Concrete

Sustainable Cement Packaging Shift

Published

6 months ago

April 13, 2026

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This case study evaluates biodegradable alternatives to conventional plastic cement packaging using advanced decision-making models. It highlights that while sustainable materials outperform environmentally, cost remains the biggest barrier to adoption.

The cement industry, a highly resource-intensive sector, continues to rely heavily on synthetic plastic packaging such as polypropylene bags, which account for nearly one-quarter of global cement packaging and generate 1.2–1.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually from over 30 billion bags. These materials persist for centuries, contributing to landfill overflow, marine pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in emerging economies where recycling rates remain below 10 per cent and waste management systems are underdeveloped. This growing environmental burden has accelerated the need for sustainable alternatives aligned with circular economy principles.
To address this challenge, the study evaluates biodegradable packaging options such as cornstarch-based materials, cellulose derivatives, jute, and sisal using an integrated multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) framework. By combining Entropy and CRITIC weighting methods with TOPSIS, VIKOR and PROMETHEE II ranking models, the research assesses materials across key parameters including biodegradability, recyclability, lifecycle impact, durability, and cost efficiency. This structured approach enables a balanced comparison between environmental benefits and industrial feasibility.
The findings consistently identify cornstarch-based packaging as the top-performing alternative, delivering approximately 25 per cent to 30 per cent better performance on biodegradability and lifecycle indicators compared to other materials. It ranked first across multiple evaluation methods due to its strong environmental profile and balanced performance across criteria, followed by cotton and jute, while cellulose-based plastics performed poorly due to high costs and limited biodegradability effectiveness.
However, the study highlights a critical barrier: cost dominance in decision-making. Using the Entropy method, cost received the highest weight (0.651), more than 50 times higher than strength (0.013), clearly indicating that economic considerations outweigh environmental benefits in material selection. Even with the CRITIC method, cost remained the most influential factor (0.265), reinforcing that financial feasibility is the primary constraint preventing large-scale adoption of biodegradable packaging in the cement industry.
The research concludes that while biodegradable packaging offers strong potential to reduce environmental impact and support circular economy goals, widespread adoption will depend on policy support and economic incentives. Measures such as subsidies, tax benefits and regulatory clarity are essential to bridge the gap between sustainability goals and operational realities, ensuring that packaging transitions contribute not only to immediate efficiency but also to long-term environmental responsibility and intergenerational justice.

This case study by Mehedi Hasan Shanta, Tasfia Tanha, Md. Mustaqim Roshid, Roman Meinhold, Ricardo Marcão, Vasco Santos, Filipa Martinho and Abdul Waaje, appears in the journal ‘Discover Sustainability,’ which is an open-access academic journal published by Springer Nature.

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Concrete

Fornnax Wins AIRIA’s Special Export Award for Rubber Machinery in 2025-26

Published

53 minutes ago

October 19, 2026

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Fornnax Technology Pvt. Ltd. has been honoured with the Special Export Award – Rubber Machinery for 2025–26 by the All-India Rubber Industries Association (AIRIA), in recognition of its highest exports of tyre recycling plants to the European region.

With more than a decade of experience in India’s tyre recycling industry, Fornnax has contributed to the development of advanced recycling technologies and infrastructure. The company currently holds a 90% market share in India’s domestic tyre recycling sector, while exports account for 30% of its business, spanning markets such as Europe, Australia and the GCC.

The award marks another milestone for Fornnax, whose tyre recycling lines and advanced shredding technologies are supporting the growth of the circular economy in India and international markets.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Founder and Director of Fornnax, said:

“This honour from AIRIA is a reflection of an incredible journey we have undertaken over the years. When we started Fornnax, there was no established recycling industry in India to follow. We chose to build for the future instead. Today, when you see India’s tyre recycling sector, it has already transformed into a dynamic, high-growth industry and we are extremely proud to have played our part in building it.”

Unlike standalone equipment suppliers, Fornnax focuses on developing complete, high-capacity recycling infrastructure. Its integrated systems combine multiple stages of shredding and size reduction to enable efficient, continuous operations. This system-level engineering approach helps recycling operators improve throughput, equipment reliability and operational consistency.

The recognition reinforces Fornnax’s commitment to developing engineering technologies that contribute to a more efficient and circular recycling ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the company aims to expand its international presence while continuing to develop advanced shredding and recycling solutions to address the growing volumes and evolving requirements of the global recycling industry.

For more information, visit: www.fornnax.com

Concrete

Cement Prices Likely to Rise Rs. 10-15 per Bag from Mid-October

Input costs and steady demand may drive cement price increases

Published

5 days ago

October 14, 2026

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Cement manufacturers in India are likely to raise prices by Rs. 10-15 per bag from mid-October, as they seek to offset persistent increases in power and fuel costs. Emkay Research said its channel checks indicated a high probability of an increase from October 12, supported by the start of the busy construction season and favourable demand-supply conditions.

The sector had implemented similar rate adjustments of Rs. 10-15 per bag during the first quarter, but the increases were insufficient to cover higher operating costs. Prices also softened during July and August because of the monsoon, widening the gap between realisations and input expenses. Delayed plant expansion programmes have pushed clinker utilisation rates towards 79 per cent by FY28, helping to balance market fundamentals.

Emkay Research said steady volume offtake was supporting cement consumption, with non-trade demand driving activity across regional markets. Industry volumes are expected to grow by 7-8 per cent year on year during the first half of FY27, while demand momentum is projected to remain firm over the following 18 months. The outlook includes the busy construction season in the second half of FY27 and infrastructure activity linked to general elections in the first half of calendar year 2029.

The brokerage expects overall cement demand to record a compound annual growth rate of about 7 per cent between FY26 and FY28. However, elevated operating expenses are likely to continue weighing on profitability. Input costs have risen by Rs. 300-400 per t over the past six to seven months, with the full impact expected to become visible in second-quarter earnings and remain persistent through the second half of FY27.

Spot prices for petcoke and imported coal are approximately 20 per cent and 16 per cent above their second-quarter averages, at USD 175 per t and USD 150 per t, respectively. Packing costs have also increased, with polypropylene granule prices rising above Rs. 135 per kg. Emkay Research estimated that second-quarter earnings could decline by Rs. 200-250 per t sequentially because of higher fuel bills and negative operating leverage, and said the sector requires sustained price increases of about Rs. 10 per bag to offset cost inflation.

Concrete

Nuvoco Marks 10 Years, Targets 35 MMTPA Capacity by FY28

Nuvoco celebrates a decade of growth, targeting 35 MMTPA cement capacity by FY28.

Published

6 days ago

October 13, 2026

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Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited is celebrating a decade of operations under the theme ‘Dus Saal Bemisaal’, highlighting its expansion in India’s building materials sector. The company has grown from a single cement manufacturing facility into a diversified organisation operating across cement, ready-mix concrete (RMC) and modern building materials.

The company’s journey began in 2014 when its parent, Nirma Group, commissioned a 2 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) greenfield cement plant at Nimbol, Rajasthan. A major milestone followed in October 2016 with the acquisition of Lafarge India, significantly expanding its manufacturing footprint.

Nuvoco strengthened its market presence through the acquisition of Emami Cement, now NU Vista Limited, in 2020, followed by its public listing in 2021. In April 2025, the company added Vadraj Cement to its portfolio, strengthening its presence in western India.

Nuvoco has an operating cement capacity of 27 MMTPA and 14 manufacturing units, including the Kutch and Sachana facilities in Gujarat, which are in advanced stages of completion. It also operates 58 ready-mix concrete plants across India and offers a range of modern building materials.

The company aims to increase its cement capacity to 35 MMTPA by FY2027-28, representing approximately 15-fold growth over the decade.

Reflecting on the milestone, Hiren Patel, Chairman, Nuvoco Vistas Corporation Limited, said, “From our beginnings at Nimbol to the organisation we are today, every milestone has added a new chapter to Nuvoco’s journey and strengthened our belief in building for the long term.”

The company continues to focus on capacity expansion, operational efficiency, innovation and sustainability while strengthening its position in India’s construction materials market.