How Build to Sustain is shaping a greener future for Ayurveda.
India's USD 43 billion Ayurveda economy is growing fast. BTS's Sustainability Index Metric (SIM) is ensuring that growth stays rooted in the very principles of balance that define the science itself - proven through two pioneering institutions in South India.
India's Ayurveda economy today stands at a remarkable USD 43 billion. It already contributes about 1.1% to the national GDP, with projections soaring to 5% by 2047. This isn't just herbal medicine on shelves - it's a living engine of prosperity.
The sector has grown eight-fold in the last decade, fueled by rising global demand for natural wellness. Ayurvedic products and services now reach over 150 countries. In Kerala alone, the Ayurveda economy is eyed to hit Rs 60,000 crore by 2031 and Rs 5 lakh crore by 2047, aligning with India's Viksit Bharat vision.
Ayurvedic centres create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, support rural farmers, empower women in traditional roles, and deliver affordable preventive healthcare that eases pressure on conventional medical systems.
Direct and indirect employment across clinical care, therapy, research, herbal processing, hospitality, and supply chains.
Regional sourcing of medicinal herbs supports countryside agriculture and preserves traditional cultivation.
Preventive healthcare that eases pressure on conventional medical systems and reaches underserved communities.
Ancient knowledge kept alive while fostering inclusive growth across Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
South India's Ayurveda heartland is seeing a surge in hospitals, resorts, and processing units. In a sector built on harmony with nature, unchecked growth could undermine the very trust patients place in it.
Each new facility consumes significant water for therapies and energy for sterilisation and lighting.
Herbal residue, packaging, and biomedical waste can pollute local water bodies and soil if mismanaged.
Patient travel, supply chains, and daily operations quietly add to emissions without proper measurement.
A tailored, evidence-based framework that scores an organisation's ESG performance, benchmarks it against Ayurvedic peers, and delivers a clear, actionable roadmap. Aligned with national standards like BRSR and global ones like GRI.
Quantifies emissions across operations and supply chains.
Measures consumption efficiency and renewable adoption.
Evaluates segregation, composting and compliance.
Captures local jobs, outreach and farmer impact.
Validates ethics, accountability and policy alignment.
Equips leaders with verified data and clear next steps.
Both institutions show the power of the SIM approach in action - turning vague intentions into verified numbers and practical steps.
The first Ayurvedic hospital in India and Kerala to earn a SIM rating - achieving the prestigious Sustainability Specialist badge. The assessment validated and strengthened practices that now deliver tangible outcomes.
AVC&RI earned a solid 76/100 with the Sustainability Specialist badge. The assessment highlighted strengths while setting clear improvement paths for the research powerhouse.
By applying SIM, BTS has helped both institutions move beyond compliance to leadership - turning the risks of rapid growth into proven societal gains.
Sustainable operations attract conscious patients and responsible investment.
Resources used far more efficiently than industry norms, cutting costs and footprints.
Composting and certified processing close the sustainability loop.
Rural economies gain dependable income and traditional agriculture endures.
While the Ayurveda industry races toward a 5% GDP share, BTS ensures this expansion remains rooted in the very principles of balance that define the science itself.
Every job sustained, every litre of water conserved, every kilogram of waste returned to the earth, and every community member reached adds up to something larger: a greener, more inclusive future for South India's Ayurveda boom.
"In an era when patients seek not just cures but conscience, Build to Sustain is showing the world that true wellness extends far beyond the treatment room."
Like Purnayoo and AVC&RI, turn your sustainable practices into measurable ESG performance. Get your industry-specific SIM assessment and join the movement toward verified sustainability.