TL;DR
The Hurun India Impact 50 report for 2026 names Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and HCL Technologies as the most sustainable companies in the country. This shift reveals that ESG is no longer just a trend, but a core business strategy for India's largest corporations.
The Hurun India Impact 50 report for 2026 names Hindustan Unilever (HUL)
The Hurun India Impact 50 report for 2026 names Hindustan Unilever (HUL)
The Hurun India Impact 50 report for 2026 highlights a significant shift in corporate India. Hindustan Unilever (HUL) and HCL Technologies are leading the way in aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with HUL running on 97% renewable energy and HCL setting new benchmarks for gender equality in tech.
What does the Hurun India Impact 50 (2026) report tell us?
This year's report, a collaboration between Perpetual Capital and Hurun India, reveals that the country's top 50 corporations collectively spent over ₹8,000 crore on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). More importantly, it shows that sustainability is being hardwired into core business models.
HUL leads the pack with a score of 53.9, thanks to its balanced performance across climate action, clean water, and education. HCL Technologies follows closely at 53.8, particularly for its commitment to reducing operational emissions and expanding energy-efficient digital solutions.
How are Indian companies moving beyond 'CSR box-ticking'?
According to the report, 30 of the listed 50 companies are now directing their research and development (R&D) efforts specifically toward environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives. This isn't just about spending money; it's about reimagining how industries operate.
For instance: - JSW Energy is re-using 102% of its waste. - Mahindra & Mahindra is 15 times water positive. - HUL has moved almost entirely to renewable energy.
Vichaarak Perspective
We've spent the last decade worrying about "greenwashing." But the 2026 Hurun report shows that we're finally seeing measurable, fundamental reimaginations of the Indian industry. When an IT services giant like HCL Tech becomes the benchmark for gender equality with the world's largest female tech workforce, it proves that the "Service Economy" has finally found its "Circular Heart." Sustainability is no longer an "extra"—it's an "imperative."
FAQ
Q: Who are the top 5 most sustainable companies in India according to Hurun 2026? A: HUL and HCL Technologies take the top two spots. Other top performers include JSW Energy, ITC, and Tata Power.
Q: What is the total CSR spend reflected in the Hurun Impact 50? A: The top 50 companies collectively spent over ₹8,000 crore on CSR activities this year.
Q: How is sustainability measured in this report? A: The ranking is based on alignment with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In my view, the real innovation in 2026 isn't just the AI supercomputers, but the way we're building them with a circular economy in mind. Check out more of my analysis on harkirat1892.
Relevant Reads: - The ₹2,000 Crore Climate Mandate: Why SBI Ventures is Betting on India's Green Lab - The AI 'Refresh Point': Why the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is a New Era for Sovereign Innovation