Mindset shift needed to drive sustainable CSR, say speakers at The Hindu Sustainability Summit

A change in mindset is needed for corporate social responsibility (CSR) to create a meaningful impact, rather than merely meet compliance requirements, speakers said at a session at The Hindu Sustainability Summit 2026 in Chennai on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).

Addressing the session, titled Responsibility to Impact: Driving sustainable CSR through ESG, Data and Digital Innovation, Rohit Kumar Agrawala, Director (Finance), CPCL, said the environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework has become integral to the ecosystem driving industrial growth and is no longer merely a compliance requirement.

Critical resources cannot be ignored in business management and decision-making, said Mr. Agrawala, who sought to highlight how refinery operations can no longer be viewed in isolation, as the cost of production, competitiveness and CSR are interconnected.