Virtusa Foundation

Virtusa joins the global Miyawaki movement

Virtusa joins the Miyawaki movement, planting 11,500+ native saplings to create urban forests, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainability.

 

Forests and parks used to be all about wide, open, sprawling spaces. After all, forests require vast expanses of land to grow, don't they? However, this perspective is evolving with the Miyawaki plantation method, which aims to create more green spaces in urban areas. Pioneered by Japanese botanist Dr. Akira Miyawaki, the Miyawaki drive is a path-breaking approach to regenerating forests, especially in light of climate change and environmental conservation. As the Miyawaki method continues to gain momentum worldwide, many companies are integrating it into their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies, showcasing how sustainability can thrive even in urban environments.

Taking a step further in championing sustainability, the Virtusa Foundation, the CSR arm of Virtusa Corporation, has proudly initiated a large-scale Miyawaki plantation drive. Collaborating with GITAM University and Guru Nanak University, the foundation has planted over 11,500 native saplings, reinforcing its commitment to a greener future.

Virtusa's Miyawaki plantation drive

Through the Miyawaki approach, 8,000 saplings at GITAM University and 3,500 at Guru Nanak University were planted across 3.1 acres of land in Hyderabad. Over hundreds of volunteers, including employees and community members, participated in this project to restore greenery and improve the ecosystem. This initiative highlights Virtusa's commitment to sustainability and its efforts to reduce carbon emissions across all operations.

The 50 native species selected for this plantation drive are expected to grow over seven feet within two years, creating a dense, self-sustaining ecosystem that will benefit the local environment. The initiative is part of Virtusa’s broader environmental strategy, which includes similar efforts at KPR Engineering College and KSR Engineering College in Coimbatore and Tiruchengode, where an additional 10,000 saplings were planted.

While commenting on the initiative, Denver De Zylva, global head of sustainability and facilities at Virtusa Corporation and joint country head for Virtusa Sri Lanka, stated, “At Virtusa, we are proud to integrate sustainability into the core of our business model and reduce carbon footprint across all operations." He also thanked all the volunteers involved in the plantation drive, emphasizing that it is a step forward in Virtusa's ongoing journey to impact the environment and the community positively.

The project has been designed to create a meaningful and lasting environmental impact while setting the stage for future partnerships between the corporate world and educational institutions in the pursuit of sustainability. Over the next few years, the Virtusa Foundation will closely monitor the plantation’s growth and evaluate its ecological contributions, ensuring the initiative truly makes a difference and inspires others to follow suit.

Engineering a sustainable tomorrow with Virtusa

At Virtusa, we engineer with purpose to solve business challenges for enterprises across all domains and create lasting, sustainable outcomes in the communities we live and work. Sustainability is at the heart of our vision, integrated into our strategy, operations, and culture. From reducing our environmental impact to building inclusive communities and leading transformative innovation, we are committed to creating lasting impact.

We consistently prioritize adapting to achieve measurable outcomes while addressing the significant impacts of climate change, resource scarcity, and social inequality on our business and society. This year, we achieved a key milestone by validating our emissions reduction targets through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning us with global climate goals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. The targets, covering Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, reflect the company’s commitment to reducing environmental impact across all operations. This dedication is further reinforced by consecutive CDP A- ratings over the past three years, recognizing the transparency and leadership in climate change disclosure. These milestones reflect our vision for a resilient and flourishing future powered by sustainable innovation and inclusivity.

Virtusa Foundation

At Virtusa, we believe technology can change the world, and we're empowering our employees to do just that. Through the Virtusa Foundation, we connect Virtusans who have a spark for doing good with non-government organizations that need support.

We focus on socially relevant causes, including education, empowerment of marginalized communities, rural sports, environmental sustainability, technology incubation with academic institutions, protection of the national heritage, art and culture, and more.