India Inc falling short on net-zero targets, warns BRSR 2025 report
On World Environment Day, the latest edition of the BRSR Barometer has sounded an alarm on the state of corporate sustainability in India. Despite modest progress, the report reveals that Indian companies are falling short on critical sustainability metrics, particularly in renewable energy adoption and value chain emissions reporting.
Jointly released by ECube, StepChange, and EarthInherited, the BRSR Barometer 2025 analyses data from over 800 listed Indian companies across 12 sectors, collectively generating over ₹8 trillion in annual revenue. The findings are expected to influence regulatory development and the report has been presented to SEBI Executive Director Pramod Rao.
According to Ankit Jain, Co-founder and CEO of StepChange, the Barometer 'highlights critical data and performance gaps that are vital if we are to mobilise the trillions of rupees needed for the nation's net-zero transition'. Harish HV, Founder and MD of ECube, added that the report serves as a 'mirror' for India Inc's evolving ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) disclosures, enabling firms to benchmark themselves against peers.
📌 Scope 3 emissions largely undisclosed: Fewer than 25% of companies, on a median sector basis, quantify their indirect emissions (Scope 3), despite upcoming mandates on value-chain reporting.
📌 Limited renewable energy uptake: Median renewable energy use across sectors remains below 10%, indicating slow progress on green energy transition. The pharmaceutical sector stands out with 92% renewable adoption.
📌 Growing water and waste pressures: High-risk sectors such as Textiles (407 kilolitres per crore revenue) and Chemicals face increasing stress from water usage and hazardous waste generation.
📌 Inadequate social reporting: While female workforce participation has edged up in sectors such as light manufacturing (23%), broader social indicators such as health and safety reporting, training, and grievance redressal remain insufficiently covered.
The BRSR Barometer is positioned as a strategic tool for companies, investors, and policymakers. By benchmarking ESG performance and identifying disclosure gaps, it enables Indian businesses to move beyond compliance and towards a competitive sustainability advantage.
The full BRSR Barometer report is available for download via the StepChange and EarthInherited websites.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
34 minutes ago
- India Today
The new Indian beauty standard: What you should know
For years, professional makeup products carried the baggage of being inaccessible—either too complicated, too expensive, or too foreign. But that myth is now being dismantled. According to Bonish Jain, the focus has shifted to developing products that combine high performance with they're a college student, a working professional, or a beginner, users today want tools that are easy to use, effective, and trustworthy, without needing a beauty degree to figure them out. India Today spoke with Bonish Jain, Director and Founder, and Vaishnavi Jain, Head of Product Development at PAC Cosmetics, to understand how makeup that was once seen as 'too pro' is now becoming intuitive, inclusive, and proudly shift toward accessibility is reflective of a broader beauty movement in India: one that values ease, familiarity, and high-impact results at 'MADE FOR INDIA' REALLY LOOKS LIKEThe phrase "Made for India" is often used in branding, but truly applying it requires an understanding of nuance. For a makeup brand, that means taking into account not just undertones and skin shades, but also how the product wears in heat, humidity, or long workdays. Every aspect—from pigment payoff to texture to longevity—is informed by how Indians live and look. It also means challenging Eurocentric beauty standards and creating solutions grounded in local realities and consumers are incredibly value-conscious. But that doesn't necessarily mean they only shop by price. As Bonish points out, performance builds loyalty. Customers returned not because something was cheaper, but because it worked mindset has helped homegrown brands build genuine credibility. With rising competition in the beauty space, trust—earned through honest formulation and results—has become the most valuable INCLUSIVITY, NOT JUST CLAIMING ITInclusivity in Indian beauty is not a buzzword anymore—it's an expectation. And that means rigorous testing. Vaishnavi Jain shares that their approach involves multiple rounds of trials with both professional artists and real users from across idea is to ensure that a product doesn't just 'look good in theory,' but performs on a wide variety of skin tones and textures in daily life. It's this kind of feedback-driven development that allows products to feel authentic, relatable, and usable across geographies and RISE OF INGREDIENT-CONSCIOUS CONSUMERSToday's buyers want more than just a flawless finish—they want to know how that finish is achieved. What's in the formula? Is it safe? Does it offer skincare benefits too?This growing ingredient-consciousness signals a deeper shift in consumer behaviour: from trend-driven buying to science-backed decisions. Vaishnavi highlights that Indian consumers are now asking informed questions and seeking transparency around formulation, testing, and efficacy, especially in the makeup space, where skincare integration is becoming more FROM NICHE TO NECESSITYWhile sustainable packaging is still emerging in the Indian beauty market, it is no longer a distant goal—it's on the radar. As Vaishnavi notes, there's a steady rise in awareness about waste, material usage, and environmental footprint. Even if not mainstream yet, sustainability is expected to become an integral part of brand strategies going shift also mirrors changes in global beauty ecosystems, where brands are now judged as much on their values as on their is not a monolith—it's a mosaic of skin tones, traditions, and beauty practices. To build a brand that resonates nationally, understanding these regional nuances is Bonish puts it, beauty in India is diverse in its expression. From dewy minimalist looks in the metros to vibrant bridal palettes in smaller towns, cultural relevance drives emotional connection. And this is what allows a product to feel personal, not Indian beauty consumer is evolving—curious, confident, and clear about what they want. And the most successful brands are the ones listening closely. Whether it's inclusivity in shades, transparency in formulation, or relevance in design, what's emerging is a makeup movement that feels intuitive, inclusive, and unapologetically more Indian-led innovations enter the mainstream, the message is clear: professional makeup no longer belongs only to backstage artists or influencers. It belongs to everyone—one brushstroke at a time. advertisement
Business Standard
37 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Interarch Building bags Rs 80-cr order from Ather Energy
Interarch Building Solutions announced that it has secured an order worth Rs 80 crore from Ather Energy for the design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, and erection of pre-engineered steel building systems. The project, valued at Rs 80 crore, is scheduled for completion within nine months, with a 10% advance to be paid along with the order. Interarch Building Solutions provides turnkey pre-engineered steel construction solutions in India. Ather Energy is an Indian electric two-wheeler (E2W) company engaged in the design, development, and in-house assembly of electric scooters, battery packs, charging infrastructure, and supporting software systems. On Friday, shares of Interarch Building Solutions added 1.43% to close at Rs 2,061, while shares of Ather Energy rose 0.53% to end at Rs 320.75 on the BSE.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
FPI inflows remain resilient, SEBI move to further boost foreign investments: Analysts
Mumbai: The trend of foreign portfolio investment (FPI) experienced a reversal in April and demonstrated considerable strengthening in May, characterised by positive inflows, which continues as June progresses, analysts said on Saturday. On June 20, the FPI inflows in equity stood at Rs 7,940.70 crore, as per the NSE's latest data. According to market experts, the inflows recorded in May represented the highest level observed in eight months, signifying a resurgence of interest from foreign investors in the Indian markets. 'Nonetheless, geopolitical tensions, including the conflict between Israel and Iran, alongside global uncertainties, fostered a cautiously optimistic pattern in June,' said Vipul Bhowar, Senior Director-Listed Investments, Waterfield Advisors. Enhancing domestic fundamentals and a favourable long-term growth outlook indicate that, should global conditions stabilise, India may experience more sustained and stable foreign portfolio investment inflows in the future, he added. India's economy continues to stand out as one of the world's fastest growing and most resilient, backed by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and a vibrant policy landscape. The nation's regulatory institutions, led by SEBI, have consistently pursued reforms aimed at deepening market participation, enhancing transparency, and simplifying compliance to attract global capital. In a landmark move to deepen the debt market and provide much needed liquidity; SEBI has announced regulatory relaxations exclusively for FPIs investing in Government Securities (G-Secs) in the recent board meeting. 'This forward-looking measure arrives on the heels of India's inclusion in global bond indices like the JP Morgan Global EM Bond Index and Bloomberg EM Local Currency Government Index, which is expected to attract large-scale FPI inflows,' said Manoj Purohit, Partner and Leader, Financial Services Tax, Tax and Regulatory Services, BDO India. SEBI's move reduces compliance burdens by harmonising KYC review timelines with RBI norms, exempting GS-FPIs from submitting investor group details, and permitting NRIs, OCIs, and Resident Indians to participate in GS-FPIs with fewer restrictions. Additionally, FPIs now enjoy a more relaxed timeline -- 30 days for disclosing material changes, up from 7 days earlier. These changes reflect SEBI's risk-based regulatory approach and are poised to deepen FPI engagement in India's sovereign debt market. As India's economic fundamentals remain robust, these progressive measures will strengthen the country's appeal as a stable and attractive investment destination for global institutional investors, said analysts.
