Implementing Corporate Sustainable Development: A Case of an SME from India

Abstract

Studies have repeatedly illustrated how institutions struggle to implement sustainable development models, even when their formal claims indicate strict adoption of principles of sustainable development (Sean Markey, 2010). Relevance of innovative and feasible projects for sustainable development is escalating rapidly among the business community (Brower, 2011). The efforts of many organizations to recognize sustainable development principles as an important community vision is encouraging, but only very few of them have proved themselves in successfully translating their goals into actionable strategies (Sean Markey, 2010). Extra Weave Pvt. Ltd, a small and medium enterprise (SME) in Allapuzha district of the state of Kerala, India, stands out from the crowd in its remarkable achievements in sustainability, overcoming initial challenges and issues in implementation of a sound sustainability development model. This article is a case study of the implementation issues of sustainable development practices at Extra Weave Pvt. Ltd. The study focuses on how communication plays a role in the implementation of sustainable development practices in Extra Weave. The study also discusses how soft system methodology (SSM) was used to identify the issues in implementation and facilitate for appropriate solutions.

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

2024 Sage Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Resources

Appendix

Table A1. Details of the Problems Identified.

S.No.

Problems Identified

Annual Savings

Investment

Payback

kWh/litre/kg

₹ Lakhs

₹ Lakhs

Months

Payback 0–6 months

1

Rectify the choking in steam circuit of RF dryer-1

99,927

3.42

Nil

Immediate

2

Close the steam line to steam dryer when dryer is not operating

9,129

2.16

Nil

Immediate

3

Operate dryer at 7 m/hr for jute and 11 m/hr for wool

12,784

2.08

Nil

Immediate

4

Pump condensate water to feed water tank every hour

7,117

1.69

Nil

Immediate

5

Increase the frequency of extractor from 40 Hz to 50 Hz

45,416

1.59

Nil

Immediate

6

Operate surface aerator alternately

43,362

1.52

Nil

Immediate

7

Reduce the receiver set pressure in compressors

20,721

0.73

Nil

Immediate

8

Close the steam lines when the RF dryer is not operating

513

0.1

Nil

Immediate

9

Clean evaporator and condenser tubes of chiller and operate one chiller for both RF driers

90,000

3.15

Minimum

Immediate

10

Arrest leakages in compressed air network

72,574

2.54

Minimum

Immediate

11

Rearrange the position of temperature sensor and install VFD on exhaust blower of latex backing chamber

33,118

12

0.3

Immediate

12

Improve power factor to reduce maximum demand

2.73

0.4

2

13

Close the opening between conveyer and both ends of dryer

5,565

1.3

0.3

3

14

Replace secondary pumps with energy-efficient pumps

37,584

1.32

0.48

4

Payback (6–12)

15

Recover the heat of hot water after dyeing from dyeing cabinets

55,179

13.1

10

9

16

Interlock chiller with dryer

15,000

0.53

0.4

9

Pay back > 12 months

17

Replace primary pumps with energy-efficient pumps

5,040

0.18

0.21

14

18

Replace entire steam line and increase the steam pipe size

53,357

12.61

18

17

19

Interconnect creel light and loom and switch off creel light under normal operating hours

9,900

0.34

0.5

18

21

Redistribute the load to improve the loading of auto transformer

4,896

0.17

0.3

21

22

Provide partition in carpet stitching table

3,120

0.11

0.2

22

23

Replace T 12 FTL with T5 FTL with electronic ballast

10,368

0.36

0.7

23

24

Clean the heat exchanger tubes in dyeing cabinets

To be estimated

25

Insulate dyeing cabinets

To be estimated

Source: Company records.

This case was prepared for inclusion in Sage Business Cases primarily as a basis for classroom discussion or self-study, and is not meant to illustrate either effective or ineffective management styles. Nothing herein shall be deemed to be an endorsement of any kind. This case is for scholarly, educational, or personal use only within your university, and cannot be forwarded outside the university or used for other commercial purposes.

2024 Sage Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved

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