<?php echo html_escape(strip_tags($title)); ?>

MSMEs Are Moving From Green Intent to Action

By Simarpreet Kaur --
Thursday, 12 Mar, 2026

For years, Indian small businesses have been told that going green is important. But for most MSMEs, the real question has always been, how do we afford it? Between tight budgets, lack of technical know-how, and limited access to loans, sustainability felt like a luxury only big companies could pursue. That is changing fast, and a major new report is proof of it.

On February 12, 2026, Dun & Bradstreet and SIDBI jointly released the Sustainability Perception Index, known as SPeX or the Green Pulse Indicator. This report surveys MSMEs across 22 states and measures how small businesses think about and act on sustainability across three areas which are awareness, willingness, and implementation. While the overall index dipped slightly to 62, the real story is far more exciting. Willingness to go green rose by 10 per cent and actual implementation of green practices jumped by 18 per cent. Indian MSMEs are no longer just talking about sustainability rather they are doing it. The full SPeX report is available at www.sidbi.in/spex.

What makes this shift even more remarkable is why MSMEs are doing it. A huge 86 per cent of surveyed businesses said that going green helps them earn more profit. Another 72 per cent said it improves their access to export markets. And 69 per cent said it helps cut costs. So sustainability is not just good for the planet, it is good for business. Recycling and sustainable packaging have become the top priorities, with 46 per cent of MSMEs already implementing recycling and 50 per cent of micro enterprises adopting sustainable packaging, a rise of 31 percentage points in just one quarter. Medium enterprises are leading the charge, with 90 per cent planning to expand their environmental initiatives.

The opportunities this opens for the businesses are very real. If you sell to large companies or export goods internationally, buyers increasingly want to see green practices before they place orders. By adopting recycling, cleaner packaging, or energy-efficient processes now, your business becomes more attractive to these buyers. It also puts you ahead of future government regulations, avoiding compliance costs later. For younger businesses in particular, 58 per cent of firms aged one to five years are already preparing for full sustainability compliance giving them a head start in competitive markets.

Accessing these schemes is straightforward. Visit SIDBI's official website at www.sidbi.in, explore the green financing section, and connect with your nearest bank or SIDBI branch to begin your application. Keep your GST records and financial statements handy as these are typically required.

To support MSMEs in this journey, SIDBI has put in place several funding schemes so that cost is no longer a barrier. The SIDBI Green Finance Scheme offers loans for renewable energy, energy efficiency, e-mobility, waste management, and circular economy projects. MSMEs can apply directly at www.sidbi.in/en/green-finance-scheme. A newer and even bigger initiative is the FMAP programme (Financing Mitigation and Adaptation Projects) backed by the Green Climate Fund with USD 215.6 million, which provides low-interest loans through banks, NBFCs, and microfinance institutions to help MSMEs adopt cleaner technologies. Details are available at www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp241. Additionally, MSMEs can explore the MSE-GIFT scheme under the government's RAMP programme, which provides interest subvention support for green technology adoption, with the complete scheme circular accessible at www.sidbi.in/assets/front/pdf/Circular_MSE_GIFT.pdf. India's MSMEs have already shown they have the will to go green. The money, the support, and the market opportunity are all lined up. The next step belongs to you.

MSMEs Are Moving From Green Intent to Action. For years, Indian small businesses have been told that going green is important. But for most MSMEs, the real question has always been, how do we afford it? Between tight budgets, lack of technical know-how, and limited access to loans, sustainability felt like a luxury only big companies could pursue. That is changing fast, and a major new report is proof of it.

On February 12, 2026, Dun & Bradstreet and SIDBI jointly released the Sustainability Perception Index, known as SPeX or the Green Pulse Indicator. This report surveys MSMEs across 22 states and measures how small businesses think about and act on sustainability across three areas which are awareness, willingness, and implementation. While the overall index dipped slightly to 62, the real story is far more exciting. Willingness to go green rose by 10 per cent and actual implementation of green practices jumped by 18 per cent. Indian MSMEs are no longer just talking about sustainability rather they are doing it. The full SPeX report is available at<a href="http://www.sidbi.in/spex"> www.sidbi.in/spex</a>.

What makes this shift even more remarkable is why MSMEs are doing it. A huge 86 per cent of surveyed businesses said that going green helps them earn more profit. Another 72 per cent said it improves their access to export markets. And 69 per cent said it helps cut costs. So sustainability is not just good for the planet, it is good for business. Recycling and sustainable packaging have become the top priorities, with 46 per cent of MSMEs already implementing recycling and 50 per cent of micro enterprises adopting sustainable packaging, a rise of 31 percentage points in just one quarter. Medium enterprises are leading the charge, with 90 per cent planning to expand their environmental initiatives.

The opportunities this opens for the businesses are very real. If you sell to large companies or export goods internationally, buyers increasingly want to see green practices before they place orders. By adopting recycling, cleaner packaging, or energy-efficient processes now, your business becomes more attractive to these buyers. It also puts you ahead of future government regulations, avoiding compliance costs later. For younger businesses in particular, 58 per cent of firms aged one to five years are already preparing for full sustainability compliance giving them a head start in competitive markets.

Accessing these schemes is straightforward. Visit SIDBI's official website at<a href="http://www.sidbi.in"> www.sidbi.in</a>, explore the green financing section, and connect with your nearest bank or SIDBI branch to begin your application. Keep your GST records and financial statements handy as these are typically required.

To support MSMEs in this journey, SIDBI has put in place several funding schemes so that cost is no longer a barrier. The SIDBI Green Finance Scheme offers loans for renewable energy, energy efficiency, e-mobility, waste management, and circular economy projects. MSMEs can apply directly at<a href="http://www.sidbi.in/en/green-finance-scheme"> www.sidbi.in/en/green-finance-scheme</a>. A newer and even bigger initiative is the FMAP programme (Financing Mitigation and Adaptation Projects) backed by the Green Climate Fund with USD 215.6 million, which provides low-interest loans through banks, NBFCs, and microfinance institutions to help MSMEs adopt cleaner technologies. Details are available at<a href="http://www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp241"> www.greenclimate.fund/project/fp241</a>. Additionally, MSMEs can explore the MSE-GIFT scheme under the government's RAMP programme, which provides interest subvention support for green technology adoption, with the complete scheme circular accessible at<a href="http://www.sidbi.in/assets/front/pdf/Circular_MSE_GIFT.pdf"> www.sidbi.in/assets/front/pdf/Circular_MSE_GIFT.pdf</a>. India's MSMEs have already shown they have the will to go green. The money, the support, and the market opportunity are all lined up. The next step belongs to you.