Concrete

Sustainability Initiatives

Published

5 years ago

March 5, 2021

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The cement industry is always striving very hard for productivity improvement and innovation for making processes more robust and efficient. Increased efficiency means less consumption of resources such as fuel and power, which is a key driver for sustainability. This is nothing new. What is new is the accelerated pace and sense of urgency within the industry. The Paris Agreement has certainly played a major role in changing priorities in Government initiatives, investors and rapid increase in abatement of CO2 emission.

A Review of Progress

In the context of sustainability, digitalisation is extremely important, it is relevant to mention here that the most efficient plants in the world are supported by modern control systems. With new generation process expert for plant control system, it is possible to achieve savings both in fuel and power consumption per ton of cement.

Data analytics is another key enabler in fostering a sustainable production. With this, it is possible to combine data capture with process knowledge that run plants more efficiently and reliably. For example, with the latest version of the laboratory automation system coupled with the improved process modelling and optimisation have established appreciable reduction in energy consumption with product quality improvement.

Various Levers to reduce CO2 emission

Appreciable reduction in usage of fossil fuels
Mastering of burning of alternate fuels to achieve highest level/fuel flexibility
Appreciable reduction of clinker factor which may need certain amendments to existing codes or devising new standards or codes for production and selling the new cements in the market.
To introduce circular economy and alternative raw materials

Deployment of geopolymers, replacing limestone with cement recycled from old concrete structures and maybe even using cement plants to produce brown fuels. It needs a paradigm as to how industry captains collaborate and innovate.

Usage of Alternate Fuels

The opportunities for cement manufacturers to start burning alternative fuels are many, but it is a gradual process. Process knowledge is critical when starting up the use of alternative fuels because even the slightest change to one part of the process can start could create havoc. Many technological aides are available for the plants from technology suppliers like Pfister, Alternative Fuels Starter Kit that comes with a complete package of equipment for materials handling, dosing and burning, and is designed for using a wide range of alternative fuels like biomass and refuse-derived fuel (RDF).

Many technology suppliers are focussing on gasification technology endeavour to reach 100 % usage of alternate fuels.

Longer-term options may exist for electrification of heat creation, such as induction or microwave heating. Serious R&D is under way!

Usage of lesser clinker content and alternate raw materials

As mentioned earlier it is inevitable to go for certain amendments in the current standards (of cement) in order to accommodate higher amount of secondary cementitious materials (SCMs) and also go for new standards in order to accommodate newer cement formulations. All these changes in the standards would appreciably reduce the clinker component helping not only CO2 abatement but also to help in mineral conservation.

Clinker substitution and the use of alternative raw materials are key in reducing the environmental footprint of the cement industry. To put it into perspective, if we could reduce the CO2 emissions from cement production by just one percentage point, it would be equivalent of removing the fossil fuel used to provide 258 million households with electricity annually or replacing the use of fossil fuel with 19,000 wind turbines!

Carbon capture and sequestration

Carbon capture systems must target process emissions and combustion emissions. These systems have two categories:

Post-combustion technologies aim to separate CO2 from exhaust gases and typically rely on chemical CO2 absorption (for example, by amines). Oxyfuel technologies react fuel with pure oxygen instead of air, generating a purer stream of CO2, and also can capture process CO2.

Carbon Dioxide Removal

Reduction of CO2 emissions can be done by applying CO2 removal process. In this technique, CO2 is separated during or after the production process and subsequently stored or disposed of outside the atmosphere.

The CO2 can be recovered from flue gases, produced from the calcination process as well as from the combustion processes. Typical CO2 concentrations in the flue gases range from 14% to 33%. Because of the high share of CO2 in flue gases originating from the calcination process (and not from a combustion process), combustion in a CO2/O2 atmosphere could be suitable to recover the CO2.

This technology is currently not cost-effective and needs further research to assess the technical and commercial applicability.

Conclusion

Cement will remain the key ingredient for housing and infrastructure creation. As a result, the cement industry worldwide is facing growing challenges in conserving material and energy resources, as well as reducing its CO2 emissions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), the main levers for cement manufacturers are the increase in energy efficiency and the use of alternative materials, be it as fuel or raw materials. Accordingly, the use of alternative fuels has already gained a momentum in recent years.

In cement, the reduction of the clinker factor remains a key priority: a lot of hard work has gone inside in this direction. New materials might be able to play a role as cement constituents in the future. It remains to be seen to what extent they could substitute Portland cement clinker to a significant degree.

Global economic growth and urbanisation continue to increase the demand for cement. These investments in infrastructure provide people with a higher quality of life. The trends of sustainability and economic growth perfectly converge into an opportunity for the cement industry to make an incredible impact for the greater good.

Dr.S.B.Hegde

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr.S.B.Hegde is a ??lobal Visionary Award 2020??Winner for his notable contribution to Cement field (with 30 years of experience) both in India and Abroad. He is a ??xpert Panel??member in renowned International Magazines of Cement and Concrete. Dr Hegde is also a ??isiting Professor??of one of the reputed Universities in the United States of America.

Concrete

Shree Cement Targets Above Industry Volume Growth In FY27

Chairman says firm will favour organic expansion and higher dividends

Published

15 hours ago

June 16, 2026

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Shree Cement expects to outpace the industry in the financial year 2026-27 as it pursues organic expansion and pricing discipline following a recent investor conference. The chairman said the company has completed a pricing realignment and recovered volumes lost during that exercise. Management signalled a clear preference for internal investments rather than acquisitions to support growth.

The company reported that capacity additions and demand growth across core markets are expected to underpin stronger volume performance, with a target of growing volumes at around 1.1 times the industry growth rate. Cash levels are likely to decline as capital expenditure progresses and shareholder distributions increase, the chairman indicated. The board has prioritised higher dividends over a buyback as a means of reducing excess cash.

Shree Cement described a market shift towards value and affordability rather than a race to the lowest price, which links demand expansion more closely with pricing. Historically, prices have risen at around three per cent annually over long periods, the company noted, and while prices may increase faster this year because of cost pressures from geopolitical tensions, a material improvement in industry profitability is not anticipated. In North India, the company expects additional capacity to be absorbed as demand grows, estimating a requirement of roughly 10 million (mn) tonne (t) of incremental demand annually.

The next phase of expansion will focus on the north, west, east and northeast regions, with existing projects and planned capacities viewed as sufficient to meet future demand without pursuing acquisitions. Management said it has already regained lost volumes while sustaining higher prices and will continue to monitor regional opportunities, including a possible investment in West Bengal pending clarity on industrial policy. The company, which has a current market capitalisation of Rs 852,948.9 mn, has seen its shares lose more than 20 per cent over the past year.

Concrete

Ramco Cements’ Hard Worker Campaign Wins Seven Awards

Campaign earns honours for direction, editing and cinematography

Published

2 days ago

June 15, 2026

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The Hard Worker campaign by The Ramco Cements has secured seven honours at the Good Ads Matter Awards 2026, adding to its growing list of accolades and reinforcing its standing among the year’s most recognised advertising campaigns.

The awards were presented during the Good Ads Matter Awards Night 2026 held at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai. The campaign received recognition across multiple categories, highlighting excellence in direction, editing, cinematography and storytelling.

Among the honours, the campaign won Silver in the Campaign of the Year – Direction category, while filmmaker Prakash Varma was named Director of the Year for the films Tortoise & Hare and Eco Plaster. Tortoise & Hare also received Silver awards for Best Editing and Best Colour Grading, along with a Bronze award for Best Cinematography. Eco Plaster earned Bronze awards in the Best Direction – Narrative and Best Direction – Humour categories.

Both films extended their award-winning run, with Eco Plaster being recognised for its narrative centred on water conservation through innovative construction solutions, while Tortoise & Hare was honoured for its storytelling and craft execution.

The Hard Worker campaign was built around the idea that hard work deserves recognition and respect. Through culturally rooted and emotionally engaging stories, the campaign has connected with consumers, engineers, masons and the wider construction community across the country.

Commenting on the achievement, A V Dharmakrishnan, CEO of The Ramco Cements Limited, said that the continued recognition across leading creative platforms reflects the company’s commitment to meaningful and authentic communication rooted in the values of the people it serves.

Balaji K Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, The Ramco Cements Limited, said the awards recognise the craftsmanship behind the storytelling, from direction and cinematography to editing and narrative execution.

Following recognition at both the Kyoorius Creative Awards and the Good Ads Matter Awards, the Hard Worker campaign continues to demonstrate the impact of purpose-driven storytelling combined with strong creative execution and consumer relevance.

Concrete

Cement Makers Reaffirm Commitment to Sustainable Growth

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2026

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World Environment Day spotlight on innovation and circularity

On World Environment Day, the Indian cement industry reiterated its commitment to supporting India’s climate ambitions through sustainable manufacturing, resource efficiency and the adoption of cleaner technologies.

The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) said the sector remains aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitments and is accelerating efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while supporting the country’s infrastructure and development agenda.

Parth Jindal, President, CMA and Managing Director, JSW Cement, said the industry is increasingly adopting cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of alternative fuels and raw materials. He also highlighted the growing importance of circular economy practices, where industrial by-products and waste streams from one sector are utilised as resources in another.

“The Indian Cement Industry is aligned to the Government’s commitments on carbon mitigation and is accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies, resource efficiency and circular economy practices while actively exploring the potential of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) as a critical pathway for deep decarbonisation,” said Jindal.

He added that coprocessing industrial waste and by-products helps conserve natural resources, reduce disposal requirements and lower the environmental footprint across multiple sectors.

According to Jindal, sustainability is no longer limited to manufacturing processes but is increasingly influencing investment decisions, innovation strategies and long-term growth plans within the industry.

Echoing similar views, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA and Managing Director, JK Cement, said sustainable development extends beyond emissions reduction and must also focus on responsible resource utilisation and waste minimisation.

“Sustainability in the built environment cannot be measured by emissions alone. It is equally about how efficiently we use resources, how effectively we minimise waste and how responsibly we create the infrastructure that will serve future generations,” said Singhania.

He noted that the cement industry is advancing its sustainability agenda through greater resource efficiency, increased circularity, technological innovation and continuous improvements in manufacturing practices. As a key contributor to India’s infrastructure development, the sector has a critical role to play in balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting India’s climate goals while delivering the materials required for resilient, durable and sustainable infrastructure.