Material ESG topics for it services
A sector-informed shortlist of the topics most likely to be material, each mapped to the BRSR principle it lives under. A starting point for the client's own stakeholder-driven materiality assessment, not a finished one.
Energy consumption in data centres and office campuses
Data centres and large office campuses are primary energy consumers; PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness), renewable energy procurement, and RE100 commitments are key metrics for BRSR and client RFPs.
Scope 2 emissions and renewable energy procurement
IT services companies have high Scope 2 footprints from purchased electricity; open-access solar/wind PPAs and green tariffs are the primary decarbonisation lever.
Scope 3 emissions from employee commute and business travel
For IT companies, Scope 3 (especially employee commute and air travel) often exceeds Scope 1+2; BRSR value chain disclosure and SBTi commitments require Scope 3 tracking.
E-waste management from IT hardware lifecycle
Large IT campuses generate significant e-waste from servers, laptops, and networking equipment; E-Waste Management Rules 2022 require channelisation through authorised recyclers.
Water consumption in campuses and cooling systems
Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune IT corridors face acute water stress; campus water harvesting, STP recycling, and net-zero-water targets are material for BRSR and local compliance.
IT industry is a bellwether for workforce diversity; BRSR requires disaggregated workforce data by gender, disability status, and category. Gender pay gap and women in leadership are tracked by ESG raters.
Employee wellbeing and mental health
High-attrition IT industry faces burnout, long hours, and mental health challenges; employee wellbeing programmes and attrition metrics are material for talent retention and BRSR reporting.
Rapid technology shifts (AI, cloud) require continuous upskilling; training hours per employee and skill development investments are BRSR metrics and competitive differentiators.
Data privacy and responsible AI deployment
DPDP Act 2023 compliance, client data protection, and ethical AI use are core consumer responsibility topics; data breaches carry regulatory penalties and reputational damage.
IT services handle client-critical systems and data; cybersecurity governance, SOC 2 compliance, and breach disclosure are foundational governance topics with direct revenue impact.
ESG disclosure alignment with global frameworks (GRI, SASB, CDP)
Large IT firms report to multiple frameworks for global clients and investors; BRSR-ISSB alignment and double materiality assessment readiness are governance priorities.
Responsible tax practices and transfer pricing transparency
Global IT services firms face scrutiny on tax structures across jurisdictions; country-by-country tax disclosure and anti-avoidance policies are material for BRSR Principle 1.
Example listed it services companies
Indian listed it services companies that file BRSR. Useful reference points when benchmarking a client's disclosures.
Frequently asked questions
Which BRSR principles matter most for it services companies?
Across the material topics for the it services sector, the disclosures cluster around P6, P3, P1, P9, P5. Principle 6 (Environment) is almost always the heaviest, but the exact priority depends on the company's operations and value chain.
Does my it services company have to file BRSR?
The top 1000 listed companies by market capitalisation must file BRSR. If your company is listed on an Indian exchange and in that bracket, yes. Unlisted companies may still be pulled in as significant value-chain partners of a larger listed company.
What are the most material ESG topics for the it services sector?
The topics that typically matter most include Energy consumption in data centres and office campuses, Scope 2 emissions and renewable energy procurement, Scope 3 emissions from employee commute and business travel, E-waste management from IT hardware lifecycle. A credible materiality assessment still needs the company's own stakeholder engagement, but this is the sector-informed starting point.
How do I know which BRSR data a it services company already has?
Much of it sits in filings the company already submits, such as Pollution Control Board consents, PAT returns and hazardous-waste manifests. Saaksh's free gap analysis maps those filings against all 108 BRSR fields and shows exactly what is already covered versus what to collect.
Gap-analyse a it services client's BRSR
A two-minute intake becomes a cited, gap-analysed action plan across all 108 BRSR fields, with built-in emissions calculators. Free, on your device.