Companies are increasingly looking at their India based global capability centres as key drivers of sustainability rather than just support units focused on cost and efficiency. These centres are now playing a central role in tracking environmental impact and influencing decisions across global operations.
At a recent industry discussion, leaders from Clean Harbors and AkzoNobel highlighted how GCCs have evolved into intelligence hubs for sustainability. With access to large volumes of cross functional data covering energy use, logistics and supply chains, GCCs are uniquely positioned to support ESG efforts. This visibility allows them to move beyond reporting and contribute directly to long term sustainability planning. Avinash Samrit, president and country manager at Clean Harbors, described this change as structural. “We are actually now the intelligence hubs,” he said.
AkzoNobel shared a similar view of its India GCC. While the centre does not manufacture paints or coatings, it analyses production and supply chain data to help reduce waste and energy consumption. Advanced analytics support better planning by avoiding overproduction and improving factory capacity use. Supplier decisions are also being rethought. “Sustainability is not something which should be driven from a compliance mindset,” said Deepak Malkani, head of GBS India at AkzoNobel. “It’s time that we need to drive it from an impact mindset.”
Both leaders stressed that sustainability must be embedded into a GCC from the start. From infrastructure choices to performance metrics, it needs to be part of the core strategy rather than an add on. Centralised ESG data systems help teams stay aligned and accountable. AI and automation are helping turn data into action, but culture remains critical. “It’s not a metrics problem, not a talent problem… it’s a mindset issue,” Samrit said, pointing to daily habits like plastic use and food waste. Location strategy is also gaining importance, with expansion into tier 2 cities offering lower emissions through shorter commutes and a better quality of life. New centres in these locations can build sustainability into their DNA and set examples for the wider organisation.
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