MUMBAI (India CSR) – Welspun Living Limited (formerly Welspun India Limited) continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable and inclusive growth, as highlighted in its recently released Annual Report for the financial year 2024-25. Beyond financial performance, the report provides a detailed overview of the company’s robust Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs, which are deeply integrated into its overarching corporate governance philosophy aimed at maximizing shareholder value while acting as a trustee for all stakeholders.
A Philosophy Rooted in the “3Es”
Welspun Living’s core CSR philosophy is enshrined in what it calls the “3Es”: Education, Empowerment (of women), and Environment & Health. This framework guides the company’s initiatives, ensuring they align with sustainable development goals and create tangible, lasting change in the communities where it operates. The company’s CSR vision is not merely about compliance but about creating genuine corporate social value.
Robust Governance and Oversight
At the heart of Welspun Living’s CSR efforts is a strong governance structure. The ESG & CSR Committee of the Board of Directors provides strategic direction and monitors execution and compliance of ESG priorities. This committee is typically chaired by an Independent Director, reinforcing impartiality and strong oversight. For FY 2024-25, Ms. Naiyya Saggi was appointed Chairperson of this committee effective May 21, 2025, and Mr. Murali Sivaraman served as Chairman and attended all four meetings held during the year. The Group Sustainability Head, reporting to the MD & CEO, implements these initiatives across environmental, social impact, and ethics.
FY 2024-25 CSR Spending Snapshot
For the financial year ended March 31, 2025, Welspun Living Limited demonstrated significant investment in its social commitments:
• The gross amount required to be spent by the Company on CSR during the year was Rs. 10.76 crore.
• The amount approved by the Board to be spent during the year was also Rs. 10.76 crore.
• The company spent Rs. 5.36 crore on construction/acquisition of assets and Rs. 6.47 crore on other purposes, totaling Rs. 11.83 crore.
• An unspent amount of Rs. 1.07 crore from the previous year (FY 2023-24) was transferred to a special account as per Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, and this amount was subsequently spent during the current year.
• The company’s total CSR expenditure for FY 2024-25 was Rs. 12.33 crore.
Key CSR Initiatives and Their Far-Reaching Impact
Welspun Living implements its CSR vision through various programs, often in partnership with the Welspun Foundation for Health and Knowledge and other NGOs. These initiatives focus on community-led development and convergence with government programs.
Here are some highlights of their key initiatives and their impact in FY 2024-25:
• WelKrishi:
◦ Objective: To promote sustainable cotton farming, enhance farmer livelihoods, and improve environmental resilience through the adoption of Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) principles and organic farming practices.
◦ Impact: Engaged with 1,24,614 cotton farmers in Gujarat & Maharashtra, conducting soil sample testing and field demonstrations. Over 29,000 farmers were enrolled in certified sustainable cotton programs.
• WelNetrutva:
◦ Objective: Focuses on leadership development.
◦ Impact: Benefitted 25,513 individuals, with a focus on women farmers.
• WelPrakruti:
◦ Objective: To promote environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and community well-being through afforestation and kitchen gardening.
◦ Impact: Planted 11,679 saplings across Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana, creating the potential to absorb approximately 257 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide and generate 1,380 tonnes of oxygen annually. Supported 610 households in kitchen garden activities.
• WelShiksha:
◦ Objective: Promoting education and improving access to quality learning.
◦ Impact: Reached 1,95,893 beneficiaries, primarily children from State Government schools, contributing to a total of 500+ classrooms digitized in government primary schools.
• WelSwasthya:
◦ Objective: A holistic healthcare initiative to enhance access to quality medical services in underserved regions, promoting preventive care and health awareness.
◦ Impact: Benefitted nearly 1,00,000 individuals, specifically 98,198 women (adolescent to senior age), leading to a decrease in high-frequency hospital visits among sampled beneficiaries.
• Women Empowerment – WSSW:
◦ Objective: Supports women athletes and empowers women in rural communities.
◦ Impact: Benefitted 22 women athletes and trained women to earn livelihoods by making handicraft goods from factory textile scrap.
• We Volunteer:
◦ Objective: Encourages employees to contribute time and expertise to community development.
◦ Impact: Generated 2,400+ volunteering hours from employees.
• Convergence:
◦ Objective: Facilitates government scheme integration.
◦ Impact: Benefitted 3,507 individuals through government scheme facilitation.
In total, Welspun Living’s diverse community development programs positively impacted over 1.1 million community members in FY 2025.
Integrating CSR with Broader ESG and Sustainability Goals
Welspun Living seamlessly integrates its social responsibility efforts into its broader Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) strategy. This commitment is reflected in:
• Its Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) ESG score of 83/100 in 2024, placing it among the Top 4 globally and No.1 in India in the Textile, Apparel & Luxury sector.
• Emphasis on sustainable sourcing, with 76% of cotton used from sustainable sources in FY25, and a goal to achieve 100% sustainable cotton by FY30.
• Achieving Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) status at its Anjar facility through rigorous waste segregation, waste-to-energy conversion, and recycling partnerships.
• Commitment to freshwater-positive operations, supported by a 30 MLD sewage treatment plant that recycles and reuses wastewater at the Anjar facility.
• Overall goal of impacting 1 million lives by 2030 through CSR.
The company’s efforts are regularly assessed, with an annual Human Rights Assessment conducted for all critical business partners, and findings are promptly addressed through root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
This comprehensive approach to CSR, driven by a strong governance framework and a clear vision, highlights Welspun Living Limited’s dedication to creating shared prosperity and responsible innovation for all its stakeholders.
(India CSR)
