Environment Health and Safety Management System

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Environment Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) Framework and Policy

EHSMS aligns with the latest Environment Management System ISO 14001:2015 and the Occupational Health and Safety Management System Standard ISO 45001:2018. We are also working toward aligning our Environment Management System to achieve carbon net-zero. To achieve our shared goal, our Environment Health and Safety team collaborates with WNS offices across the globe to create an emission inventory and establish near and long-term company-wide emission reduction goals in line with Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

The EHS Management System is pivotal to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace for our employees and other stakeholders. It enables us to take a holistic view of our business operations and identify and mitigate potential risks in our operations. It also drives our efforts to continually improve the environment, health, and safety standards for employees and stakeholders.

Environment, Health and Safety Management System

Our EHSMS framework is guided by our Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Policy, which is an apex-level document that is duly signed by our senior leaders, including the Group CEO. The policy establishes environment, health and safety management and sustainability considerations for our major delivery locations which includes our operations in India, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Romania.

Our EHS policy is signed by the Group CEO and reflects the intent, direction and commitment of the organization toward environment protection and the health and safety of our employees. The four key elements of the EHS Policy are: Environment and Sustainability Encourage Compliance Employees and Stakeholders (Clients, Suppliers, Contractors and Government) EHS Integration and Business Excellence.

For more information, please go through our ESG report.

Environment, Health and Safety Policy Statement

WNS will strategically adopt and imbibe Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Management in our way of business. This is consistent with WNS global business ethics, values and interests.

We at WNS are committed to abide by the following:

Environment & Sustainability
We will encourage the conservation of natural resources. For this, we will make efforts to minimize or eliminate adverse EHS effects and risks that may be associated with our activities, operations and services.
Encourage Compliance
We will be committed to comply with the applicable laws related to EHS and our own EHS Management Standards.
Employees & Stakeholders
We at WNS will strive to prevent occupational injuries and illnesses, promote healthy practices and reverence for the environment.
- Employees: We shall provide a safe work environment to employees. We will ensure that our employees have the awareness, skills and knowledge to carry out this policy. We expect employees to follow the rules, report unsafe conditions and behaviours to improve our safety performance.
- Clients, Suppliers and Contractors: We will work with our clients, suppliers and contractors for augmenting EHS performance.
- Community and Government: We will participate in government EHS initiatives and community programs.
EHS integration & Business Excellence
We shall incorporate EHS considerations in our efforts to achieve business excellence. Strive for continual improvement in environmental, health and safety performance. We will set goals, measure the progress and communicate results.

Compliance with this policy is the responsibility of every employee.

Keshav R. Murugesh
Group Chief Executive Officer

Milind Ghule
Corporate SVP - Admin & Facilities

Key Focus Areas - Environment Health & Safety Management System (EHSMS)

Making the workplace a safe haven:

Hazard identification and closure of gaps for Occupational Incident Reduction.
Addressing Significant EHS Risks and Opportunities with 100% control measures.

Meeting The overall Net-Zero Target commits to reach Net-Zero greenhouse gas emissions by FY2050.

Near-Term Targets: To reduce Scope 1(Direct) and Scope 2(Indirect) GHG emissions by 42% and further commit to reduce scope 3 (Value Chain) GHG emissions by 51.6% per FTE by FY2030.
Long-Term Targets: To reduce Scope 1(Direct) and Scope 2(Indirect) GHG emissions by 90% and further commit to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions by 97% per FTE by FY2050

Initiate Environmental Management Programs to reduce:

Consumption of Natural Resources (Energy & Water)
Waste Generation

Sustainable operations and services:

Taking suitable actions e.g. green energy, use of EVs, direct and indirect carbon reduction, carbon sequestration projects by tree plantation.
Conduct Climate Risk assessment and taking suitable actions to address the significant risks.

Employee Engagement Activities, Communications & Training for awareness.

* This policy statement and it's targets are reviewed annually. Amendments are made in case required for improvement of EHS MS and keeping up to date with latest requirements.

Energy Management

Renewable energy remains a key focus area for WNS as part of our net-zero program, with clean energy becoming a more dominant source for our business across locations. We are minimizing our reliance on non-sustainable sources and constantly looking for clean and sustainable energy sources. In alignment with this objective, WNS India and Costa Rica has switched to utilizing green power for its 14 offices to meet their electrical energy requirements. This accounts for 76% of the power consumption of WNS operations in India and 99.3% of renewable sources in Costa Rica as of now.

WNS is leading by example and working toward achieving better energy efficiency and making energy conservation efforts. To attain this objective, we continually monitor our electrical energy consumption and work toward its optimization. Under the Environment Management System program, WNS makes several efforts to optimize energy consumption.

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Initiatives

To improve energy efficiency in our office infrastructure, we have implemented various initiatives. Furthermore, efforts are underway to identify more such opportunities at other facilities across our global operations. Our efforts have been recognized, with our operational sites in India maintaining their Energy STAR ratings.

To effectively optimize energy consumption, we are focusing on implementing good energy management practices and energy-efficient technologies. We have reduced energy consumption by consolidating our operational sites (offices and data centers) and implementing focused actions. Some of these measures are a continuation of our efforts to reduce energy waste during the hybrid model of working. We are currently measuring the impact by capturing energy data, identifying the associated impacts and finding alternatives to minimize it. WNS is also focusing its attention toward opting for green and energy-efficient buildings for our future offices.

Energy-Efficiency-and-Conservation-Initiatives

To raise awareness about environmental issues and promote sustainability, WNS celebrated Earth Day on April 22 with the theme ‘Invest in Our Planet’ and World Environment Day on June 5. As a part of environmental sustainability and carbon sequestration activities, we launched the ‘WNS GROW GREEN’ program. This mega tree-planting program is aimed at fostering socio-economic development while promoting green practices.

Under this program we have planted around 10,000+ trees in India and Non-India locations till date. The estimated total carbon absorption form this is approx. 6787 tCO₂e in the life span of the plant / tree (considering 35 years). This effort not only has a positive impact on environment like improvement in the air quality and enrichment of the soil quality but also has a socio-economic impact by providing livelihood to farmers. The survival rate of the trees is expected to be more than 95%.

GHG Emissions

WNS is leading by example and working toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions. To attain this goal, we continually monitor our carbon footprint, which includes tracking emissions as a result of the electricity we purchase (primary energy) and diesel consumption from the backup generators and its corresponding emissions from all our offices. To reduce our emission footprint, we have taken conscious steps to limit our energy usage. This forms an integral part of our environmental management plan.

At WNS, we measure and track our direct (Scope 1) and indirect (Scope 2) and in value chain (Scope 3) GHG emissions in context with our GHG (tCO₂e) emissions. The methodology used for calculating GHG emissions is aligned with the globally accepted GHG protocol standards developed by the World Resources Institute. Additionally, it helps us identify areas where energy efficiency can be improved and GHG emissions lowered.

We seek to mitigate risks associated with climate change by identifying related risk and opportunities and actively working toward carbon net-zero alignment with our Environment Management System (EMS). It focuses on reducing carbon emissions across our entire value chain, including Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions. We have joined the “Race to Zero” campaign backed by the United Nations. We shall take every effort to meet commitment and targets as approved by SBTi. We are committed to attaining science-based net-zero targets with the objective of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

WNS (Holdings) Limited has approved near and long-term science-based emissions reduction targets with the SBTi. The SBTi has verified WNS (Holdings) Limited’s net-zero science-based target by FY2050.

Overall Net-Zero Target: WNS (Holdings) Limited commits to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across the value chain by FY2050.
Near-Term Targets: WNS (Holdings) Limited commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 42% by FY2030 from a FY2022 base year. WNS (Holdings) Limited also commits to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions 51.6% per FTE within the same timeframe.
Long-Term Targets: WNS (Holdings) Limited commits to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 90% by FY2050 from a FY2022 base year. WNS (Holdings) Limited also commits to reduce scope 3 GHG emissions 97% per FTE within the same timeframe.

We are focusing on implementing improved energy management practices and energy-efficient technologies to optimize energy consumption. We are also utilizing green energy based on site dynamics for our existing operating locations. The next crucial step for us is to focus our attention on green and energy-efficient buildings for our future offices. Additionally, we have implemented the usage of electric vehicles in locations with charging stations.

Waste Management

For an organization with large operations, waste generation is unavoidable. The initiatives we have launched to curtail the waste we generate are aimed at behavior change. In our people-dependent business, the actions of each employee can make a difference. Under our Environment Management System, we are monitoring, measuring and reducing the quantum of waste being generated from our operations.

Following are some steps we have taken to reduce waste generation:

Optimal use of IT equipment to reduce e-waste:

Digitization in our processes to drive paper-less operations
Elimination of use and throw items:
1. Reusable ceramic mugs have replaced paper cups
2. Reusable glass water bottles have replaced packaged plastic bottles
3. Reusable acrylic containers with lids have replaced plastic wrap films
4. Use of tissue paper eliminated, wherever possible
5. Promote reduction in the use of single-use plastic

All our waste is appropriately disposed of in accordance with the prescribed norms as per specific regions.

Water Management

WNS takes office spaces on leases, with the lessors being responsible for providing water from various sources, including the municipal water supply, groundwater and tankers that supply water when needed. In some locations, WNS procures water cans as a potable source of water. In most of our locations, the lessors treat wastewater in centralized sewage water treatment plants that they own and operate. Some of the steps we have taken to reduce water consumption and arrest water leakage include: