This International Women’s Day, we want to highlight 50+ fantastic women leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs making waves in climate sustainability and social impact. They’re not only contributing to various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) but also empowering our communities in meaningful ways.
In a time when some are turning their backs on the UN SDGs, it’s crucial to celebrate our Indian women who are leading the charge. They are committed to balancing people, planet, and profit! Let’s give a shout-out to these inspiring individuals!
Arasi Arul – 60Plus Global and TN W.O.M.E.N
60Plus Global promotes active ageing and meaningful engagement, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). At the same time, TN W.O.M.E.N uplifts women through education, entrepreneurship, and funding opportunities for women founders, advancing SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Together, they drive inclusivity, sustainability, and innovation across generations.
Shweta Dalmmia – Bharat Climate Startups
Bharat Climate Startups highlights innovative climate solutions through storytelling, showcasing grassroots innovators tackling challenges like mangrove restoration, stubble burning, and clean water access. We amplify their voices to inspire Climapreneursᵀᴹ, foster collaboration, and demonstrate India’s resilience in building scalable, sustainable solutions. Our stories humanize the climate crisis, spark conversations, and drive hope for a sustainable, equitable future, addressing SDG 13.
Neenu Rathin – The Social Town
The organisation is a multi-stakeholder platform catalysing the 17 SDGs by empowering change-makers with essential information, connections, opportunities, and knowledge. Through impactful initiatives like Neemosphere, the Nano Afforestation Project, consulting, and knowledge-sharing events such as The Social Town Talk Series, it contributes to climate action and promotes sustainable practices.
Arundhathi Kumar – Beej and Reverse The Stripes
Reverse The Stripes is a climate and sustainability advisory driving action through social and cultural lenses, while partnering with businesses and communities to drive climate action through human interventions , compelling narratives, mindset and behaviour changes. Beej is a conscious lifestyle brand using plant-based alternatives to leather. Reverse The Stripes aligns with SDGs 12, 13, and 17, while Beej focuses on SDGs 8, 12, 13, and 15.
Arundhati Sett & Anamika Garg – EcoCollab
EcoCollab is a platform dedicated to eco-friendly, energy-efficient, and water-efficient buildings, offering services such as green retrofits, life cycle assessments (LCA), environmental product declarations (EPD), green certifications, and training. We specialize in climate-responsive, sustainable designs that reduce carbon footprints and environmental hazards, providing solutions like sustainable master planning, eco-friendly building design, wellness interiors, water conservation, renewable energy integration, and waste management. Our work aligns with SDGs 9,11, 13.
Shruti Sachdeva Taneja – EarthJust and Co.labx
The companies are driving sustainability and impact leadership in India. EarthJust fosters regenerative ecosystems, conscious consumerism, and community learning (SDGs 3, 4, 12), while Co.labx accelerates mission-driven organizations by building high-performing teams and livelihoods (SDG 8). Together, they create resilient, purpose-driven solutions for people and the planet.
Tulshe Chowdhury – Zero2Positive (02+)
A bespoke consulting firm specialising in decarbonisation, adaptation, and sustainability strategies, helping businesses, investors, and civil society organisations embed ESG principles, drive behavioral change, and unlock innovation for climate resilience. Leveraging interdisciplinary expertise, cutting-edge science, and expansive networks, it develops ambitious solutions to address complex climate challenges and achieve measurable social and planetary outcomes, addressing SDGS 7, 9, 11, 13 and 17.
Dr. Monika Ghera – OneForBlue and JoonBlu
The brands are committed to sustainability by recycling and reusing resources to reduce our environmental impact, addressing SDGs 12 and 14. They focus on small, often overlooked actions that contribute to pollution in our land and oceans. They have streamlined our materials, processes, packaging, and disposal methods. With sustainability at the core of our mission, they strive to push the boundaries of responsible practices, ensuring their initiatives are easy for you to embrace and create a significant impact.
Asha Scaria Vettoor – Swara -Voice of Women
Swara – Voice of Women empowers rural women by unleashing their untapped talent, creating sustainable income opportunities through handmade garments sold to urban, conscious customers. Each piece tells the story of the woman behind it, celebrating her creativity, dreams, and individuality. Your purchase supports above-market income, agency, and empowerment for these women. Our mission aligns with SDG 5, 8 and 12 fostering sustainable fashion and women’s empowerment.
Desika Prabakar – DPurpose Foundation
The Foundation is all about bringing purposes to Life. A non-profit company focusing on enabling sustainable innovations of students from Tier 2 3 4 cities across India. The brand collaborates with NGOs, government initiatives, and sustainability-focused organizations to amplify its impact, addressing SDG 17.
A networking and e-commerce platform bringing together mental health professionals and wellness service providers from diverse streams of expertise and facilitating teleconsultations, psychometric assessments and other health solutions addressing SDG 3.
A company that provides market access to quality products made by the nonprofit sector and marginalised communities and facilitates ESG-aligned procurement and gifting for corporates and institutions, addressing SDGs 1, 8 and 10.
Shalini Bharat – Nadhi – She for Climate
A women+ (cis, trans, and non-binary) network dedicated to closing the gender gap in climate leadership. Since their launch on International Women’s Day 2024, they’ve grown to 600+ members across India, hosting 20+ events and gaining recognition in Forbes India. Through mentorship, skills training, and community building, they empower women+ to become climate leaders and innovators, aiming to impact 100,000 women by 2030. Their mission is driven by the 3 Cs: Community Network, Capacity Building, and Career Support, aligning with SDG 5,13,17.
Archana Vijayaramanan – Prahana
An Agri-Tech startup with a mission to elevate Indian cacao to the global centre stage with our brand Thy Chocolates, utilising a deep understanding of cocoa cultivation, fermentation and chocolate processing. By prioritising local farmers, reducing environmental impact, and promoting ethical consumption, they are trying to set a new standard for socially responsible and environmentally friendly chocolate production, addressing SDGs 3, 12 and 13.
The only Indian brand for home-compostable tableware, tackling plastic pollution through natural bio-based materials derived from agro-waste. EcoKadai drives sustainability with a threefold approach: reducing plastic waste, promoting circularity by repurposing products and ensuring a zero-waste, chemical-free manufacturing process. It addresses SDGs 9, 12, and 13.
Dr. Radhika Batra – Every Infant Matters
An organization dedicated to combating malnutrition and its severe effects on children and women ensuring ubiquitous access to healthcare. It has saved over 550,000 malnourished children in India, Nigeria, and the Philippines from irreversible blindness and deaths. They raise awareness on gender-based violence, female genital mutilation while advocating for maternal health, deworming, breastfeeding, immunization, gender equality, and the protection of young girls in Africa and India, addressing the SDGs 2, 3, 5, 10.
Snehal (Khasnis) Chaitanya – Wheedle
A one-stop-shop for all things preloved for baby and kids,addressing the SDGs 12 and 13. This circular economy startup is a Tech for Sustainability winner Karnataka Elevate 2023 Climate KIC IKEA foundation grantee for 2025. It enables young parents to onboard the sustainability mindset #secondhandfirst–one preloved product at a time.
Mridula Manasvi R K – The Plantterra
A youth-led non-profit organisation working towards climate action (SDG 13). It will launch an app to incentivise users whenever they engage in eco-friendly activities. Through that initiative, Plantterra aims to educate and encourage individuals to take action for collective impact.
A Social Impact company working at the intersection of marketing and impact, addressing all 17 SDGs. It brings together great researchers and entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations that solve critical challenges in the areas of GHG reduction, energy and material efficiency, climate adaptation, and metrology and modelling.
A cleantech startup incubated at IIT Madras Research Park that builds sustainable refrigeration. The company is linked to SDG 7, as it is replacing conventional diesel-based Truck Refrigeration units (TRUs) with electric solutions. It also addresses SDG 12, reducing food loss post-harvest.
The company specialises in bio-energy generation from all organic biodegradable waste on a turnkey basis, including design, execution, installation, operation, and maintenance. Gastoday is a new product recently launched to address the organic waste generated in homes and convert it into cooking gas and organic manure. The company addresses SDGs 7, 11, and 13.
A Software as a Service (SaaS) product that enables different functions within a company to track their impact in a quantified and globally recognized approach simplifies this impact—e.g., Economic, Environmental, Social, and Governance information sharing with all interested stakeholders—investors, value chain partners, development agencies. The company addresses SDGs 9 and 17, indirectly contributing to 6, 7, 8, and 13.
The startup focuses on improving maternal health, addressing the core issues of SDG 3. It develops new, gentle, less invasive medical devices to help make pregnancy and childbirth safer for mothers. With its innovative solutions, the company aims to enhance the health and well-being of both moms and their babies.
India’s first biomimicry-driven community and consultancy collective leverages 3.8 billion years of nature’s intelligence to inspire product development, education, and design. It connects academia, industry, NGOs, and startups to create solutions based on nature’s strategies, focusing on empowering the next generation. The collective supports all 17 UN SDGs, promoting interdisciplinary systemic change.
A trailblazing company committed to Scrap Utilisation for Aesthetic Beautification (SCRAB). It specialises in converting discarded materials into breathtaking, functional spaces and products, redefining the intersection of creativity, technology and sustainability. The company addresses SDGs 11, 12, 13 and 17.
Dr Chandni Rallan – Circen Technologies
The company delivers AI-powered Treatment-as-a-Service for wastewater management in India, eliminating capital barriers while ensuring proper sewage treatment. Through its innovative approach, Circen directly addresses SDG 6, 11, and 9. The company’s technology-enabled solution reduces energy consumption, increases operational efficiency, enables water reuse, and creates healthier living environments while building a sustainable business model based on recurring revenue.
A sustainable fashion brand that upcycles pre-consumer textiles and excess materials to create unique garments, accessories, and corporate gifting solutions, merging art and fashion into wearable, eco-friendly products. It empowers women from marginalized communities by providing skill-based training and livelihood opportunities, fostering socio-economic upliftment and ethical employment. The company’s mission aligns with UN SDGs 5, 8, 12, and 13.
Vidhya Srinivasan – Just Crapp
A zero-waste lifestyle brand dedicated to promoting eco-conscious living by creating sustainable products from recycled, upcycled, and repurposed materials, such as rice husk, coconut shells, and everyday waste. It aims to reduce waste and inspire sustainable living, offering a range of products while prioritizing environmental impact over profit, addressing SDG 12.
Dipali Atul Deokar – Exploring Womanhood Foundation and Exploring Womanhood Collection
An NGO and business initiative promoting SDGs 5, 13 and 15 by empowering women in biodiversity conservation and supporting forest department staff through awareness and capacity-building programs. They offer sustainable handloom sarees and handcrafted products made by rural and tribal women, with 60% of profits funding the NGO’s work in biodiversity conservation and women’s empowerment. Additionally, they organize annual awards to recognise women making extraordinary contributions to conservation and sustainability.
Janani porkudi – Mystique Gifts
Mystique Gifts focuses on making sustainable gifting accessible while collaborating with small businesses and women-led brands to expand their reach in the gifting market. We are working on highlighting GI-tagged products from various states, promoting regional craftsmanship and sustainability. Our work aligns with SDGs 12 and 5 by supporting eco-friendly practices and empowering women entrepreneurs.
Pratiksha More – Sustainability 101
The platform offers skill-based training, workshops, and bootcamps to empower professionals transitioning into sustainability, ESG, and carbon consulting, supported by dedicated WhatsApp communities with 2,000+ members for collaboration and knowledge sharing, driving impactful partnerships. Their programs align with SDGs 4, 8, 13 and 17, equipping participants with practical skills to tackle real-world sustainability challenges.
Chittam bridges the gap between modern children and their cultural heritage by offering innovative, screen-free learning experiences that empower them with timeless wisdom, resilience, and a strong sense of identity. Through interactive play, the company makes cultural education engaging and meaningful, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in children. Their approach aligns with SDG 4, promoting lifelong learning and a harmonious society.
Sahar Mansoor – Bare Necessities
A zero-waste brand addressing India’s plastic pollution crisis by offering sustainable, plastic-free alternatives for everyday personal and home care products. Through education and advocacy, it promotes responsible consumption, diverting harmful chemicals and plastics from landfills and waterways to protect the environment. Aligning with SDG 12, 13 and 14, the company inspires stakeholders to reduce waste and embrace sustainable living.
Harshita Chandra – Upcycleluxe
India’s first carbon-neutral marketplace, offering over 15,000 verified sustainable products to make eco-friendly living easy, accessible, and affordable. Through our UPAnchor framework, we curate ethically sourced, earth-friendly items, empowering artisans, women entrepreneurs, and innovators while combating plastic pollution. The company’s mission aligns with SDG 12, 13, and 17, fostering a sustainable lifestyle for a healthier planet.
Anushka Jain – Share At doorstep
Share At Doorstep is a global platform operational in India, Singapore, and London, enabling individuals and businesses to donate, recycle, or resell pre-loved items, reducing waste and promoting circular economy practices. By facilitating the reuse of goods, the brand extends product life cycles, minimises landfill contributions, and fosters sustainable consumption. Its mission aligns with SDG 12 and 13 empowering communities to make eco-friendly choices.
A 100% plant-based, vertically integrated fashion lifestyle brand committed to preserving over 100 Indian heritage arts. By seamlessly blending sustainability with tradition, Jiwya champions eco-friendly fashion while empowering artisans and safeguarding cultural heritage. The brand’s initiatives align with SDGs 5, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Recognised as an official partner of the UN SDG network, Jiwya is driving meaningful change in sustainable fashion and heritage preservation.
Supriya Panchangam – The Future Founders Company
The Future Founders Co. is an India-based social enterprise empowering youth through sustainability-themed programs, global partnerships, and locally contextualized solutions. We equip young changemakers with sustainability skills, foster global collaborations, and tailor initiatives for Indian contexts. Our work aligns with SDG 8, 9, and 17 (Partnerships), driving youth-led sustainable development.
Priyanka Gandhavalla – My Health Notion (MHN)
The company is a cutting-edge medical record management and insights platform designed to address real-time healthcare challenges for individuals and governments. By streamlining health data and enabling informed decision-making, MHN enhances accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability in healthcare systems. The platform aligns with SDG 3, 11, and 17, driving innovation for a healthier, more equitable future.
Roopali Srivastava – The Good Loop (TGL)
The platform makes conscious, ethical, and sustainable living easily accessible by offering a curated resource for discovering sustainable brands, inspired ideas, and practical tips. Through the TGL Tribe, a members-only program, you gain exclusive perks, benefits, and offers from carefully vetted sustainable brands. Their mission aligns with SDG 12 and 13, empowering individuals to embrace a mindful, planet-friendly lifestyle.
Saranya Rajendran – Thinai Organics
A sustainable brand built by a mom who wanted to find authentic and trusted products, organic groceries, home care, personal care, baby care, and many more at a single roof. It is dedicated to reviving ancient grains and traditional farming practices to promote healthier, eco-friendly diets. The company started with 8 products and now it has 550 products in various categories. Thinai’s work aligns with SDG 2, 12, and 15— by supporting sustainable agriculture and rural livelihoods.
Avnee Kokatay – Green Pistachio
The media platform makes sustainable living accessible and fun by connecting eco-conscious individuals with sustainable brands, fostering a community of planet-loving changemakers, and inspiring action through blogs, challenges, and collaborations. It focuses on SDGs 11, 12, 13 and 17 while raising awareness and driving impact across all 17 SDGs. Explore insightful blogs, DIY projects, sustainable challenges, and inspiring stories to make mindful, impactful changes for a better planet.
Sunita Varadan – LoopM Alternatives
The company tackles the global food waste crisis by providing bio-based, innovative packaging solutions that reduce spoilage and emissions for the food industry. With 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions linked to unconsumed food, their sustainable packaging helps mitigate environmental impact while preserving perishables. Their work aligns with SDGs 12 and 13, driving a greener, waste-free future for the food sector.
A biotech research and manufacturing company, leveraging synbio tools and precision fermentation to develop and manufacture bio-based sustainable alternatives to products which are currently produced from animals, plants or petrochemicals. The startup aligns with SDGs 3,9,12, 13, 15.
Etti Khanna – Erda Illumine Low Carbon Solutions (EILCS)
The company drives systemic decarbonisation through nature-positive, high-impact solutions. Harnessing carbon finance, EILCS advances SDGs 2, 4, 5, 6,8,13, and 15 by restoring ecosystems, enhancing livelihoods, and strengthening environmental resilience. Through projects such as afforestation, mangrove restoration, regenerative agriculture and initiatives that expand access to clean water and energy-efficient cookstoves, among others, EILCS fosters climate adaptation across diverse ecological, economic, and cultural contexts alongside embedding sustainability within corporate frameworks, delivering enduring socio-environmental dividends and redefining corporate climate leadership.
Sujatha Pidaparthi – Vakapi Vajra Srikavach Greentech
VAKAPI is one of the indigenous, transformative deep-tech solutions of the company that reduces carbon emissions, enhances production efficiency, and fosters employee well-being by optimizing air quality and resource usage. By minimizing energy consumption, water usage, pollution, and e-waste, VAKAPI ensures pristine air quality in critical facilities, boosting uptime, production, and socioeconomic benefits. Its innovative approach aligns with SDGs 3, 7 and 13, driving sustainable development and wealth generation.
The brand redefines corporate gifting by offering sustainable, meaningful, and environmentally responsible solutions that leave a positive impact. The company aims to tackle pollution and transform gifting into a memorable, eco-conscious and purposeful practice, one Verthbox at a time. The brand’s mission aligns with SDG 12 and 13 , promoting sustainability in every gesture.
India’s largest plastic-free marketplace, offering over 135,000 verified sustainable products that make eco-friendly living easy, accessible, and affordable. The company curates earth-loving, ethically sourced items from artisan groups and sustainable brands, empowering women entrepreneurs and innovators while combating plastic pollution. Aligned with SDG 12, 13, and 14 , it is building a sustainable ecosystem for a greener future.
A social enterprise amplifying climate change awareness and driving creative climate action projects that bridge social and environmental justice. Through innovative initiatives, we inspire positive impact for both the planet and people, fostering a sustainable and equitable future. Our work aligns with SDG 10, 13 and 17 13, empowering communities to take meaningful action.
A venture studio that builds and scales high-impact startups tackling urgent global challenges in climate mitigation and adaptation. It unites researchers and entrepreneurs with breakthrough innovations in GHG reduction, energy efficiency, climate adaptation, and metrology, supporting them from concept to pre-Series A stages. The company’s work aligns with SDG 7, 9, and 13, driving scalable solutions for a sustainable future.
Krithika and Ruchika – KiRu (Kindness is ‘Round Us)
A sustainable, gender-fluid, homegrown clothing and lifestyle brand blending traditional craft techniques with modern ergonomic designs for the youth. By collaborating with artisans across India, it creates affordable, stylish, and ethical clothing that combats fast fashion’s environmental harm. The brand’s mission aligns with SDG 8,12, and 13, promoting sustainable fashion and artisan empowerment.
Credits:
Deepa Sai, the founder of ecoHQ, the Vice President of TN W.O.M.E.N, and the Director of Strategy at RecycleNXT and Dense, curated the listicle.