Mumbai Asian Paints Achieves ET Conscious Corporate Award For ESG And CSR Leadership
Mumbai-based Asian Paints has been honoured with The Economic Times Conscious Corporate Award, recognising its leadership in ESG and CSR initiatives. The accolade reflects the company’s proactive approach to sustainability, including renewable energy adoption, water stewardship, and social development projects. By allocating 3% of annual profits to CSR and achieving measurable environmental and social impact, Asian Paints demonstrates how a large, operationally intensive manufacturer can align business growth with responsible corporate citizenship.
The award comes amid India’s regulatory framework requiring companies to dedicate at least 2% of average net profits over the previous three years to CSR activities. Asian Paints exceeded this threshold, investing ₹109.3 crore in FY25 towards initiatives spanning vocational skill development, rural irrigation, health, and hygiene. Its watershed and water rejuvenation projects benefited 12,017 farmers while restoring 149 water bodies, underscoring a holistic approach to community and environmental development.Environmental sustainability remains central to the company’s operations. In FY25, Asian Paints replenished freshwater at 4.78 times its consumption and sourced 57.6% of total electricity from renewable sources, with a roadmap to achieve complete renewable transition by 2030. Since FY14, the company has cut absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 33% and reduced specific electricity consumption by 28.3%. Additionally, nearly 30% of packaging materials incorporated recycled plastic, and plans are in place to achieve 30% renewable raw materials in products by 2030.
Governance and inclusivity are key pillars of the company’s strategy. Half of the board comprises independent directors, with five of six committees chaired by them. Women now represent 9.3% of employees, up from 7% in FY22, and three women serve on the 13-member board. The company maintained a clean regulatory record with zero fines or settlements in FY25. These efforts earned Asian Paints an AA ESG rating from MSCI and a second-place ranking in India in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook 2025.Industry analysts note that achieving measurable ESG outcomes in sectors with intensive operations, like paints and coatings, is complex. Yet Asian Paints demonstrates that sustainability can be embedded as a guiding principle rather than a peripheral initiative. The firm’s integrated approach—from renewable energy to social empowerment—offers a replicable model for other manufacturers seeking to balance profitability with responsible corporate citizenship.
As India’s urban landscapes expand and sustainability pressures intensify, companies like Asian Paints are showing that corporate strategy and community well-being can advance in tandem. By setting measurable environmental and social targets, the company illustrates how industrial growth, inclusive employment, and ecological responsibility can coexist, creating benchmarks for sustainable business practice across urban and industrial sectors.
