The Complete CSR Report of Asian Paints for FY 2023-24

Asian Paints is India’s largest paint company by market share. The company has 27 paint manufacturing facilities in 15 countries and serves consumers in more than 60 countries. With a presence in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and the South Pacific, Asian Paints has aligned all its business ventures with the goal of making dream homes a reality for its consumers.

The company is a leader in manufacturing a diverse range of industrial and decorative paints. Over the years, it has diversified into complete painting and designing services, bath and kitchen fittings, decor consultancy and waterproofing solutions. The Group houses seven brands: Asian Paints, SCIB Paints, Apco Coatings, Asian Paints Berger, Taubmans, Asian Paints Causeway and Kadisco Asian Paints.

Asian Paints CSR

Asian Paints CSR is all about the holistic development of communities and a resilient future for the nation. Corporate Social Responsibility at Asian Paints is about a sustainable business model, which looks after the interests of all stakeholders. Sustainability here drives the actions for conserving water and optimising energy usage at every level.

Over the years, the Company has been focusing on its vision of ‘Bringing joy to people’s lives’ through responsible business practices positively impacting communities around its areas of operation. Through its CSR, Asian Paints strives to uplift marginalised communities by addressing key social, economic, and environmental issues.

CSR spend

Asian Paints spent Rs 90.8 crore on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in FY 2023-24. In the said financial year, the company spent Rs 49.75 cr on Enhancing vocational skills, Rs 12.72 cr on Health and hygiene, Rs 23.26 cr on Water stewardship and Rs 0.02 cr on Disaster management initiatives.

CSR Focus

Asian Paints is focusing on water stewardship, skill development, healthcare and disaster management. Asian Paints has been skilling communities through its Colour Academy initiative, impacting beneficiaries through healthcare initiatives and mitigating the effects of the crisis created by natural disasters.

The company’s CSR initiatives in the relevant focus areas are implemented through partnerships with NGOs and relevant stakeholders. The progress is regularly assessed by the management, the CSR Committee, and the Board of Directors. All initiatives, projects, programmes, and activities undertaken fall within the scope of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013, and align with the UN SDGs.

Asian Paints Colour Academy

The Asian Paints Colour Academy is a training centre which offers vocational training to youths from the local communities in a range of courses such as paint application, carpentry, plumbing, and masonry. The first Colour Academy was started in Chennai in 2008. Currently, CSR activities are being carried out at 24 Colour Academies across the country.

Asian Paints CSR projects

Key highlights of the CSR activities undertaken during FY 2023-24

Enhancing Vocational Skills

Colour Academy empowers communities by providing specialised vocational training in paint application, carpentry, plumbing, and masonry trainings for the benefit of local communities. The aim is to create employability and enhancing the dignity of the painter, carpenter and plumber community.

The company’s brick and mortar academies are situated in Tier 1 cities and major metropolitan areas, while its mobile academies serve Tier 2 cities, ensuring nationwide accessibility. Additionally, the company website offers access to curated training courses. The company offers initiatives across various communities to create opportunities for them to lead fulfilling lives and become self-sufficient earners.

Each course is designed to enhance the skills of the participants. A wide range of courses covers textures, waterproofing, wood finishes, and more, aiming to familiarise participants with products and application processes.

In FY 2024, Colour Academy trained over 680,000 individuals across 1278 towns, the company has announced in its Annual Report.

Water Stewardship

Leaving a lasting ‘Watermark’ – is a CSR initiative by Asian Paints which involves efforts to address water-related challenges through various projects and programmes. This includes initiatives focused on water conservation, promoting water efficiency, improving water quality, and enhancing access to clean water in communities where it operates.

The company has consolidated its community-focused initiatives in the space of water under the umbrella of Watermark initiative. The initiative addresses several challenges to combat the deteriorating condition of water and land resources, aiming to secure a sustainable future for communities affected by these issues.

Under Water Stewardship, the company is focusing on rejuvenation of water bodies, integrated watershed management and construction/renovation of check dams.

Rejuvenation of Water Bodies

Rejuvenation of Water Bodies (RWB) involves finding and cleaning dried-up or underused natural or man-made tanks to increase their capacity. With active projects in Cuddalore, Kasna, Khandala, Mysuru, Patancheru, Sriperumbudur, and Visakhapatnam, a total of 67 water bodies have been fixed, creating a total potential storage capacity of 903,531 CuM.

Integrated Watershed Management

Integrated Watershed Management aims to improve both nature and community in rural areas by managing land and water together. This includes actions like building Gully Plugs, Continuous Contour Trenches, Stone Bunds, renovating and constructing Earthen/Cement Nala Bunds, and planting trees. This project is saving water in villages near the Rohtak manufacturing unit. So far, the company has completed 415 meters of lining.

Check Dam Construction/ Renovation

A check dam is a structure built across a river or stream to slow down the water flow to prevent soil erosion, store more water, and recharge the groundwater. In Gujarat’s Narmada district, Asian Paints is working on water projects by fixing or building new check dams in four areas mostly inhabited by tribal communities. So far, it has created the potential to store 18,122 cubic meters of water through these projects.

Health & Hygiene

Asian Paints has adopted a dual-pronged approach to healthcare, tailoring initiatives to cater to the various segments of society and address specific health needs based on geographical areas, enabling access to quality primary health care services.

Disaster Management

Through CSR programmes and sustainability initiatives, Asian Paints has been working to mitigate the effects of the crisis created by natural disasters, pandemic, or likewise. The Company has partnered with the Government on various instances to provide support and aid and have also worked with different partners for supporting communities during time of crisis under the thrust area of disaster management.

As part of its disaster management efforts, the company has contributed to relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction activities. The focus was on mitigating the impact of crises caused by natural disasters, pandemics, and similar events.

Employee Volunteering

Asian Paints aims to become a frontrunner in employee volunteering by 2025 through its ‘SPARSH’ programme. SPARSH aligns with the company’s CSR goals, enabling employees to connect with their communities. It fosters holistic employee development, emphasising empathy, sensitivity, and responsibility. In FY 2024, over 1500 employees participated in community and environment initiatives.

Conclusion

Asian Paints’ CSR projects are championing the causes of skilling India, good health for all and help in the time of emergencies. When Cyclone Fani hit Odisha, the corporation was doling out hygiene and shelter kits to 1,500 families. In the aftermath of the Bihar floods, the CSR team extended a helping hand to 1,200 families in the rural area of Runnisaidpur.

After the Assam floods, they installed water purification units for the families and cleaned up the ponds, wells and hand pumps. After the floods in Khandala and Mysuru, the employees at the Asian Paints factories there helped out those affected by the disaster. Such instant support is what matters in crises situations.

The paint maker is brightening the lives of painters, carpenters, plumbers and truck drivers through CSR programmes like Colour Academy specially targetted at these groups individually.