Painting a sustainable future: How India's paint industry is aligning with SDGs

The industry faces the dual challenge of maintaining growth while reducing its environmental footprint, making SDG alignment not just a responsibility but a strategic priority

- Sanjay Chowdhury

1. Introduction

SDGs - A global mandate and why it matters in the Indian paint industry

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the United Nations in 2015, are a set of 17 global objectives aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring prosperity for all by 2030. These goals provide a framework for nations, industries, and individuals to contribute toward a sustainable future. Covering aspects such as clean energy, responsible production, and climate action, the SDGs emphasize the importance of collaborative efforts to address pressing global challenges. Industries worldwide play a crucial role in meeting these objectives, as they influence resource consumption, environmental impact, and societal well-being. Among these, the paint industry, with its extensive use of chemicals, energy, and water, is particularly significant in the sustainability discourse. The industry faces the dual challenge of maintaining growth while reducing its environmental footprint, making SDG alignment not just a responsibility but a strategic priority.

India's paint industry, valued at over INR 70,000 crore and growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10 - 12%, is among the fastest-growing globally. This growth is fuelled by rapid urbanization, increased disposable incomes, and a booming infrastructure sector. However, the industry also faces criticism for its environmental and social impacts, including air and water pollution, carbon emissions, and hazardous waste generation. Aligning with SDGs offers the industry an opportunity to address these issues while driving innovation and gaining competitive advantage.