Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), one of India’s leading FMCG conglomerates, has earned Water Positive Certification from GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), recording a Water Positivity Index of 1.80 — placing the company among a select few Indian corporations to achieve such a high score.
The certification, awarded under GRIHA’s Decarbonizing Habitat Programme, follows a two-and-a-half-year assessment across 30 business locations in India, covering divisions spanning food and beverage, mouth freshener, hospitality, and agriculture.
Scale of Impact
Conservation interventions by DS Group have created a cumulative water storage potential of 66 lakh kilolitres. The programme integrates rainwater harvesting structures, wastewater reuse systems, recharge wells, water-efficient fixtures, and ecological restoration measures. Projects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh contributed significantly to groundwater recharge outcomes.
“The whole world is moving rapidly towards sustainability, with global water demand projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030,” said Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of DS Group.
“By embedding water-positive practices into our business and community initiatives, DS Group contributes meaningfully to the larger sustainability agenda that India is aiming for.”
Kumar added that the Group views sustainability “not as a project but as a permanent responsibility,” guided by its philosophy of ‘Create What is Worth Creating.’
Sanjay Seth, VP and CEO of GRIHA Council and Senior Director at TERI, called the certification “a statement of intent of responsibility and vision,” adding that DS Group had demonstrated that “sustainability, productivity and profitability can go hand in hand.”
Broader Sustainability Context
The Water Positive Certification adds to a wider sustainability programme at DS Group that spans water conservation, livelihood development, agricultural initiatives, and energy efficiency. The company’s headquarters holds both LEED Platinum and LEED Zero Carbon certifications from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The achievement comes ahead of COP30, where water security and climate resilience are expected to be central agenda items.
Founded in 1929, DS Group markets brands including Rajnigandha, Catch, Pulse, Pass Pass, LuvIt, and L’Opera across domestic and international markets.
Established in 2007 as a joint initiative between Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and TERI, GRIHA operates as India’s nationally recognised green building rating system and is referenced in India’s Nationally Determined Contributions to the UNFCCC.
