Ahimsa As Strategy: Doing Good Being Good For Business

In the modern world of business, corporations and leaders are increasingly held accountable not just for their financial performance but for the broader impact they have on the community around them. Environmental groups are rallying to call out the environmental impact of big business, regulators are clamping down on how business decisions can impact communities, and consumers are voting with their wallets by preferring companies and brands that are known for their ethical practices.

As a result, many businesses are seeking to lead not just by being driven by profit, but by purpose as well. In doing this, they could seek inspiration from an age-old tenet of Indian philosophy.

Ahimsa.

Ahimsa advocates for a life of compassion, respect, and non-violence towards all living beings. This concept is central to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, reflecting a profound understanding of interconnectedness and the impact of one’s actions on the broader ecosystem. The principle encourages individuals and communities to act in ways that minimise harm and promote the well-being of all forms of life.

The essence of Ahimsa can be broadened to not just mean not causing physical harm to other living beings, but to ensure that one’s actions and words are not hurtful or inconsiderate of the rights and feelings of others.

In terms of economic theory, Ahimsa means that we must be conscious of the negative externalities of our actions and seek to minimise them versus ignoring them in the pursuit of our selfish motives. For example, a manufacturing firm may be highly efficient and profitable, but if it releases pollutants into the water of neighbouring communities, it may on paper seem to be a well run business, but its negative externalities, the negative impact it has on others, violates the concept of Ahimsa, and challenges whether it is actually fulfilling its true role in society.

Google’s well-known credo, “Do No Evil,” mirrors the core tenet of Ahimsa. When Google first went public, it used this credo to create a code of conduct for its employees, central to which was the idea that their actions would never cross the boundaries of ethical conduct. Later, in 2015, this was changed to “Do the right thing”, but the essence remained the same. In the modern world, this encompasses not just age-old issues like bribery our compliance, but the arenas of data privacy and ethical AI development for a corporation like Google.

The global shift towards cruelty-free products is another way in which the modern world is rediscovering the age-old concept of Ahimsa. According to People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), more than 100 million animals are killed in the US alone in testing for product development. The movement against animal testing advocates for humane practices in the production of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other consumer goods. Whether driven by renewed conscience or the fact that consumer advocacy is increasingly calling for a relook at such practices. A research paper published in ScienceDirect (Amalia and Darmawan, 2023), showed that almost 74 percent of consumers would prefer to buy products made by companies that did not practice cruelty to animals.

Companies such as The Body Shop and Lush have led the charge in ensuring their products are not tested on animals, aligning their operations with the principles of non-violence and respect for all living beings. Increasingly, many brands have their labels proclaim not just their benefits or product features, but the fact that they have not been tested on animals.

An arena where many businesses are embracing the spirit of Ahimsa is that of ethical sourcing. Ethical sourcing ensures suppliers and vendors meet certain ethical standards, such as upholding fair labor practices, making a positive social impact and practicing environmental sustainability. Implementing ethical sourcing often requires organisations to set standardised sourcing policies and do their due diligence on prospective suppliers. A related concept is Responsible Sourcing. Responsible sourcing is the process of considering the social, economic and environmental impacts of all sourcing activities and suppliers. Organisations that practice responsible sourcing take responsibility for what happens in the product lifecycle—from carbon emissions to workers’ rights.

Adopting sustainable practices that minimise environmental harm is another aspect where ahimsa finds echoes in modern business practices. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimising waste, and utilising renewable energy sources. A number of large global companies have made sustainability commitments, promising to cut their carbon footprint, move to recycled packaging, and adopt other planet-friendly policies. Tata Motors, for example, has declared that it aims to have zero net greenhouse gas emissions for its passenger and commercial vehicles by 2040 and 2045, respectively, and to have 100 per cent renewable energy to power its operations by 2030.

As businesses seek to balance profit and purpose, the integration of Ahimsa into modern business practices offers a pathway to a more ethical and sustainable future, a pathway that has at its core not learnings from management textbooks but a millennia-old philosophy from ancient India.

Aaditya Sengupta Dhar

Guest Author