed while working from home also contributes towards Infosys' greenhouse gas emission footprint. As we seek to enhance and update our reporting methodology, obtaining accurate data on current work-from-home energy usage is essential to our ongoing efforts." He further highlighted that employee responses would enable the company to measure impacts more precisely and design effective sustainability initiatives.
Infosys' Sustainability Achievements and Commitments
The Bengaluru-based software giant, which employs over 300,000 people, views sustainability not merely as a goal but as a shared responsibility. Sanghrajka pointed to several key achievements that demonstrate the company's commitment:
- Achieving carbon neutrality ahead of global timelines.
- Reducing per capita energy consumption by 55% since 2008.
- Sourcing approximately 77% of its electricity from renewable sources in the previous year.
Survey Details and Employee Engagement
According to reports, the survey is designed to raise awareness about energy conservation through efficient electricity use. Employees are encouraged to adopt energy-efficiency measures at home, noting that Infosys buildings consume 50-60% less electricity than conventional structures. The questionnaire includes inquiries about:
- Usage of electrical appliances such as fans, air conditioners, and heaters.
- Wattage of lighting systems.
- Adoption of solar power at home.
- Innovative ideas for energy saving that employees may have implemented successfully.
Historical Context and Renewable Energy Initiatives
Infosys has been a pioneer in estimating and reporting work-from-home emissions, starting with a similar survey in 2020-21 to calculate electricity consumption from devices like computers and air conditioning. This year, the company is revalidating assumptions through the current survey to ensure accuracy in emissions reporting. The 2024-25 Environment, Social, and Governance report reveals that Infosys relies on renewable energy for 77% of its power use in India.
Infrastructure and Future Goals
The company operates its own renewable energy power plants with a total capacity of 60 MW, forming a substantial part of its clean energy portfolio. These facilities reduce dependence on grid electricity and provide a steady, self-sustained supply of green power across key campuses. Notably, in June 2014, Infosys proposed a 50 MW solar park in Karnataka, becoming the first Indian software company to plan self-generation of power to meet most office electricity needs.
This data collection effort underscores Infosys' proactive approach to integrating sustainability into its corporate strategy, leveraging employee participation to drive meaningful environmental impact reductions in the era of hybrid work models.
