The growing prominence of ESG in India is shifting from scattered discussions to tangible action, as was highlighted at the Kerala Management Association’s (KMA) Green Palms Sustainability Awards.
This year’s edition of Muthoot Fincorp Green Palms Sustainability Awards 2025 celebrated 12 companies, including established corporates and innovative start-ups, for their exceptional performance in CSR and sustainability.
Over the course of several months, the extensive selection process included establishing precise criteria, requesting nominations, carrying out in-depth analyses, and establishing the results of the analysis.
On February 28th, a knowledge-rich event in Kochi honored the winners. The evening’s program featured an inaugural address by Bhavana Bindra, Managing Director, India, Middle East & Africa, Lubrizol, and a keynote address by Hari Menon, Country Director – India & Lead, South & South-East Asia, Gates Foundation. Joseph Martin Chazhoor Francis, Sr Director, PwC and Management Council Member, GCCOSS, set the program’s context, with further contributions from Bibu Punnoran, President & Director, Medivision Group and Dileep Narayanan, Chair, Sustainability Summit, and Founder & Managing Director, Organic BPS.
The Green Palms, symbolizing strength and sustainability, are now recognized as a hallmark for excellence in ESG and purpose-driven initiatives in Kerala.
Following the inaugural address, a panel discussion engaged industry leaders in a dynamic exchange. The panel, moderated by Dr. Subhasis Ray of XLRI Jamshedpur and the American University of Technology in Tashkent, featured:
- Paul Thomas, MD & CEO, ESAF Small Finance Bank
- Danesa Raghulal, Executive Director, Elite Foods
- Anupam Misra, Director (Marketing), FACT Limited
- Mathews Markose, CEO, Muthoot Capital Services Ltd.
The event, held at Gokulam Park, Kochi, facilitated interaction between industry professionals and sustainability experts. The independent award jury, responsible for selecting the winners, comprised:
- Subhasis Ray, XLRI Jamshedpur
- Renjini Liza Varghese, CEO, WriteCanvas
- Rajesh Jha, Country Environment & Sustainability Manager, ABB India Limited.
The stellar winners are:
CSR Category – Large Enterprise
Education: UST
Health: The Federal Bank Ltd
Social Inclusion: UST
Environment: AVT McCormick Ingredients Pvt Ltd.
CSR Category – Medium Enterprise
Education: Plant Lipids Private Limited
Health: Nitta Gelatin India Limited
Social Inclusion: Sri Kurumba Educational And Charitable Trust – CSR Arm Of Sobha Limited
Environment: Nitta Gelatin India Limited
NGO: ESAF Foundation
Sustainable Start-up: Aakri
Sustainable Enterprise Medium: Plant Lipids Private Limited
Sustainable Enterprise Large: UST
A key observation from the jury was that while many companies implemented commendable green initiatives, they often lacked effective documentation and narrative development. This deficiency hindered their ability to showcase their efforts and potentially impacted their award consideration. The importance of meticulous documentation of sustainability initiatives was emphasized, as it streamlines regulatory compliance and enables companies to effectively communicate their progress.
