Ms. Neelam Chhiber, Co-founder and Managing Trustee of Industree Foundation and Co-founder and Director of Mother Earth, is a visionary social entrepreneur committed to empowering marginalized communities and advancing sustainable economic development. With a keen eye for design and a dedication to social justice, Ms. Chhiber has led initiatives that redefine the intersection of traditional crafts and modern markets.
At the forefront of this transformation is Industree Foundation, which focuses on empowering artisans, particularly women, by creating sustainable livelihoods through the revitalization of local crafts. This initiative promotes economic independence and gender equality while preserving rich cultural heritage. Building on this foundation, Ms. Chhiber recently launched Flourish, a groundbreaking e-commerce platform that champions sustainable and ethical practices by prioritizing producer welfare, carbon neutrality, and fair trade, thereby redefining the future of conscious consumption.
In this exclusive interview with TheCSRUniverse, Ms. Chhiber delves deep into her inspiring journey, discussing the evolution of her vision, the impact of government initiatives, and the transformative power of inclusive entrepreneurship.
Scroll down to explore how her initiatives are not only empowering individuals but also shaping a more equitable and sustainable future.
Q&A
Q. You’ve had an inspiring journey as a social entrepreneur. Could you share the goals you set out with when you began this path, and how your vision has evolved over the years as you worked to uplift marginalized communities?
A. I hold a Master’s degree in Industrial Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. This academic foundation has inspired me to pursue two key goals in my professional journey:
Goal 1: To utilize design as a catalyst for transforming the lives of producers, not just consumers. According to the Eames report—specifically, Charles Eames’ India Report—traditional production methods in India can remain culturally relevant if they are contemporized, acknowledging that culture is dynamic. This perspective highlights the importance of engaging with India’s creative producers, particularly artisans, as a fundamental aspect of the nation’s industrialization process.
Goal 2: To comprehend and leverage markets as a critical driving force for altering production and consumption patterns.
Q. You have been a pioneering force in transforming how social impact is embedded within business models, particularly with the advent of mandated CSR in India. How has this mandate influenced your work and vision, especially in terms of scaling up initiatives like Industree Foundation and Flourish?
A. Goal 1 and Goal 2 are intrinsically linked as designers always design for production and consumption and need to understand production methods and markets for the same. In Industree’s case, the cultural milieu within which production occurs gains a much stronger emphasis, whilst keeping an eye on the consumption cultural patterns.
This transforms into social impact, and its development cannot be supported by commercial returns, as in normal business models. Hence the mandated CSR in India has been transformational in opening out doors of partnerships and support to agri and creative production related communities. The vision expanded from partial producer ownership to 100% producer ownership and woman collectives formation as both the the government and CSR support eco systems are still nascent in their understanding of blended finance.
Q. Industree Foundation and Mother Earth have significantly impacted areas such as unemployment, livelihood, women empowerment, and poverty alleviation. What inspired you to view business through an impact lens, and how do you maintain a balance between economic development and social good?
A. For the long-term sustainability of business—when viewed through a 100-year lens—adhering to all forms of sustainability is essential, not optional. This concept of the quadruple bottom line, coined by Jacob Mathew at Industree, encompasses financial, social, environmental, and cultural returns. The inspiration comes from thinking long-term and recognizing that any investment in a human endeavor should not be limited to short-term gains.
Q. With Flourish being a producer-first, carbon-positive platform, how do you envision this model redefining responsible manufacturing and ethical commerce? What role does it play in democratizing wealth creation and ensuring ethical wages for producer groups?
A. Responsible manufacturing and ethical commerce have received significant support from Northwestern Europe, but the global majority must take responsibility for the interpretation of these terms. The truth lies in the spirit behind such statements and movements. Our role is to implement these principles in the right spirit, ensuring that genuine gains are achieved for the most vulnerable communities—not just economically, but also for regions at risk of losing biodiversity, natural diversity, traditional knowledge, and ways of life. Progress must be inclusive.
The processes implemented in the management of Flourish will be crucial for facilitating inclusion and the democratization of wealth creation in the future. This process will necessarily be slow, and ensuring ethical wages at the producer group level through the introduction of calculation technology, which is increasingly being adopted by sellers on the platform, represents a cultural shift that requires time, trust, and a genuine belief in ownership.
Q. Enabling women to work within their own communities instead of relocating is a key part of your approach. Could you elaborate on the social and economic benefits this model provides, especially in terms of women's empowerment and local development?
A. Women producers have become integral to the value chains of bananas, bamboo, and biodegradable leaf plates that are ethical, transparent, and sustainable in the long run. They have been empowered by having work opportunities closer to their homes. In the past, relocation in search of opportunities often reduced women to being homemakers, with few or no local job options and meager wages. Many women walked miles in search of work, facing uncertainty in both employment and income.
Reduced commuting distance for women has:
- Inspired women to take work closer to home and search for local opportunities, without migration
- Reduced carbon footprint due to localisation of economic activity and the reduction in commuting distance
- Empower women with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to lead positive change within their communities
- Strengthen women's capacity to enhance their own and families' well-being through greater control over resources and decision-making
- Opportunity for Work from Home in times of crisis
Q. The ‘Vocal for Local’ campaign and Atmanirbhar Bharat have brought attention to India’s manufacturing sector. How do you align your initiatives, especially Flourish, with these national campaigns, and what more can be done to enhance the visibility of local artisans in global markets?
A. It is challenging to align initiatives like Flourish with national campaigns unless they reach a certain scale. We are on the path to achieving this. To enhance the visibility of Indian artisans on a global scale, India needs to establish itself as the green manufacturing hub of the world.
China helped the world achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by lifting millions out of poverty and becoming the factory of the world, even while being the second-largest carbon emitter. However, India does not have the same luxury or capability. To create jobs for its millions of youth and to reap the demographic dividend, the entire ecosystem must be developed to propel India into the 22nd century. India can become the green manufacturing hub of the world in the food, fashion, and lifestyle sectors by utilizing distributed manufacturing in this age of digital transformation.
Q. Sustainability is a core aspect of Flourish and your other ventures. How do you integrate sustainable practices into responsible manufacturing, and what kind of consumer response have you witnessed towards carbon-positive, ethically produced goods?
A. Sustainability is the heart and soul of everything we do at Flourish and across our ventures. We believe that responsible manufacturing begins with thoughtful sourcing—whether it’s working with handloom weavers, tribal artisans, or upcycled materials. We prioritize natural fibers, organic dyes, and traditional processes that minimize energy consumption. Our collaborations are rooted in fair trade principles, ensuring that every artisan receives fair compensation and sustainable livelihoods.
Beyond just manufacturing, we focus on reducing waste through circular practices. Many of our products are designed to be multifunctional, repairable, or recyclable, encouraging conscious consumption.
The consumer response has been overwhelmingly positive. We've noticed a growing shift towards carbon-positive, ethically produced goods—customers today are not just buying a product; they are investing in stories, values, and impact.
They resonate with the transparency behind our process and are increasingly choosing mindful consumption over mass-produced alternatives. This alignment has created a loyal community that actively engages with our vision of sustainability, reinforcing that conscious choices can indeed inspire collective change.
Q. Collaboration and community engagement are crucial to driving large-scale social change. Could you share some examples of successful collaborations that have enhanced your work, and how you approach building partnerships with both local communities and larger organizations?
A. At Flourish, collaboration and community engagement are the cornerstones of our efforts to drive large-scale social change. We believe in co-creation, working hand-in-hand with organizations, artisans, and conscious consumers to create solutions that are both impactful and sustainable. Our platform is a testament to our commitment to natural and ethically sourced products that benefit both people and the planet. However, this is only the beginning of our journey toward a sustainable future.
To amplify our impact, we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted, a nonprofit focused on global reforestation, helping us support tree-planting initiatives worldwide to reduce carbon emissions. Our collaboration with Creative Dignity has allowed us to engage deeply with artisan communities, leveraging their pan-India network to prepare local leaders with preventive strategies to sustain their craft and livelihoods. Another significant partnership has been with Livabl, who conducted a comprehensive carbon footprint analysis of our operations, evaluating everything from product deliveries to employee commutes. This analysis led us to become carbon neutral, a milestone we’re incredibly proud of.
In line with our Shipping Offset initiative, we now plant trees annually and work on ecosystem restoration projects to offset our business emissions. We also invite our customers to participate by contributing just Rs 5 at checkout to offset the carbon impact of their orders, transforming small actions into significant change.
On a grassroots level, community engagement remains essential to us. A prime example is our annual event, Flourish Hearth—a vibrant platform where artisans and conscious consumers come together to celebrate craftsmanship. It offers artisans the opportunity to showcase and sell their handcrafted creations directly to customers, bridging the gap between makers, consumers, and industry leaders. Through initiatives like these, we foster long-term partnerships rooted in trust, transparency, and shared goals, ensuring that every collaboration helps build a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Q. Your initiatives focus on inclusive entrepreneurship. How does this approach differ from conventional entrepreneurship models, and what tangible outcomes have you observed in terms of economic empowerment and poverty reduction in the communities you serve?
A. By inclusive entrepreneurship we mean, women coming together in collectives and becoming SME’s. So the collective enterprise is an SME, and this is called inclusive entrepreneurship.
Key milestones:
- Positively influenced 600,000 lives to date
- Established 37 women-owned collectives and 5 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs)
- Generated cumulative market access of over 60 Mn USD, with a clear focus on Equity, Gender, and Climate
- Around 3,38,000 bamboo saplings planted in 2000 acres of land
- 100% access to productive economic resources like assets, employment, and income
- 100% improved competency for livelihood generation
- 90% increase in income through wage support, skill enhancement, and market access
Q. As you look to the future, what are your aspirations for Flourish and Industree Foundation in terms of expanding your impact? What role do you see these initiatives playing in fostering long-term change, especially in the context of sustainable livelihoods and equitable economic growth?
A. Flourish needs to become a platform where every producer group in the country can sell their products in a curated manner. It should prioritize a consumer-first experience while placing producers at its core. This vision must resonate globally, demonstrating that capital markets, private ownership, and wealth creation do not always have to drive the growth agenda. A prime example of this is AMUL, as well as the cooperative economy, which constitutes more than 15% of local economies in advanced countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
