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CSR initiative for truck drivers

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Road transport has a sizable share in the logistics chain of cement business. The vital and important link of road transport is vehicle drivers. The author takes a close look considering the sustainability of the chain and how CSR can bring in meaningful change.

Today, the entire world is in the grips of an unprecedented crisis of a magnitude which no one had anticipated – the Covid-19 pandemic. This has shaken the fabric of the global society, which was already facing innumerable challenges. Amongst them, in the Indian context, is the issue concerning the well-being and training of our business partners in the road transport industry – the community of truck drivers who are a vital part of our supply chain to keep our economy rolling.

The fates of our business and the road transport industry are closely interdependent, with healthy growth of the cement industry directly correlated with the growth of the road transportation infrastructure. And the backbone of this infrastructure are the millions of truck drivers who on a daily basis move the manufactured produce from one end of the supply chain to the other. Corporates can benefit themselves only by benefiting society, which also includes the large truckers’ community.

Background – Importance of road transport in India
Road transport is considered to be the most cost effective and preferred transportation mode for freight, keeping in view its level of penetration into populated areas, easy availability, adaptability to individual needs and cost savings. No wonder that road transport has emerged as the dominant segment in India’s transportation sector and accounts for about 60 percent of freight traffic movement in the country. Road transport also acts as a secondary feeder service to goods transported by railways.

For cement, too, the major transport mode is road, accounting for almost 65 percent of total outbound cement despatches, and around 20 million tonnes of cement is transported by road every month through an estimated 2.5 lakh trucks. In addition, an equivalent number of trucks and bulkers are deployed to move the inbound raw materials like coal, flyash and gypsum to the manufacturing plants. Transit mixers for RMC further add to the total number of vehicles engaged in the cement industry.

At 5.9 million km, India has the second largest road network in the world (next to USA’s 6.9 million km) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is planning to add 60,000 km of roads over the next five years. Under the Make in India program of the Government of India launched in 2014, Roads and Highways was identified as one of the key focus sectors under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) for expansion, including the iconic Bharatmala Pariyojana. Rural road network is also being augmented under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). With the expansion of the road network in the country, it is anticipated that road transportation of goods will further increase in the foreseeable future.

Human manpower behind the wheels on the road
According to All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) – the apex body of transporters – there are 9.3 million goods vehicles in India, including multi axle/articulated vehicles, smaller trucks, lorries, LMVs and tankers. As per industry estimates, India had a truck to driver ratio of about 1:1.3 in the early 90s which is estimated to have dropped to 1:0.75 today, and expected to drop further to an alarmingly low 1:0.60 over the next decade!

Hence, the total number of goods vehicle drivers would be around 7.0 million, with nearly 2.3 million trucks idling due to shortage of drivers. Last year MoRTH has removed the minimum education requirement (of Class 8) for obtaining a commercial vehicle driving license to improve employment opportunities, particularly for the underprivileged skilled persons.

Reasons for driver shortage
Despite their hard work, the truck drivers in India have never got the respect they deserve. In fact, one of the least respected professions in our society is that of the truck driver. They have not been accorded any position of dignity, largely owing to their absence in the routine social life of their families and communities. Often, they become a truck driver because they can find no other job and are looked upon with open disdain. In addition, the lifestyle practices and habits (and often even the character) of a truck driver are perceived negatively by society.

And remuneration to the truck drivers is one of most neglected areas of logistics operations in India. The average earning of a truck driver is around Rs 15,000 to 20,000 per month (including daily allowance or bhatta). 85 percent of the road transport industry is from the unorganised sector, or small fleet operators, and the drivers do not have any fixed working hours, benefit of minimum wages, and a defined rest period. The truck drivers are deprived of benefits like ESI, PF, bonus and leave. The majority of the drivers are uneducated and often learn driving on the job while working as a helper or cleaner and do not have any formal defensive driving training. Added to this is the larger problem of the typical driver having a "macho" attitude and a firm belief that all accidents are not preventable – "what has to happen, will happen". Hence, he may scorn away advice relating to speed limit or wearing of seat belt.

Very few young persons want to join this profession now. Unlike other developed countries, it is rare for an Indian truck driver’s son aspiring to be a truck driver. Often this is due to the driver’s children being better educated and hence exposed to more job opportunities which are better paying without the hardships faced by their father. Many young persons prefer employment in the industrial or service sectors or, in the rural areas, may even opt to earn a living under the Government’s MNREGA scheme whilst searching for a regular job.

Hardships faced by Indian truck drivers
An Indian truck driver is on the road almost every day of the month. His is a 24×7 job which involves driving long distances across various states. The truck is virtually his "home away from home" on the road. Surveys have revealed that almost 53 percent truck drivers suffer from a health issue, 23 percent battle sleep deprivation, about 18 percent face physical stress and 12 percent mental stress.

According to MoRTH, around 1.50 lakh people are killed in road crashes annually. As per a study conducted by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) exhausted and sleep deprived drivers account for nearly 40 percent of road crashes.

Of the 4.65 lakh road crashes every year, a quarter are linked to truck drivers with a fatality rate of around 25 percent. Also, 50 percent of the mishaps happen between sunset and sunrise as drivers prefer to drive in the night to escape police and RTO harassment during the day. This position has changed during COVID-19 as short and medium haul drivers (covering upto 400 km in a day) are not keen to eat out or spend time in roadside dhabas and want to be with their family by night time and have dinner at home.

As per road safety experts’ recommendations, drivers should not driver for more than 8 to 10 hours in a day and take regular breaks at least every 2 hours so that they stay alert. However, goods vehicle drivers in India often drive more than 10 to 12 hours a day. Whilst an average Indian driver may "rest" for 8 to 10 hours, he effectively sleeps for only 3 to 4 hours. (these figures have also changed during the pandemic, with drivers being on the road for shorter periods).

And many of them have to make do with sleeping in their uncomfortable truck cabin or even under their truck, often in the grueling heat during summers, for fear of getting robbed of diesel, cash or the goods in their vehicles. It is also not uncommon to find a driver cooking his meal under his truck or inside the cabin using a kerosene stove, with a complete disregard to his and others’ safety. Consequently, truck drivers are under physical and mental stress that results in accidents as they often doze off whilst driving.

CSR initiatives for truck drivers
A major component of the RSIP covered softer aspects relating to the driver community like their physical, mental and behavioural health, work-life balance and time for family, personal hygiene, cleanliness and habits, lifestyle and eating habits, literacy and education, and issues relating to self-esteem, dignity and respect. These were taken up across all plants under the CSR umbrella with positive and beneficial outcomes. Some of the major initiatives taken are enumerated below:

Health camps: Truck drivers are a highly vulnerable working population due to several health risk factors including poor eyesight and hearing loss, hypertension, fatigue, obstructive sleep apnea and sleep deprivation, and insufficient physical activity. Other risk factors are exposure to diesel exhaust and risk of developing lung cancer, poor diet, obesity, and other metabolic disorders. Furthermore, they are prone to risky behaviors and lifestyles such as smoking, tobacco/gutka chewing, drinking, substance abuse, and having casual sexual contacts. These can have an adverse impact on their health with a consequent risk of traffic accidents and health problems.

What started as occasional eyesight checking camps at ACC plant locations soon turned into a comprehensive health and medical check-up program as a regular on-going activity. These are usually organised by the medical staff of the plant hospital and often doctors from nearby towns are also called in. The primary aim of the health camps is to cover the following:

Vision: At least 65 percent of our truck drivers have some vision problem, mild or acute. The younger drivers may have myopia and may require their first pair of spectacles. The older drivers also need to be checked for signs of color blindness, cataract or glaucoma and may either need to replace their old specs or get reading glasses. Thousands of drivers have been covered in the eyesight camps and hundreds of drivers provided with free prescription spectacles, mostly on the spot. It is advisable for drivers to have their vision tested at least once every 2 years.
Hearing: Hearing loss can have the most significant impact on a truck driver’s ability to do his job. The occupational conditions of truck drivers may have bilateral, symmetrical harmful effect on hearing threshold sense in all frequencies, but mainly at a frequency of 4000 Hz. Periodic medical examinations are vital for pre-diagnosing and prevention of any possible impairment.

Blood pressure: Considered a silent ailment, as there may be no symptoms of the condition, uncontrolled BP can lead to serious health problems such as heart attack and stroke. Drivers found to be having higher than normal BP are generally advised to exercise, reduce salt in their food, drink lots of water, stop smoking and drinking alcohol, and get plenty of sleep. In fact sleep deprivation is a major reason for drivers having high BP.

HIV/AIDS: Truck drivers are at increased risk of HIV/AIDS infection and of contracting other STD diseases. As Ashok Alexander, who headed Avahan (an initiative by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for HIV prevention in India) states in his book A Stranger Truth, HIV prevalence among truckers ranged from 3 to 7 per cent. Avahan’s research showed that long-distance truckers were the ones most at risk; the short-haul truckers got home every night. Health camps for drivers create awareness about HIV/AIDS and counselling for prevention.

Alcohol addiction and substance abuse (tobacco, drugs, etc): Drunk driving is responsible for approximately 20 to 30 percent of crash fatalities and injuries. Alcohol can seriously impair brake reaction time, steering responsiveness, and lane control. It also increases the tendency of over-speeding and other high risk driving behaviors. Health camps have special counselling sessions to make the drivers aware of the dangers of drinking and driving as well as the legal consequences and the disastrous impact on the driver’s family. Some of our plants came up with an interesting idea of putting the driver’s family photo in the driver cabin to serve as a reminder not to risk his life for the sake of his family who wait for him to come back home safely.

Personal accident and health Insurance: As part of the HSE program and keeping in view the high risk job nature of driving on company’s business, ACC introduced a Group Personal Accident Insurance policy for third-party truck drivers to ensure their safety and wellbeing. The policy covers accidental death and total or partial disability and serves to provide a secured life and future to the driver and his dependents.

It is heartening to note that the All India Transporters Welfare Association (AITWA) launched a mega project named "Highway Heroes" for the welfare of the truck driver community on 14th November 2019. The multi-dimensional welfare scheme includes provisions like free accident insurance, hospitalisation expenses, education help to children of drivers, training, and safety and a centralised national 24×7 helpline for access in case of an emergency like an accident, attack by criminals, theft or any other harassment.

The National Health Authority (NHA) also signed an MoU with AITWA on 14th November 2019 to provide healthcare services to truck drivers under the "Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana" (PM-JAY) scheme. Under this partnership, the NHA and AITWA will work together to identify truck drivers and employees of transport companies who could be eligible beneficiaries of the scheme.

Respect and dignity: In India the truck drivers appear at the bottom of the pyramid when it comes to respect and historically have been privy to lack of praise and dignity. They rarely receive respect from civic authorities like RTO, police personnel and check-post officials and one frequently hears reports of discriminatory behavior and harassment to truckers. Most drivers do not have the educational background or knowledge to deal with legal complications.

It is unfortunate that the driver’s job in India has a social disrespect and stigma attached to it. A large number of drivers find it difficult to get married as people are reluctant to marry their daughter to a driver. The driver’s children do not want to become drivers and drivers themselves have a low self-esteem.

Regular interactive sessions with drivers at ACC’s plants (often in the form of Driver Chaupals) have helped to instill and reinforce self-confidence and dignity in the drivers. They are briefed on the role as being beyond that of a mere driver to that of a brand ambassador and the customer’s first point-of contact with the company. Some of our plants have taken innovative steps like providing laundry service, toilets with bathing facility and even hair-cutting saloons in their parking yards so that drivers can freshen themselves before commencing their trip and look presentable and clean when they reach their customer. Cleanliness, hygiene and grooming also helps to increase the driver’s self-confidence and self-respect. ACC’s Thondebhavi plant in Karnataka was the first to install a full length mirror in the driver rest facility so that he can see how others view him!

ACC’s Chanda plant (near Nagpur) was the first plant in the Indian cement industry to construct a state-of-the-art fully concrete parking yard of 4.5 acres for trucks, with safety features like fishbone parking, one-way movement, no reversing, adequate illumination and separate entrance and exit gates. The parking facility (designed by the renowned Arun Das Associates) has a specially designed resting facility for the drivers with beds, toilets with showers, restaurant, clean drinking water, TV, and recreational and games facilities. The facility had a marked impact on the drivers. Truckers now wanted to visited the plant to pick up loads as they looked forward to a comfortable stay and rest whilst they waited for their turn to be called to roll the truck inside the plant for loading. Proper food, shower and rest ensured an absence of fatigue and safe driving!

Work-life balance: One of the underlying themes of our CSR initiatives is aimed at providing the driver community with adequate work-life balance. This has been achieved through a multipronged strategy of

  • providing a financial security net through personal health and accident insurance policy
  • more efficient route planning and scheduling of trucks using Fleet Management
  • System supported by GPS truck tracking from "Gate Out to Gate In" (GOGI) and RFID for streamlining the "Gate In to Gate Out"(GIGO) flow of trucks inside the plant which help in optimising the truck transit time, thereby enabling drivers to spend less time on the road. The drivers can enjoy more time with their family, eat meals with them more frequently, and sleep better.

Rewarding safe drivers: ACC installed GPS based real time truck tracking systems (IVMS) in all third party dedicated vehicles (in a phased manner) to monitor and analyse driver performance using metrics like over-speeding, route deviation, sudden acceleration, harsh braking, harsh manoeuvring and power disconnection of IVMS.

The MIS is used to develop a monthly "Performance Report Card" of each driver as well as each Road Transport Contractor and the drivers with high performance scores are felicitated and rewarded for at functions attended by their family members (wives, children and sometimes even parents). Many drivers share personal experiences about driving safety and take a pledge to extend this message across the community. In many instances, the company has also sponsored their children’s education as a safe driving reward.

These award functions serve the twin purpose of motivating other drivers to drive safely and instilling a sense of pride and self confidence in them as well as their family members. The drivers also feel that they have earned the respect of the Management when they are called upon the stage to receive their awards. Some plants have even displayed life size photographs of drivers with good safety record in their plants to motivate them.

Driver Chaupal and toolbox talks: Plants have been organising "toolbox" safety talks for drivers as informal group discussions that focus on a particular safety issue (like driving in monsoon, or risk associated with worn out tyres, importance of rest and breaks, benefits of using seat belts, safe way of tarpaulin tying, use of PPE, danger of using mobile phones whilst driving, etc). These talks are used daily to promote a safety culture as well as to facilitate health and safety discussions, often with the help of a nukkad natak.

A unique initiative taken by some ACC plants was organising a "Driver Chaupal" on a weekly basis, attended by all drivers present in the parking yard on the particular day. These are typically like corporate "town halls" where drivers get an opportunity to voice their opinions on matters affecting them like plant amenities (drinking water, canteen facility etc) and the senior management can take quick action to redress any genuine grievances.

Seat belt usage: Very few truck drivers in India have a habit of wearing a seat belt, except at police check posts to escape being fined. A bigger concern is the absence of a proper driver seat and 3 Point retractable seat belts in the older truck models. Ideally, a driver’s seat needs to be with a head restraint, adjustable and fold-down backrest, vertical and fore-aft adjustment, adjustable lumbar support and adjustable seat angle. Many of the older trucks’ driver seats do not have these features and there is no provision for fitting a retractable seat belt. Often the trucks were found to have just a common belt strap with a buckle which the drivers will tighten across their stomach to escape from penalties or fines. Many drivers carried a belief that wearing a seat belt may put them at a greater risk as they may not be able to jump out in case the truck rolls over a hill. It took painstaking effort and scores of meetings with drivers and road transport contractors to dispel this wrong notion. We also impressed upon our road transport contractors to retrofit proper seat and seat belt.

ACC also launched a "Suraksha Kavach" ("security armour") drive at plants to successfully introduce the use of a Seat Belt Convincer to demonstrate the importance of wearing a seat belt whilst driving. The Seat Belt Convincer is a crash simulator training device that simulates a low impact vehicle collision (within a speed range of 8 to 15 kmph) to reinforce the benefits of wearing a seat belt whenever the vehicle is in motion.

Truck Simulators with adjustable virtual traffic, weather conditions and road layouts were also used to train drivers and manoeuvre the vehicles in different weather conditions and terrains. The simulator allows possibility of encountering dangerous driving conditions without subjecting the driver to physical risk.

Self-cooking facility: A majority of truck drivers do their own cooking using a kerosene stove and essential utensils. It is not uncommon to find the driver and helper lighting up a stove under their truck or inside the cabin, ignoring the immense fire and explosion hazard. Both as a CSR and safety initiative ACC created kitchen facilities near the drivers’ rest rooms, equipped with running water for cleaning utensils, drinking water and cooking gas stove. The drivers were delighted with this (free of charge) facility which reduced their hardship and provided a clean, hygienic, convenient and safe place to cook their meals. It also encouraged camaraderie amongst the drivers.

Conclusion
Though our CSR and Logistics Safety Excellence journey is a decade old, we realise we have a lot of ground to cover and, to quote Robert Frost, "have promises to keep and miles to go’. We also realise that it is not enough to pursue driver community issues as a side activity. Rather, uplifting the drivers" lives needs to be an integral part of our core business strategy. Through our initiatives we help our driver partners to earn a sustainable livelihood and live a life of self-respect, dignity and pride.

Foonote:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Rajesh Seth, Director Logistics (Retd), ACC.
He is IIM Ahmadabad, alumnus and has held many executive positions during his association with ACC Ltd. Today he is a visiting faculty and advisor on logistics.

BOX:
ACC’s road safety improvement programme

To tackle some of the above issues, ACC embarked on a Logistics Safety Excellence journey in 2011 with a holistic Road Safety Improvement Programme (RSIP) with a "Zero Harm" vision spanning across all the seventeen cement plants and its subsidiary Bulk Cement Corporation (India) at Kalamboli (in Navi Mumbai). RSIP had a clear, well-defined objective focusing on People, Vehicles and Processes. The program was designed in a modular format in two phases -Phase 1 covering 8 easy-to-implement steps ("low hanging fruits") and Phase 2 covering 16 steps (requiring a longer period for implementation). There was a strong emphasis on knowledge sharing and replication of best practices across all plants.

The RSIP essentially focused on:
People/Partners – defensive driving training and CSR initiatives for drivers
Vehicles – their maintenance, adherence to a 30-point checklist and road worthiness, and
Processes – traffic management, hazard identification-cum-mitigation, Journey Risk Mapping (JRM) and Driver Management Centers (DMCs).

  • The DMCs were set up at all plant locations to provide valuable support like
  • Defensive Driving Induction training (DDI) for new drivers,
  • Defensive Driving Courses for all drivers,
  • Training through truck simulators,
  • In-cab assessment, and
  • JRM briefings and debriefings
  • Driver performance assessment using "In Vehicle Monitoring System" (IVMS) and GPS

A Transport Control Tower (TCT) was set up in 2018 as a nodal point to monitor the driving patterns of the drivers and provide them counselling on safe driving. The installation of IVMS brought more vehicles within the ambit of TCT monitoring and counselling. In-camera counselling for drivers was also launched across all plants. Anti-toppling devices were fitted in transit mixers to prevent accidents caused by roll-over of mixers.

Another unique initiative was the introduction of "driver passport" for each driver (certifying his fitness to drive on company’s work) and a "Vehicle Passport" for each vehicle (certifying its road worthiness to ply on company’s business. These were earlier manual, but later changed to an electronic format. Around 30,000 vehicles and drivers (outbound and inbound) belonging to over 250 Authorised Road Transport Contractors were covered under the program. This practice was also shared with the Cement Sustainability Initiative (Task Force 3 for Driving and Contractor Safety) of the global CEO-led World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and adopted by other CSI member companies in the Indian cement industry.

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Concrete

Charting the Green Path

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The Indian cement industry has reached a critical juncture in its sustainability journey. In a landmark move, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has, for the first time, announced greenhouse gas (GHG) emission intensity reduction targets for 282 entities, including 186 cement plants, under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme, 2023. These targets, to be enforced starting FY2025-26, are aligned with India’s overarching ambition of achieving net zero emissions by 2070.
Cement manufacturing is intrinsically carbon-intensive, contributing to around 7 per cent of global GHG emissions, or approximately 3.8 billion tonnes annually. In India, the sector is responsible for 6 per cent of total emissions, underscoring its critical role in national climate mitigation strategies. This regulatory push, though long overdue, marks a significant shift towards accountability and structured decarbonisation.
However, the path to a greener cement sector is fraught with challenges—economic viability, regulatory ambiguity, and technical limitations continue to hinder the widespread adoption of sustainable alternatives. A major gap lies in the lack of a clear, India-specific definition for ‘green cement’, which is essential to establish standards and drive industry-wide transformation.
Despite these hurdles, the industry holds immense potential to emerge as a climate champion. Studies estimate that through targeted decarbonisation strategies—ranging from clinker substitution and alternative fuels to carbon capture and innovative product development—the sector could reduce emissions by 400 to 500 million metric tonnes by 2030.
Collaborations between key stakeholders and industry-wide awareness initiatives (such as Earth Day) are already fostering momentum. The responsibility now lies with producers, regulators and technology providers to fast-track innovation and investment.
The time to act is now. A sustainable cement industry is not only possible—it is imperative.

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Concrete

It is equally important to build resilient building structures

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Manoj Rustagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Cement, discusses how the adoption of ‘green’ practices in cement manufacturing could reshape the future of sustainable construction worldwide.

Cement is one of the most carbon-intensive materials in construction — but innovation is changing that. As sustainability becomes central to infrastructure, green cement is emerging as a viable low-carbon alternative. In this detailed interview with Manoj Rustagi, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Cement, we explore what makes cement ‘green’, its performance, and its future. From durability to cutting-edge technologies, here’s a look at the cement industry’s greener path forward.

What exactly is green cement, and how does it differ from traditional cement?
At this point in time, there is no standard for defining green cement. A very simple way to understand ‘Green Cement’ or ‘Low Carbon Cement’ is the one which emits much lower greenhouse gasses (GHG) compared to conventional cement (Ordinary Portland Cement – OPC) during its manufacturing process.
In India, there are many existing BIS Standards for different types of cement products. The most common are OPC; Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC); Portland Slag Cement (PSC) and Composite Cement (CC). While OPC emits maximum GHG during its manufacturing (approx 800-850 kg CO2/MT of OPC), PSC emits least GHG (approx 300-350 kg CO2/MT of PSC). As PSC is having close to 60 per cent lower CO2 emission compared to OPC, it is the greenest cement available in the Indian market.
There is already work happening at the central government level to define green cement, like it has been recently done for green steel, and hopefully in the next one year or so the standard definition would be available.

What are the key environmental benefits of using green cement?
The primary environmental benefits of green or low-carbon cement are:

  • Reduced CO2 emissions
  • Lower energy and power consumption
  • Conservation of limestone and fossil fuels
  • Utilisation of industrial by-products
  • (slag/fly ash)

Can green cement match the durability and strength of conventional cement?
PSC is much more durable than any other type of cement product. It has lower heat of hydration; the strength keeps on improving with time; and it has much higher resistance to chloride and sulphate attacks. Most of the concrete failures are because of chloride and sulphate attacks, which corrode the steel reinforcements and that is how cracks get initiated and propagated resulting in eventual concrete failures. For coastal applications, marine structures, seaports, and mass concreting, PSC is most suitable. Due to the intrinsic durability characteristics of PSC; it is a green and resilient cement product.
Usually everyone talks about lower GHG emissions, but it is equally important to build resilient building structures that can withstand natural calamities and have much longer lifespans. PSC is one cement type that is not only lowest in CO2 emissions but at the same time offers durability characteristics and properties (RCPT, RCMT, Mercury Intrusion, long term strength and flexural strength), which are unmatched.

What innovative technologies are being used to produce green cement?
To further reduce the CO2 emissions in the manufacturing process; some of the innovative technologies which are commercially viable are:

  • Alternative raw materials: Use of steel slag, red mud and other industrial by-products to substitute limestone
  • Alternative fuels: Use of RDF/MSW, pharmaceutical wastes like biomass etc., to substitute coal/pet-coke
  • Waste Heat Recovery (WHR): Power plants to generate electricity from waste heat
  • Renewable energy: Solar and wind energy instead of state grid

How cost-effective is green cement compared to traditional options?
All of the above innovative technologies do not increase the cost of manufacturing. There are some future technologies like Carbon Capture, Utilisation and/or Storage (CCUS), which are not commercially viable and would increase the cost of cement. As such, the options available today for low-carbon cement (like PSC) are not expensive.
The Government of India has recently notified Indian Carbon Market (ICM), which also includes the cement sector. Hopefully, this would help progressive companies to further reduce their carbon footprint.

What challenges does the industry face in adopting green cement on a large scale?
There is absolutely no incentive/motivation for builders/contractors to use green cement products and therefore there is practically no demand. While the industry has taken many steps. In fact the Indian cement industry is believed to be most energy efficient globally and has approximately 10 per cent lower GHG emissions compared to global average. But due to lack of awareness and lack of performance based standards; the demand for low carbon cement or green cement has not picked up in India.

Are governments and regulators supporting the shift to green cement?
In India, in the last couple of years, there have been many policy interventions which have been initiated. One of them, namely the carbon market is under notification; others like Green Public Procurement, Green Cement taxonomy and National CCUS Mission are in the advanced stages and are expected to be implemented in the next couple
of years.

How do you see the future of green cement in global construction?
Globally the built environment accounts for 40 per cent CO2 emissions; and the maximum embodied emissions come from cement and concrete. There is a lot of innovation happening in cement, concrete and construction. Basically, how we build and what material we use. And this is to do with both carbon mitigation as well as adaptation as the built environment is so important for sustainable living. Precast and pre-engineered buildings/structures, 3D concrete printing, ultra high performance concrete, digital and AI/ML interventions in construction, admixtures/improved concrete packing; and circularity in cement manufacturing are some examples. Low-carbon cement or green cement eventually will lead to ‘Net Zero CO2 emission’ cement, which would enable a ‘Net-Zero’ built environment that is needed for long term sustainability.

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Concrete

Solid Steps to Sustainability

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Milind Khangan, Marketing Manager, Vertex Market Research, looks at how India’s cement industry is powering a climate-conscious transformation with green cement at its core, aligning environmental urgency with economic opportunity.

The cement industry produces around eight per cent of the world’s total CO2 emissions. Process emissions, largely due to limestone calcination, contribute 50 to 60 per cent of these emissions and produce nearly one ton of CO2 per ton of cement produced.
India is a leading cement producer with an installed capacity of around 550 million tons (MMT) as of 2024. As the Government of India advances toward its 2070 net-zero target, green cement is becoming a major driver of this shift toward a low-carbon economy. It offers environmental sustainability as well as long-term operating efficiencies at scale. With the fast-paced urbanisation and infrastructure development across the nation, the use of green cement goes beyond environmental imperatives; it is also a strong strategic business opportunity. Indian cement players are some of the most sustainable and environmentally conscious players in the world, and indigenous cement demand in India is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 10 per cent until 2030.

Innovating sustainably
Green cement is an umbrella term that includes multiple advanced technologies and processes aimed at minimising the environmental footprint, and CO2 emissions of conventional cement manufacturing. This shift from traditional practices targets minimising the carbon footprint throughout the whole cement manufacturing process.

  • Clinker substitution: Substitution of high-carbon clinker with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) in order to considerably lower emissions.
  • Alternative binders: Developing cementitious systems that require minimal or no clinker, reducing reliance on traditional methods.
  • Novel cements: Introducing new types of cement that depend less on limestone/clinker, utilising alternative modified processes and raw materials.
  • Energy efficiency and alternative fuels: Optimising energy utilisation in production and substituting fossil fuel with cleaner alternatives coming from waste or biomass.
  • Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS): Trapping CO2 emissions at cement plants for recycling or geological storage.

Drivers and strategic opportunities
Robust infrastructure development pipeline: The government’s continued and massive investment in infrastructure (roads, railways, housing, smart cities) generates huge demand for cement. Crucially, there is a growing preference and sometimes direct requirement under public tenders for sustainable building materials, including green cement, which is giving a significant market stimulus.
India’s national climate commitments (NDC and Net Zero 2070): India’s commitments under the Paris Agreement (NDCs) and the long-term goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070 have set a clear direction for industrial decarbonisation. This national strategy necessitates action from high-emitting sectors such as cement to adopt green cement technologies and carbon-reducing innovations across the construction value chain. Notably, the Indian cement industry alone is expected to generate nearly 400 million tonnes of GHG emissions by 2030.
Regulatory mandates for fly ash utilisation: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has released a number of binding notifications that promote the use of fly ash from thermal power plants. These guidelines seek to reduce environmental impact by enhancing its extensive application in cement production, particularly in Portland Pozzolana Cement (PPC). Fly ash acts as a pozzolanic material, reacting with calcium hydroxide to produce cementitious compounds, hence decreasing clinker consumption, a high-energy component contributing to high CO2 emissions. Through clinker substitution facilitation, such mandates directly enable the production of low-carbon green cement.
Promotion and utilisation of blast furnace slag: Steel plant slag utilisation policies provide a ready SCM for manufacturing Portland Slag Cement (PSC). This is advantageous in terms of the supply of another key raw material for green cement manufacturing.

Increased demand due to green building movement
The larger adoption of green building codes and certification systems such as GRIHA and LEED India by builders and developers promotes the use of materials with reduced carbon content. Cement products with a higher SCM content or produced through cleaner processes are preferred. A step in this direction was achieved in October 2021 when Dalmia Cement achieved the distinction of being the first Indian cement producer to be granted the Green Product Accreditation of GRIHA.
The Indian industry is actively investing in R&D for new binders such as geopolymer cement, alkali-activated materials and limestone calcined clay cement (LC3). Research institutions including IIT Madras are collaborating with industry to scale these technologies. Although Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) is still at a nascent stage in India, it represents a potential frontier for long-term decarbonisation in the cement sector.
The MoEFCC has published draft regulations under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS), 2023, in the form of the Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity Target Rules, 2025. The draft notification requires 186 cement units in India to lower their GHG emission intensity from FY 2025-26. Non-compliant manufacturers will have to purchase carbon credit certificates or face penalties, creating a clear regulatory and financial incentive to adopt cleaner technology. The CCTS will promote technology and practice adoption that reduces the carbon intensity of cement manufacturing, potentially resulting in the use of green cement and other low-carbon substitutes for cement.
India’s leading cement companies like UltraTech, Shree Cement, and Dalmia Bharat have made science-based targets and net-zero emissions pledges in line with the GCCA 2050 Cement and Concrete Industry Roadmap. These self-declarations are hastening the shift towards clean cement manufacturing technology and renewable energy procurement.

Challenges and complexities in India’s green cement transition
Economic viability and cost challenges: High production costs associated with low-carbon cement technologies remain a significant hurdle. The absence of strict carbon pricing and poor financial incentives slow down rapid uptake on a large scale. Although green cement is currently costlier than conventional options, greater market adoption and scale-driven efficiencies are expected to progressively narrow this price gap, enhancing commercial viability over time. As these technologies mature, their broader deployment will become more feasible.
Inconsistent supply chain of SCMs: A dependable supply of high-quality Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs), such as fly ash and slag, is crucial. But in the course of decarbonisation of India’s power generation and industry sectors, SCMs reliability and availability may become intermittent. Strong, decentralised logistics and material processing units must be developed in order to provide uninterrupted and economical SCM supply chains to cement producers.

Gaps in technical standards and performance benchmarks
Although PPC and PSC are well-supported by existing BIS codes, standards for newer materials such as calcined clay, geopolymer binders and other novel SCMs require timely development and updates. Maintaining steady performance, lasting robustness, and usage dependability in varying climatic and structural applications will be key to instilling market faith in other forms of cement formulation. Market stakeholders are also supporting separate BIS codes for the green cement sub-categories for helping to build and sustain standardisation and trust.

Scaling of emerging technologies
Scaling promising technology, especially CCUS, from pilots to commercial scales within the Indian context involves significant investment of capital, technical manpower, and a facilitating regulatory environment. The creation of infrastructure for transportation and long-term storage of CO2 will be critical. While these facilitative systems are implemented, cement makers will be well-placed to decarbonise their operations and achieve national sustainability goals.

The way ahead
The Indian cement industry is poised to enter a revolutionary era, where decarbonisation and sustainability are at the heart of expansion. Industry players and the government need to join hands in an integrated manner throughout the cement value chain to spearhead this green revolution. Cement companies must embrace new technologies to lower the emissions like the utilisation of alternative fuels like biomass, industrial wastes, and recycled materials and utilisation of waste heat recovery systems to make energy efficient. The electrification of logistics and kilns, investigation of high-heat alternative products, and CCUS technology investments must be made to decarbonise production. Sophisticated additives such as polymers can improve cement performance with reduced environmental footprint.
At the policy level, the government has to introduce support measures such as stable carbon pricing, tax relief, viability gap funding, and initiatives such as the PLI scheme to encourage the use of renewable energy in cement manufacturing. Instruments such as carbon contracts can stabilise carbon credit prices and reduce market risk, encouraging investment in low-carbon technologies. Updating BIS standards for newer green cement formulations and SCMs is also critical for market acceptance and confidence. Green cement mandates in public procurement and long-term offtake contracts have the potential to generate stable demand, and green financing windows can guarantee commercial viability of near-zero carbon technologies. Cement greening is not a choice, it is a necessity for constructing a climate-resilient, sustainable India.

About the author:
Milind Khangan, Marketing Manager, Vertex Market Research, comes with more than five years of experience in market research and lead generation. He is responsible for developing new marketing plans and innovations in lead generation, having expertise in creating a technically strong website that generates leads for startups in market research.

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