The conversation around sustainability in Indian business has reached a decisive inflection point. What was once a peripheral concern, is now being absorbed into the marrow of how companies design products, source materials, engage consumers, and conceive of physical space.
Across beauty, luxury, children’s fashion, and architecture, a growing cohort of Indian companies is moving sustainability beyond branding weaving it into materials, design philosophy, and long-term business strategy.
For Nat Habit, the direct-to-consumer beauty brand built on fresh, preservative-free formulations, sustainability has translated into concrete shifts in materials and supply-chain processes. Swagatika Das, CEO & Co-founder, Nat Habit said, “World Environment Day is a reminder that sustainability is no longer a choice, it is a collective responsibility that businesses and consumers must consciously embrace every day. At Nat Habit, we have always believed that responsible growth comes from building products and processes that are mindful of both the planet and people.
Over the last year, through consistent and conscious efforts, we replaced more than 35 tonnes of plastic packaging with recyclable paper alternatives, while nearly 72% of our PET packaging now comprises recycled PET material. As consumers become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their everyday choices, businesses too need to move beyond intent and adopt more accountable practices across packaging, production, and consumption.
Creating a healthier and more sustainable future requires stronger collaboration between businesses, communities, and consumers alike. Small, consistent changes today can collectively lead to a far more meaningful environmental impact tomorrow.”
In the jewellery segment, sustainability is prompting a more fundamental rethinking of what luxury means and where its value lies. Solitario, a lab-grown diamond brand, frames the shift as an industry-level realignment rather than a niche proposition.
Anurag Lunia, COO, Solitario said, “World Environment Day is a reminder that the future of luxury must be built on responsibility and conscious innovation. At Solitario, we believe sustainability is no longer optional, it is essential to how modern brands create and grow.
As consumers become more mindful of the environmental impact of their choices, the jewellery industry is witnessing a shift towards more sustainable alternatives. Lab-grown diamonds represent this new era of conscious luxury, offering the same brilliance and craftsmanship while significantly reducing the environmental impact associated with traditional mining.
At the same time, meaningful progress will require stronger waste management systems, wider adoption of circular economy practices, and greater investment in green technologies. Real impact can only be achieved when businesses, policymakers, and consumers collectively work towards more responsible and sustainable choices.”
Ed-a-Mamma, the children’s clothing brand, approaches sustainability not only as an operational discipline but as a form of cultural conditioning. The brand driven by Actor Alia Bhatt strives to build environmental values into the next generation of consumers from an early age.
Team Ed-a-Mamma, said, “Sustainability has always been the core pillar of Ed-a-Mamma. Over the last couple of years, we have witnessed an encouraging shift where environmental responsibility is being woven into product design, supply chains, and consumer experiences. Brands that will lead the next decade are those that place sustainability at the heart of their business, embracing it as a genuine differentiator to build deeper trust and lasting relevance with their audiences.
World Environment Day offers an important opportunity to celebrate this collective momentum and the meaningful role businesses are playing in shaping a more conscious marketplace. For us at Ed-a-Mamma, it has always been about nurturing early values and making sustainability joyful and accessible. Through our annual IP, Planet Art, we bring children and families together to engage with nature in meaningful and interactive ways – inspiring the next generation to appreciate the environment and carry that relationship forward.”
FabIndia, purpose-driven lifestyle brand also prioritizes sustainability by ethical sourcing. Spokesperson at Fabindia Ltd. said, “At Fabindia, our relationship with the earth isn’t defined by grand announcements, but by a quiet, daily commitment to walking a gentler path. We see sustainability as an evolving, lifelong journey that we are walking hand-in-hand with our artisans and customers.
This World Environment Day, this means looking closely at the small details that make up our everyday lives. This journey begins at the very root of creation, ensuring our raw materials are of natural origin and our vibrant palettes are derived from earth-friendly, non-chemical dyes. We believe true care lies in honoring the inherent wisdom of India’s traditional craft processes and carrying that mindfulness through every stage of production.
Today, this conscious approach shapes our entire ecosystem. It extends from our supply chain, where all warehouse packaging has transitioned to recycled cardboard, directly onto our retail floors. By offering paper shopping bags, utilizing wooden hangers in every store, and systematically replacing plastic buttons with natural alternatives, we are embedding thoughtful choices into the everyday retail experience. There is always more room to grow and learn, but we are dedicated to making mindful living feel natural, effortless, and deeply connected to our shared heritage, while doing our bit for the planet.”
In the built environment, the sustainability conversation is being pushed upstream, away from retrofits and green certifications applied after the fact, and toward the design process itself. Parish Kapse, Co-Founder and Director of architecture firm TOA, argues that the most impactful environmental decisions in construction are made before a single brick is laid.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about sustainability is that it begins with green technologies, certifications, or retrofits. In reality, they are the ones conceived, from day one, long before the first brick is laid, to demand less from the planet. Good design is inherently responsible design.
When a structure is thoughtfully designed, materials are chosen intentionally, and spaces are engineered for long-term adaptability, the environmental equation shifts significantly. As cities scale and workplaces evolve, an architect’s responsibility extends across the building’s lifespan. Every design decision carries a carbon impact that accumulates over a building’s lifecycle.
On World Environment Day, we must be mindful and honest about the impact our built spaces create. The buildings that will define the future are not defined by aesthetics that simply “look sustainable.” Instead, they are built on the conviction that responsibility and design are very similar. True innovation lies in designing spaces that integrate structural honesty, adaptability, and ethical use of resource.” , Kapse says.
Echoing the thought, Priya Rustogi, Leader (Managing Director), India, LIXIL IMEA said, “With rapid urbanization in India, our water and energy resources are going to be strained much further; resource efficiency must become a way of life built into how we design and live in our homes. Here at GROHE, innovation has a key part to play, thoughtful design and precision engineering come together with durable solutions that are built to perform over time. We aim to create products which provide comfort, hygiene, and performance; in doing so we want to enable consumers to make better choices about their day-to-day lives. World Environment Day reiterates the fact that impactful change comes from doing something tangible and making better connected choices. Humanity can collectively contribute to a very early sustainable future for the benefit of all and future generations on earth by embracing solutions that will promote a responsible use of resources over time.”
The perspectives gathered here span very different industries, price points, and consumer segments. Yet they converge on several common themes: the inadequacy of symbolic commitments; the increasing role of the consumer as an accountability mechanism; and the need for collaboration across business, government, and civil society to make systemic change possible.
