
Resilience, innovation, and sustainability are key to building future ready businesses that thrive amid global disruption and evolving consumer needs, said Mr Sanjiv Puri, Chairman & Managing Director, ITC Limited at AIMA’s National Leadership Conclave
We are witnessing a world in flux, shaped by geopolitical shifts, climate challenges, technological disruptions, and evolving consumer expectations. In such a dynamic environment, resilience and sustained growth are no longer just strategic ambitions, they are essential for survival. At ITC, we have been consciously reshaping our strategies to be more agile, future ready, and deeply rooted in innovation and sustainability.
One of the most critical elements in navigating this disruption is building a relevant and future focused portfolio. Emerging consumer trends like health, wellness, digitisation, and sustainability are reshaping product expectations. We are actively aligning with these trends by investing in new age brands like Yoga Bar and Prasuma, creating offerings like “Right Shift” for health conscious consumers, and developing sustainable packaging solutions to reduce plastic use in our paperboards business. This is being driven by strong R&D platforms that we have built over time, such as our ITC Life Sciences and Technology Centre in Bengaluru.
Resilience in today’s context also means building robustness into our supply chains. With over 90 percent of our value addition happening within India, we have consciously localised operations to reduce dependence on global disruptions. But resilience goes beyond geography, it also means preparing for climate related risks. We have used AI based tools to model decadal risks across our locations and adapted strategies accordingly. In agriculture, we have scaled our Climate Smart Agriculture programme to over 3 million acres, helping reduce emissions and improve farmer incomes, proving that what is good for the planet can also be good for business.
Innovation remains central to our strategy. In today’s fast changing environment, legacy organisations must adapt quickly. It is not just about launching new products, but about staying ahead of the curve. Consumer demands, such as the need for enjoyable yet nutritious food formats, require deep investments in science and R&D. At ITC, our innovation culture is supported by strong institutional platforms and empowered teams aligned with a shared vision and clear accountability.
Sustainability is deeply integrated into our business model. It is not a separate agenda, it is embedded in every decision we make. From renewable energy contributing to over 50 percent of our total energy usage, to constructing only green certified buildings, to our hotels achieving net zero carbon and water status, we are committed to responsible growth. We view sustainability not just as a risk mitigator but as an opportunity for building competitive advantage and creating new markets.
The future of business will be shaped by ecosystems, not just individual enterprises. Collaborations across value chains, partnerships with academia, startups, and government initiatives are critical for innovation and long-term impact. As we look ahead, our focus remains on anticipating change, adapting boldly, and acting responsibly. Resilience and growth in this evolving world demand nothing less.
Watch the full session- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtugSwN9y0E&t=226s