BENGALURU,
INDIA, February 26, 2026:
●
ABB became the fourth company in India and the
first across the automotive, electrical equipment and machinery production
sector to achieve the stakeholder-focused AWS gold certification
●
~85% of treated water recycled, enabling
groundwater replenishment at a rate nearly 1.25 times faster than the
consumption rate
●
Groundwater levels increased by ~30% as
compared to its baseline year 2023, with an annual rainwater harvesting
potential of over 200 million litres, enough to meet the daily water needs of
over 400,000 urban Indian households
ABB
India recently achieved a landmark sustainability achievement: its Nelamangala,
Bengaluru Rural manufacturing campus was awarded the prestigious Gold-level
certification under the internationally recognised Alliance for Water
Stewardship (AWS) Standard. This achievement aligns with India’s National Water
Policy and the country’s focus on sustainable industrial development. It
reinforces national objectives to improve industrial water-use efficiency and
reduce dependence on groundwater, while helping decouple manufacturing growth
from freshwater consumption. ABB becomes only the fourth company in India, and
the first in the automotive, electrical equipment, and machinery production
sector, to earn this rigorous, stakeholder-focused certification.
The
certification process involved structured engagement with a wide range of
external stakeholders. This included suppliers, non-governmental organisations,
local communities, neighbouring industries, regulatory authorities, and sustainability
and industry bodies. These engagements were integral to assessing shared water
risks, validating on-ground interventions, and aligning site-level water
stewardship actions with broader catchment and community priorities.
ABB’s
Nelamangala site, among the company’s most modern campuses, brings together a
workforce of over 1,800 across multiple divisions, spread over approximately
56,000 sq. m. The AWS certification confirms that the site meets a globally
recognised benchmark for responsible water stewardship and leadership, covering
water governance, sustainable water balance, water quality, and shared
catchment outcomes. As per The Energy and Resources Institute, industrial water
use in India accounts for approximately 8–10% of total freshwater withdrawal
and industrial water demand is expected to increase from 56 billion cubic
meters (BCM) in 2010 to 151 BCM by 2050. By aligning industrial operations with
local water realities, the site has demonstrated how manufacturing facilities
can be both technologically advanced and environmentally regenerative, while
creating long-term shared value for industry and its local communities and
ecosystems.
Key
achievements include:
●
Water replenishment nearly 1.25x
– the site replenishes nearly 1.25x more water than it consumes.
●
Around 85% of treated water is recycled
within the facility.
●
Over 200 million litres
of annual rainwater harvesting potential through implementation of conventional
as well as cross wave technology, enough to meet the daily domestic water needs
of approximately 400,000 urban households. Engaged 44 local suppliers in
the catchment area on water stewardship initiatives by sharing best practices
on sustainable water management, as part of wider catchment-level efforts, with
several suppliers subsequently initiating their own rainwater harvesting
initiatives.
“Water
stewardship today must go beyond operational efficiency to delivering shared
outcomes for communities and ecosystems. The AWS Gold certification recognises
our deliberate focus on measurable groundwater recharge, transparent water
governance, and sustained stakeholder engagement. At Nelamangala, we have
demonstrated that industrial growth can be decoupled from freshwater
dependence, creating a model that is scalable, locally relevant, and aligned
with India’s long-term water security priorities,” said Saju SR, Senior Vice
President, Smart Power Division. ABB India
In
addition to on-site interventions, ABB has partnered with Third Planet
Foundation to implement a large-scale groundwater recharge programme across 70
villages in Nelamangala. The initiative supports long-term water security for
local communities and agriculture. Together, these efforts position ABB India’s
Nelamangala campus as a scalable model for responsible industrial water
stewardship, demonstrating how industry, communities, and institutions can work
together to strengthen shared water resources. By integrating site-level
efficiency with local groundwater recharge and stakeholder collaboration, ABB’s
approach supports regional water resilience while aligning industrial growth
with India’s long-term water security priorities.
ABB
is a global technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a
more sustainable and resource-efficient future. By connecting its engineering
and digitalization expertise, ABB helps industries run at high performance,
while becoming more efficient, productive and sustainable so they outperform.
At ABB, we call this ‘Engineered to Outrun’. The company has over 140 years of
history and around 110,000 employees worldwide. ABB’s shares are listed on the
SIX Swiss Exchange (ABBN) and Nasdaq Stockholm (ABB). www.abb.com
Annexure
ABB
India’s Nelamangala site is in compliance with the AWS International
Stewardship Standard v2.0. This certificate is valid for a period of three (3)
years, contingent upon annual surveillance audits and provided that the site or
group continues to meet the conditions as laid out in the AWS Standard, AWS
Certification, Requirements and the Certification Agreement with Water
Stewardship Assurance Services (WSAS).
For
more information please contact:
Sohini
Mookherjea
Email:
sohini.mookherjea@in.abb.com
