- Tata Group leads across environmental, social, and governance perceptions
- Taj tops social and governance perceptions among hospitality brands
- Amul leads ESG perceptions in India’s food sector
MUMBAI – India’s leading conglomerate Tata Group tops national brands for sustainability perceptions, leading across environmental, social, and governance pillars, according to the latest iteration of the Sustainability Perceptions Index 2026 from Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy.
The Sustainability Perceptions Index 2026 reveals which brands are perceived to have the strongest commitment to sustainability globally, the changing role of sustainability in driving demand, and the large amounts of value tied to sustainability for the world’s biggest brands.
Brand Finance data reveals sustainability’s influence as a driver of consumer choice is stabilising across industries globally. Based on the iteration out of 48 sectors analysed, 24 saw a decline in sustainability influence between 2025 and 2026, compared to 38 in the previous cycle.
India Highlights
In India, Tata Group’s ESG leadership reflects its structured sustainability approach. Through Project Aalingana, the group drives decarbonisation, circular economy practices, and biodiversity protection, targeting net‑zero emissions by 2045. Group‑wide initiatives such as Sustainability Month 2025 mobilised employees and businesses globally to embed sustainability into daily operations.
Within the group, Taj, operated by Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), leads hospitality brands on ESG perceptions. Its Accelerate 2030 roadmap aims to expand to over 700 hotels, double consolidated revenue, and deliver industry‑leading margins, anchored by the ESG+ framework Paathya, which integrates responsible operations, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. These initiatives, combined with IHCL’s globally recognised service standards, reinforce Taj’s reputation for governance and social impact.
Meanwhile, Amul strengthened sustainability through circular economy innovation and renewable energy adoption. In 2025, it expanded solar‑powered cold chain infrastructure, advanced waste‑to‑energy initiatives converting dairy by‑products into bioethanol, biogas, and compressed biogas, and scaled renewable energy use across facilities, reinforcing inclusive, sustainable growth.
Ajimon Francis, Managing Director, Brand Finance India commented:
“India’s leading brands are demonstrating that sustainability is no longer a peripheral initiative, but a core driver of brand value and trust. Tata Group’s leadership across all ESG pillars reflects a deeply embedded approach to sustainability, while brands like Taj and Amul highlight how specific initiatives, from responsible tourism to inclusive rural development, can meaningfully support perceptions.
At the same time, our data shows that while sustainability remains important, its influence on consumer choice is stabilising. With fewer sectors experiencing decline, the ESG backlash narrative appears to be reaching its limits, reinforcing the need for brands to focus on credible action and clear communication rather than short-term signalling.”
Global Highlights
- Google overtakes Apple to top all brands with highest Sustainability Perceptions Value, reaching $41.9 billion
- Apple has the most to gain from communicating more overtly about sustainability – its ‘Sustainability Gap Value’ is $2.6 billion
- Tesla’s green reputation continues to slide for a third year running, losing $7.7 billion in sustainability-related brand value
- Patagonia, Lush, Alnatura, Michelin, and Tata Group are among leaders for sustainability perceptions in US, UK, Germany, France and India
Note to Editors
The Brand Finance Sustainability Perceptions Index 2026 is based on research with over 175,000 respondents across 41 countries. Brand Finance calculates Sustainability Perceptions Value and Gap Value by combining survey data with ESG performance ratings from CSRHub.
The full ranking, additional insights, charts, more information about the methodology, and definitions of key terms are available in the Brand Finance Sustainability Perceptions Index 2026.
