India’s green technology space is booming towards a USD 50 billion valuation by 2030, growing at a 15% CAGR. Indian companies are investing heavily in research to create products that are as effective as they are green. With stringent norms, increasingly environmentally conscious consumer demand, and an ambitious 2070 net-zero target for India, these innovations cover packaging, textiles, and energy-efficient appliances.
While supporting the National Green Mission and international sustainability objectives, the high R&D expenditure and infrastructural shortcomings risk impairing dissemination, especially among smaller companies.
The drive towards sustainable products is stimulated by regulatory as well as market pressures. India’s Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, as updated in 2021, prohibit single-use plastics and 25% recycled content in packaging by 2030 through Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).
Globally, the EU’s REACH system and Circular Economy Action Plan limit toxic chemicals and encourage recyclability, affecting India’s USD 40 billion textile export industry. With 26 million tonnes of plastic products being produced in India every year—70% landfilled or burned, according to a 2024 CPCB report—these products are designed to cut environmental footprint without compromising on performance.
In the field of packaging, biodegradable materials are at the forefront. Polylactic acid (PLA)-based trays, UFlex developed, provide the same as traditional plastics but biodegrade in 180 days under industrial composting, according to a 2023 IIT Bombay study.
The trays, employed for packaging food, increase shelf life by 20% and reduce carbon emissions by 30%, following consumer trends, with 65% of urban Indians preferring green packaging, according to a 2024 Nielsen survey.
Companies such as EcoPack Solutions are pioneering PHA films, which are marine biodegradable and less dependent on plastics, according to a 2024 FICCI report.
Textiles too are experiencing a green revolution. Arvind Limited’s antimicrobial fabrics made with chitosan derived from crustacean shells attain 99% bacterial kill for sportswear, according to a 2023 study, while biodegrading without microplastics.
These fabrics applied in Decathlon India’s eco-activewear reduce production emissions by 15%. Nanocellulose-rich coatings developed at IIT Madras increase the tensile strength of fabrics by 20%, providing longevity for workwear while enabling circularity.
Energy-efficient appliances are another area of attention. Godrej Appliances has sunk ₹300 crore in R&D for inverter air conditioners based on bio-based products, cutting power consumption by 30% and emissions by 25%, according to a 2024 CCI report.
The appliances are India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) compliant and address the USD 10 billion appliance market, which is expanding at 11% a year. Innovations like graphene-based heat sinks, developed by startups like GreenTech Innovations, enhance appliance efficiency, cutting cooling times by 15%.
Companies are committing substantial resources to R&D. Reliance Industries allocated ₹1,000 crore in 2024 for recycled-content products, including chemically recycled PET (rPET) bottles with 90% recyclability, reducing virgin plastic use by 25%. International players such as BASF are putting USD 150 million into enzyme-based coatings that support infinite recyclability, based on Samsara Eco and developed locally at IIT Delhi.
These initiatives are consistent with the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which earmarks Rs. 50,000 crore for the National Research Foundation (NRF) to support green technology R&D.
Government moves are paving the way faster. The Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance (RAMP) program facilitates smaller enterprises, which are manufacturers of 40% of green products, in taking up sustainable technologies. PM Gati Shakti improves supply chain efficiency for bio-based raw materials.
The Skill India Digital Hub has trained 2 million workers in high-end manufacturing from 2023, although only 5% of them have expertise in green technologies, according to Nasscom. Such efforts aid India’s objective of lowering industrial emissions by 45% by 2030, tackling the 2.8 gigatons of CO2 estimated from plastics by 2050.
There are challenges still. Environmentally friendly products are 20-30% more expensive than traditional ones, with MSME usage capped at 12%, according to a 2024 SIDBI report. Performance limitations, such as PLA’s sensitivity to heat, limit uses in tropical conditions. Infrastructure gaps like unreliable power in Tier 2 towns, which halt production, cost SMEs Rs. 1-2 lakh every month, as reported in industry forums.
Low sensitivity of smaller producers to cost taking precedence over sustainability and delays by the government in patent approvals (4-6 years compared to China’s 2) hinder innovation. Competition from ASEAN countries with cheaper production increases the heat.
Experts offer solutions. Subsidies in the Technology Upgradation Scheme can be used to offset expenses. Increasing Skill India’s green technology training can fill skill gaps. Enhanced 5G connectivity and power reliability, as envisioned under PM Gati Shakti, will facilitate production. Public-private collaborations with IITs can upscale R&D. CII-initiated campaigns can increase awareness, stimulating demand.
India’s quest for high-performance, eco-friendly products is transforming sectors, reconciling performance and sustainability.
With a USD 3 billion market for green products by 2030 expected, these technologies are central to fulfilling regulatory and consumer demands.
By overcoming cost, skill, and infrastructure hurdles, Indian businesses can spearhead the world’s transition to sustainable options and create a greener, more resilient future.