Centre for Responsible Business

What Centre for Responsible Business does

Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) is an independent sustainability think-tank registered as a society in New Delhi, India, established in 2011 to advance private-sector contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its work spans action and policy research, customized advisory services, capacity building, and the convening of multi-stakeholder knowledge fora. The organization operates across four primary industry sectors — agro-based industries, apparel and textiles, ICT and electronics, and mining and minerals — and six thematic areas including circular economy, business and human rights, voluntary sustainability standards, SMEs and sustainability, and environment and climate change.

CRB's product portfolio comprises a mix of research services, advisory engagements, flagship events (most prominently the annual India and Sustainability Standards conference), and multi-stakeholder platforms such as the VSS Collaboration India, the Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition for India (I-SPOC), FOLU India CREST, the Alliance of Cotton & Textile Stakeholders on Regenerative Agriculture (ACRE), and the Business & Human Rights Network. It also runs flagship initiatives including the Circular Apparel Policy Innovation Lab (CAPIL), TEEB AgriFood, and the DISHA programme under the Ministry of Textiles. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; its value is delivered through human expertise, publications, convenings, and digital content (blog, newsletter, social channels).

CRB's revenue model is grant- and project-based, with funding drawn from institutional partners including the European Union, IDRC Canada, Laudes Foundation, Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Embassy of the Netherlands, and bilateral partnerships with international standards bodies (ISEAL, RSPO) and global NGOs (WWF, WRI, Solidaridad). Go-to-market is community- and event-led, anchored by the ISS conference and a network of 90+ partner organizations, complemented by direct advisory sales to government ministries, large enterprises, and SMEs. The organization is led by CEO Rijit Sengupta, with a team of approximately 30+ staff under a governing body chaired by Mr. R. C. Kesar.

Name

Centre for Responsible Business

Legal name

Centre for Responsible Business

Website

https://c4rb.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) is an independent sustainability think-tank based in New Delhi, founded in 2011, providing policy research, advisory, capacity building, and multi-stakeholder convening services to Indian and international governments, businesses, and standards bodies across textiles, agriculture, ICT, and mining.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Partnerships and Grants: CRB operates with funding and grants from international organizations including European Union, IDRC Canada, various foundations (Laudes Foundation, C&A Foundation), and institutional partnerships with organizations like ISEAL Alliance, CSR Europe, and government agencies.
2. Capacity Building and Advisory Services: Training and capacity building services, customised advisory services, and technical assistance to businesses integrating sustainability parameters at strategic, managerial and operations levels.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) is an independent sustainability think-tank that delivers action and policy research, training and capacity building, customised advisory services and technical assistance, and multi-stakeholder knowledge fora. The organization works across industry sectors including agro-based industries, apparel and textiles, ICT and electronics, and mining and minerals, with thematic focus on circular economy, business and human rights, voluntary sustainability standards, SMEs, and climate change.

Product overview

Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) operates as an independent sustainability think-tank offering a portfolio of advisory, research, and capacity-building services organized under four programmatic areas: Action and Policy Research, Training and Capacity Building, Customised Advisory Services and Technical Assistance, and Multi-Stakeholder Knowledge Fora. CRB's offerings include flagship events like the annual India and Sustainability Standards conference, various multi-stakeholder platforms (VSS Collaboration India, I-SPOC, FOLU India CREST, ACRE, Business & Human Rights Network), and initiatives like the Circular Apparel Policy Innovation Lab (CAPIL) and TEEB AgriFood project. The organization focuses on industry sectors including Agro Based Industries, Apparel and Textiles, ICT and Electronics, and Mining and Minerals, with thematic areas covering Circular Economy, Business & Human Rights, Private Sector & SDGs, Voluntary Sustainability Standards, SMEs & Sustainability, and Environment & Climate Change.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• India and Sustainability Standards (ISS): CRB's annual flagship sustainability summit that brings together Indian and international stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue and develop strategic roadmaps across key issues and industry sectors in supporting the momentum towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Products and services

• Action and Policy Research
• Training and Capacity Building
• Customised Advisory Services and Technical Assistance
• Multi-Stakeholder Knowledge Fora
• India and Sustainability Standards (ISS) Annual Conference
• VSS Collaboration India
• Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition for India (I-SPOC)
• TEEB AgriFood Implementation Project
• FOLU India CREST (Action Coalition for Responsible Sourcing and Trade of Commodities)
• Circular Apparel Policy Innovation Lab (CAPIL)
• Alliance of Cotton and Textile Stakeholders on Regenerative Agriculture (ACRE)
• Business and Human Rights Network
• DISHA Programme (Driving Industry towards Sustainable Human Capital Advancement)
• Rights and Responsibilities (R&R) Programme

Quantifiable outcome

• Multiple multi-stakeholder platforms operational including I-SPOC (Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition), FOLU India CREST, ACRE (Alliance on Regenerative Agriculture), VSS Collaboration India
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

30 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Quality Council of India (QCI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership to jointly promote voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) in India, especially among businesses and industry actors.
• Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership to engage Indian industry leaders to support transformation towards sustainable palm oil. Involves public outreach and awareness raising activities.
• ISEAL AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner of CRB, especially supporting Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS) work. ISEAL has been a lead partner for CRB's Annual Sustainability Conference and motivated initiation of 'VSS Collaboration India' initiative.
• CSR EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership with CSR Europe; engaged as implementing partner for Drive Sustainability initiative capacity building activities in India.
• Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership for joint research and capacity building in sustainability and CSR areas.
• Aston Business School, Aston UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership with Aston Business School, Aston University, Birmingham for joint projects and research initiatives.
• Rainforest AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to understand triggers for market transformation towards sustainable palm oil in India.
• Responsible Mica Initiative (RMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for developing multi-stakeholder platform to support development of sustainable and inclusive Mica supply chain in Jharkhand, India.
• Green Electronics Council (GEC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership to explore capacity building opportunities for end-of-life management of IT/electronics equipment. Developed draft criteria for e-waste management in India.
• Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Business and Human Rights work including awareness building videos and BHR Network platform development.
• Global March Against Child LabourcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop Practical Guideline for Child Friendly Supply Chains in the garment sector.
• Committee on Sustainability Assessment (COSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to study human rights risks and impacts in tea value chains in India and Sri Lanka.
• World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF-India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder of I-SPOC (Sustainable Palm Oil Coalition for India). Also partner for WWF Industry & Policy Engagement on Deforestation Free Edible Oil in India.
• World Resource Institute India (WRI India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in FOLU India CREST Action Coalition for Responsible Sourcing & Trade of Commodities. Also partner for bamboo value chain study.
• IDH - The Sustainable Trade Initiative IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in FOLU India CREST Action Coalition working on responsible sourcing and sustainable production.
• Capitals CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRB partnered as implementation partner for TEEB AgriFood project funded by European Union to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable agriculture and food sector.
• IntellecapcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting CAPIL initiative along with Fashion for Good.
• Fashion for GoodcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Circular Apparel Policy Innovation Lab (CAPIL) initiative.
• SolidaridadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ACRE (Alliance of Cotton & Textile Stakeholders on Regenerative Agriculture) for promoting regenerative cotton farming in India.
• regenagricoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ACRE alliance for regenerative cotton production program in India.
• MVO NederlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner under Indo-Dutch CSR & Sustainability Forum (INDUS-Forum) project for agricultural residue utilization study.
• Embassy of Netherlands in IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported INDUS-Forum project for sharing best practices between Dutch and Indian companies on CSR and Sustainability.
• Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA), Government of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRB actively supporting Ministry in developing National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights since January 2020.
• Indo-German Chamber of Commerce (IGCC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint webinar series with FNF and CRB on Business and Human Rights practitioner guidance.
• H&McoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrand partner for DISHA programme and social dialogue initiatives in apparel supplier factories.
• AIMprogresscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder initiative on human rights due diligence that CRB participates in as current initiative.
• Social XlerationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership for 'Creating Effective District Mineral Foundations for Sustainable Mining Communities in India' project with XLRI.
• World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember engaged in providing inputs on benchmarking exercises undertaken by WBA Secretariat.
• EvidensiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of Evidensia's Global Stakeholder Council.
• Top Tier ImpactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of global private network of impact investors and entrepreneurs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Indian Institute for Corporate Affairs (IICA): Indian government institution under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs focused on corporate governance, CSR, and sustainability capacity building. A current CRB partner, it compete-adjacent for the same government and corporate training mandates, particularly on BHR and CSR.
• World Resources Institute India (WRI India): Indian arm of WRI focused on sustainable cities, climate, and commodities. Already a partner of CRB in FOLU India CREST, both organizations produce applied sustainability research, run multi-stakeholder platforms, and engage with Indian government and corporate stakeholders.
• Development Alternatives: India-based NGO focused on sustainable development, livelihoods, and circular economy. Competes with CRB for donor grants in India, employs similar field-level multi-stakeholder engagement, and operates across agro and textile value chains similar to CRB's sectoral focus.
• Centre for Science and Environment (CSE): India-based think tank focused on environment, sustainability, and public policy. Comparable to CRB in audience (government, civil society, corporates), activities (research, advocacy, training), and core thematic areas (climate, circular economy, environmental governance).
• TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute): India's flagship sustainability research institute. Like CRB, it produces policy research, runs advisory and capacity-building programmes, and convenes multi-stakeholder platforms on energy, climate, and sustainability — closely overlapping CRB's mandate and operating model.

Broad incumbents

• BSR (Business for Social Responsibility): Global sustainability advisory network working with corporates on human rights, supply chain sustainability, and ESG strategy. Comparable to CRB's R&D programme, DISHA, and AIMprogress work in apparel/textiles and human rights, but operating at enterprise-scale with much larger budgets.
• WWF India: Indian arm of a global conservation heavyweight. Already a CRB partner (I-SPOC, FOLU India CREST), WWF India operates at meaningfully larger scale and has overlapping sustainability standard/commodity programmes. Comparable in mission and stakeholder approach, but vastly larger in budget and brand.
• CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) - Sustainability Division: India's largest industry chamber running extensive sustainability, ESG, and CSR programmes, awards, and policy committees. Overlaps with CRB in corporate sustainability advisory, SME capacity building, and policy engagement but does so from a member-funded industry association model.
• GIZ India: German federal development agency operating in India. Comparable to CRB in funding sustainability advisory work, partnering with Indian ministries, and delivering capacity-building programmes — but at substantially larger scale and with different funding mechanics (bilateral government).

Emerging players

• ISEAL Alliance: Global membership organization for sustainability standards bodies. A long-standing CRB partner, ISEAL's mandate on voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) overlaps CRB's VSS Collaboration India and QCI partnership work — making it a peer in the standards-convening space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Centre4RespBiz
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCbdDIbjTzIpOO357BjPZ5Uw
• Facebookfacebook.com/thecentreforresponsiblebusiness
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centre-for-responsible-business
• Instagraminstagram.com/centreforresponsiblebusiness

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Responsible Business