NTT DATA demonstrates Planet Positive action on World Cleanup Day 2025

We each have a role to play in making our planet a better place. NTT DATA’s participation in World Cleanup Day is part of our sustainability strategy, which centers on reducing environmental impact, empowering communities and driving innovation for a better future — all with the goal of being Planet Positive.

Every September, millions of people around the world unite for this social action program aimed at combating the global waste crisis. It is a chance for individuals to see the power of collective action, while spending time connecting with colleagues and making a difference in their immediate environments.

• ALSO READ → Honoring our planet, one action at a time

Making a difference through collective action

This marks the second consecutive year that we have participated in World Cleanup Day as a global organization. Each year, we take the opportunity to build on lessons learned from past events and improve the impact of our activities. By taking part in events like this, we are not only improving our surroundings but also advancing our broader environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and commitments.

This year, we increased our collection nearly doubling the amount of waste collected.

• 16,400kg of waste collected (up from 8,500kg of waste collected in 2024)
• 3,260 trees planted

NTT DATA Business Solutions at work in Dortmund, Germany (photo courtesy of Anna-Maria Homeyer)

Cleanups in action around the world

Here are some examples of the great work done by our teams around the world:

• In Perth, Australia, our team planted 2,145 trees in collaboration with the Trillion Trees Foundation, which works to conserve, restore and grow one trillion trees by 2030 to combat biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.
• In Port Klang, Malaysia, employees came together for a beach clean-up to support the Turtle Conservation Society. They collected more than 85kg of waste.
• Members of our Global Data Centers team launched the Global Sustainable Fashion Contest: Wrap the Scrap. Employees were asked to design outfits using recycled and upcycled materials to showcase sustainable design, raising awareness about textile waste and innovative thinking.

Our impact grew through strong employee participation and improvements to how we organize and plan activities like these across our regional offices. We asked teams to identify locations where cleanups would have the greatest impact. This helped ensure that we implemented environmental stewardship practices as effectively as possible while demonstrating global collaboration for local change.

Watch a video of NTT DATA’s global activities on World Cleanup Day

Coming together for a better world

Employee action, a key principle of our sustainability strategy, is embedded in the fabric of our business.

In addition to our cleanup projects, some of our local offices organized clothing collections and donation drives to help communities in need while promoting circular-economy principles.

Other teams held fundraising events to support local environmental and social causes. Some even organized bokashi balls, an ecofriendly method to clean and restore polluted waterways using organic, fermented balls made from materials such as clay or bran and containing effective microorganisms.

These activities show how we can all help to clean up the places where we live and work. As a community, we can make the planet healthier.

“Our sustainability strategy serves as a guidepost for everything we do, and our people are at the very heart of our dedication to addressing today’s climate crisis and biodiversity emergency,” says Abhijit Dubey, CEO and Chief AI Officer of NTT DATA, Inc.

• ALSO READ → Technology meets responsibility: How NTT DATA creates a better tomorrow — together

Employees from NTT DATA in Tokyo, Japan, get busy collecting waste

Small actions, big effects

To all our colleagues who played their part, whether in organizing or participating in them, we say: Thank you! Your actions — big or small — make a real difference and demonstrate that we can achieve great results when we work together.

Here’s what some of our employees have said about their experience:

• “We are often overwhelmed by our inability to drive change. These initiatives and giving days allow us to change that by getting involved. I think it’s important to surface this, give employees a chance to get involved, drive change and finally allow them to see the impact of these initiatives.” — Stu Maclaren (NTT DATA, UK)
• “I’ve come to realize that protecting the environment goes beyond just benefiting myself — it’s something we do for everyone. And I’ve also learned that even small actions can lead to a big butterfly effect later on.” — Shin Seung A (NTT DATA Asia Pacific, South Korea)
• “[I wanted to] spend time with the community, doing something that can include others to provide a bigger impact.” — Oscar Comallonga (NTT DATA, Spain)

Together, we’re investing our time and energy in securing a sustainable future for the next generation. Because when we act together, even small steps can lead to extraordinary change.

Main image: An NTT DATA Services team in Toronto, Canada, launched a cigarette-butt clean-up