New Delhi, March 12, 2026: Nippon Paint India, part of the NIPSEA Group, has announced a strategic partnership with social enterprise Humble Bee to strengthen sustainable apiculture practices in India. The collaboration aims to enhance the durability and safety of wooden beehives while supporting rural livelihoods and improving pollination ecosystems.
The partnership combines Nippon Paint India’s expertise in eco-friendly coatings with Humble Bee’s precision-engineered beehive manufacturing to build more resilient apiculture infrastructure. The initiative focuses on improving the lifespan and performance of wooden beehives, thereby helping maintain healthier bee colonies and enhancing productivity for beekeepers.
Under the collaboration, Humble Bee will manufacture beehives at its Varanasi facility, described as India’s first precision-engineered beehive manufacturing unit. The hives are made from sustainably sourced Southern Yellow Pine and coated with Nippon Paint’s low-VOC, weather-resistant formulations designed to withstand India’s varied climatic conditions.
Nippon Paint India’s coatings are certified under the GreenPro framework and are formulated to meet strict environmental benchmarks. The coatings are designed to be free from harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ensuring protection of the hive structure while maintaining a safe environment for bee colonies.
Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Mark Titus, President – Decorative Coatings Business, Nippon Paint India, said, “The beehive represents productivity, interdependence, and resilience. By extending our expertise in durable and environmentally responsible coatings to this ecosystem, we are contributing beyond product performance, supporting livelihoods, strengthening biodiversity, and enabling long-term rural sustainability.”
The initiative is expected to benefit rural and tribal communities, particularly first-generation women farmers, by introducing durable painted beehives that can improve productivity and strengthen income opportunities through beekeeping.
Ms. Monika Shukla, CEO and Co-founder of Humble Bee, said, “Every color on these hives tells a story, of a woman reclaiming her agency, of crops that flourish, and of biodiversity that revives.”
India currently faces a significant gap in pollination capacity even as global honey markets increasingly demand traceable and ethically produced honey. By improving hive durability and design, the collaboration aims to support both agricultural productivity and the sustainability of pollination ecosystems.
As part of the initiative, the two organisations have also co-developed a new “Blobby” hive design intended to enhance functionality while reflecting innovation in apiculture infrastructure.
Field trials are expected to be conducted in the coming months to evaluate bee compatibility, coating durability and performance under different environmental conditions. Based on the outcomes, the partners plan to expand the initiative across key beekeeping regions in India.
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