The survey found that 95% of Indian SMEs believe sustainability is “very important” or “extremely important” to their business. This is significantly higher than the global average of 75% and highlights the strong commitment to sustainability among Indian businesses.
“Sustainability is now at the forefront of many businesses’ agendas. But the challenge of developing and implementing a sustainability strategy can often seem overwhelming – with many survey respondents highlighting not knowing where to start on the journey. By parterning with a trusted logistics leader like DHL Express, renowned for its dedicated portfolio of low emissions shipping solutions, SMEs can position themselves to remain viable, competitive, and ensure long-term growth”, says Michiel Greeven, Executive Vice President Global Commercial at DHL Express in a statement.
“Sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’ for businesses, it has become a necessity to drive growth, attract customers, and secure long-term investment,” says R S Subramanian, SVP South Asia at DHL Express, “Indian SMEs are recognizing this and are taking proactive steps to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations. In fact, as per our survey at DHL, we see that 51% of SMEs in India and 47% of SMEs in China believe their customers would be willing to pay more for sustainable shipping, compared to the global average of 23%. This is likely because India and China are exporting powerhouses, and SMEs here are leaning into sustainable strategies to appeal to Western consumers.”
The businesses that took part in the research spanned nine sectors: retail, consumer goods, professional services, engineering, fashion, technology, chemicals, life science & healthcare, and financial service, providing valuable insights that will help SMEs navigate the evolving landscape and seize new opportunities. The resulting eBook discovers the impact sustainability is having on SMEs and the growing prioritization across their supply chain operations.
Key findings from the survey for India include:
- Sustainability is extremely important to SMEs in India and China: 72% of Chinese SMEs and 59% of Indian SMEs said that sustainability is “extremely important” to their business. This is significantly higher than the global average of 35%.
- Strong customer support for sustainability: 51% of Indian SMEs believe their customers are “extremely” or “very” willing to pay more for sustainable shipping, significantly higher than the global average of 23%.
- Sustainability is driving commercial success: 68% of Indian SMEs believe that offering sustainable delivery options will lead to increased commercial success.
- Partnering with sustainable logistics providers is key: 90% of Indian SMEs say it is “extremely” or “very” important to partner with logistics providers that prioritize sustainability.
