Environment is the fifth-largest CSR spending category in India, and it is growing: companies reported ₹2,274 crore under environmental sustainability in FY 2023-24, three times the FY 2014-15 level. It is not the fastest-growing category, though: its share of CSR rose only modestly, while livelihood and skills grew faster. ESG commitments and net-zero targets are pushing some companies, especially in energy and manufacturing, to expand environment CSR, which makes it a competitive but expanding pool for environmental NGOs.
Environment CSR by the numbers
In FY 2023-24, companies reported ₹2,274 crore of CSR spending filed as "Environmental Sustainability", number 5 of 27 categories: 7.0% of all CSR spending that year. That is up from ₹754 crore in FY 2014-15, growth of about 13% a year. Its share rose, from 6.8% in the first three years to 7.5% in the last three. Related categories filed separately (Conservation of natural resources, Animal Welfare, Agro Forestry, Clean Ganga Fund) added ₹1,047 crore in FY 2023-24. 3,066 companies filed under environment.
| Year | Environment CSR spend | Share of all CSR |
|---|---|---|
| FY 2014-15 | ₹754 crore | 7.9% |
| FY 2015-16 | ₹735 crore | 5.4% |
| FY 2016-17 | ₹1,030 crore | 7.5% |
| FY 2017-18 | ₹1,254 crore | 7.7% |
| FY 2018-19 | ₹1,319 crore | 6.9% |
| FY 2019-20 | ₹1,425 crore | 6.0% |
| FY 2020-21 | ₹991 crore | 4.0% |
| FY 2021-22 | ₹2,335 crore | 9.1% |
| FY 2022-23 | ₹1,938 crore | 6.7% |
| FY 2023-24 | ₹2,274 crore | 7.0% |
Source: company-reported CSR filings published by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (National CSR Portal), FY 2014-15 to FY 2023-24, totalled by Sampoorna; updated 4 October 2026. Amounts are as companies reported them, in the categories they chose. "Share" is the share of all CSR spending, including spending filed as PAN India.
Sub-Themes Within Environment CSR
| Sub-theme | What It Covers | Typical Funders |
|---|---|---|
| Tree plantation and afforestation | Plantation drives, urban greenery, mangrove restoration, agroforestry | Manufacturing, conglomerates, PSUs, banks |
| Water conservation | Watershed management, rainwater harvesting, lake restoration, check dams | Manufacturing, FMCG, conglomerates, PSUs |
| Waste management | Segregation, recycling, composting, plastic waste, e-waste | FMCG, retail, tech, manufacturing |
| Renewable energy | Solar installations, micro-grids, clean cooking, energy efficiency | Energy companies, tech, manufacturing, banks |
| Biodiversity conservation | Wildlife corridors, habitat restoration, species conservation | Energy, pharma, select foundations |
| Carbon offset | Carbon sequestration projects, offset programs, climate mitigation | Tech, energy, aviation, conglomerates with net-zero goals |
| Sustainable agriculture | Organic farming, water-efficient irrigation, soil health, climate-resilient crops | FMCG, agri-business, pharma, conglomerates |
| Air pollution | Air quality monitoring, clean air initiatives, pollution reduction | Tech, automotive, energy |
Which Companies Fund Environment CSR
Energy and Power Companies
Energy companies (including oil and gas, power generation, and renewable energy companies) are among the largest environment CSR funders. Their spending is often aligned with their sustainability transitions — funding renewable energy, carbon offset, and biodiversity projects that support their ESG narratives.
Manufacturing Companies
Manufacturing companies fund tree plantation, water conservation, and waste management near their facilities. Their environment CSR is often about mitigating their operational footprint — planting trees near a steel plant, or water conservation near a water-intensive factory.
Technology Companies
Tech companies with net-zero or carbon-neutral commitments are increasingly funding environment CSR — particularly carbon offset, renewable energy, and tech-enabled environmental monitoring. They prefer innovative, technology-driven solutions over traditional plantation projects.
FMCG and Consumer Companies
FMCG companies fund waste management (especially plastic waste), water conservation, and sustainable agriculture. Their CSR is often aligned with their supply chain — a food company funds sustainable agriculture, a packaging-heavy company funds waste management.
The ESG-CSR Convergence
The most significant trend in environment CSR is its convergence with ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) reporting. Companies that publish ESG reports are under pressure from investors to show concrete environmental action. CSR spending on environment is one of the most visible ways companies demonstrate environmental commitment.
This convergence means:
- Environment CSR budgets are growing, roughly in line with CSR overall
- Companies want measurable environmental outcomes (carbon sequestered, water saved, trees survived — not just planted)
- Companies prefer projects that can be reported in ESG disclosures
- Multi-year environment programs are becoming more common
Emerging Opportunities in Climate Adaptation
While much environment CSR has historically focused on mitigation (tree plantation, carbon offset), there's growing interest in climate adaptation — helping communities adapt to climate impacts. This includes:
- Climate-resilient agriculture
- Flood and drought preparedness
- Water security for communities
- Livelihood diversification for climate-affected populations
- Heat action plans in urban areas
Climate adaptation is an emerging space with less competition than traditional environment CSR. If your NGO works in climate adaptation, you're entering a growing market.
How to Position Your Environment NGO
- Show measurable environmental outcomes: "Planted many trees" is an activity. "Achieved high survival rates across plantations, with measurable carbon and water benefits" is an outcome.
- Connect to ESG reporting: Help companies report your project's impact in their ESG disclosures. Provide data in formats they can use.
- Demonstrate carbon impact: For carbon-offset projects, provide credible carbon accounting. Companies need this for their net-zero reporting.
- Align with climate commitments: Reference India's climate commitments (Panchamrit targets, net-zero by 2070) in your proposals.
- Show community co-benefits: Environment projects that also benefit local communities (livelihoods, water access) are more attractive than pure conservation.
What CSR Funders Look For in Environment Proposals
- Environmental impact metrics: Carbon sequestered, water saved, area restored, biodiversity improved
- Survival/success rates: For plantation projects, what's the expected survival rate after 3 years?
- Community involvement: Is the local community engaged in and benefiting from the project?
- ESG reportability: Can the company use this project in their ESG/sustainability report?
- Permanence: Will the environmental benefit last beyond the CSR funding period?
- Verification: Can the impact be independently verified?
Finding Environment CSR Funders
Use public records to find companies funding environment in your geography. Look for companies with ESG commitments — their environment CSR budgets are likely growing. Review their sustainability reports to understand their specific environmental priorities. See our funder research guide for methodology.