India CSR Section 135 Funding for Plastic Waste Management

Enriched Corporate · Found: 2026-03-11 12:16

India Companies Act Section 135 mandates 2% of net profits for CSR. Major CSR plastic initiatives include Dabur (35K MT processed), Bisleri Bottles for Change PET recycling, Tata Power Anokha Dhaaga converting single-use plastic to fabric.

Source: https://thecsrjournal.in/top-csr-sustainable-initiatives-managing-plastic-waste-india

Funding Details

Funder

India Corporate Social Responsibility (Section 135, Companies Act 2013)

Funding Goal

Mandated corporate CSR spending on environmental sustainability and plastic waste management initiatives in India

Funding Amount

2% of average net profits of qualifying companies (varies by company; India's total CSR spending was approximately ₹26,210 crore / ~$3.1 billion in FY 2022-23)

How to Apply

There is no centralized application process. CSR funding under Section 135 is distributed by individual companies through their CSR committees. Organizations must: (1) Register on the MCA CSR portal by filing Form CSR-1, (2) Identify target companies whose CSR policies align with plastic waste management, (3) Submit project proposals directly to corporate CSR departments, (4) Negotiate partnership terms and reporting requirements with each company individually. Companies typically issue RFPs or accept proposals on a rolling basis aligned with their financial year (April-March).

Target Region

India

Contact

The CSR Journal - https://thecsrjournal.in/contact-us/ (news publication, not the funding body itself). For CSR registration: Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India - https://www.mca.gov.in/

Last Checked

2026-03-11 21:33

Application Checklist

Eligibility

• Organization must be registered in India (NGO, trust, Section 8 company, or similar entity) or partner with a registered Indian entity
• Proposed project must fall under Schedule VII of Companies Act 2013 (environmental sustainability, ecological balance, protection of flora and fauna)
• Organization must have a track record of at least 3 years in the proposed area of work (as per CSR Rules)

Project Scope

• Projects should align with the specific corporate partner's CSR policy and focus areas (plastic waste, circular economy, environmental sustainability)

Required Documents

• Must register on the MCA CSR portal (CSR-1 form) to be eligible for receiving CSR funds

Constraints

• Funding is accessed through direct partnerships with individual companies, not through a central application — requires approaching corporate CSR departments
• CSR funds cannot be used for activities benefiting only company employees or their families
• Unspent CSR amounts must be transferred to a designated fund within 6 months of the financial year end

Summary

India's Companies Act 2013, Section 135, mandates that companies meeting certain financial thresholds (net worth ≥₹500 crore, turnover ≥₹1,000 crore, or net profit ≥₹5 crore) must spend at least 2% of their average net profits over the preceding three years on Corporate Social Responsibility activities. Environmental sustainability, including plastic waste management, is one of the eligible activity categories under Schedule VII of the Act. This creates a large, ongoing pool of corporate funding accessible to NGOs and implementing agencies working on plastic waste solutions in India. The article from The CSR Journal highlights several major corporate CSR initiatives focused on plastic waste in India. Dabur India achieved "Plastic Waste Positive" status by processing 35,000 metric tons of plastic waste across 150 cities. Bisleri's "Bottles for Change" converts PET bottles into textiles, furniture, and paver blocks while establishing Material Recovery Centers with Self-Help Groups. Tata Power's "Anokha Dhaaga" converted over 5,000 kg of single-use plastic into recycled fabrics, generating over INR 20 lakhs in fair-trade earnings for women entrepreneurs. ITC's "YiPPee! Better World" upcycles plastic into playground equipment, and Coca-Cola partnerships collected 17,000+ kg of PET bottles at events. India generates approximately 9.3-9.4 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with only 81% collection rates and actual recycling rates of just 9-13%. Key solutions include plastic-to-road construction (over 100,000 km built), conversion of plastic into durable materials, and integration of informal waste workers into formal supply chains. This is not a single grant program with a unified application process, but rather a regulatory framework that creates CSR funding pools within individual Indian corporations, each with their own partnership and implementation processes.

Historical Context

India's CSR mandate under Section 135 has been in effect since April 2014. It was the first country to legally mandate corporate social responsibility spending. The rules were amended in 2021 to require registration of implementing agencies on the MCA portal. India's total CSR expenditure has grown steadily, reaching approximately ₹26,210 crore (~$3.1 billion) in FY 2022-23. Environmental sustainability and plastic waste management have become increasingly prominent CSR focus areas.

Why it was added

India CSR mandatory funding mechanism driving significant plastic waste management and circular economy projects

Sources

• https://thecsrjournal.in/top-csr-sustainable-initiatives-managing-plastic-waste-india

Similar Programs

← Back to list