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Sustainability in Focus

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Circular economy in the cement industry: A systematic review of sustainability assessment and justice considerations in local community development.

This case study provides a comprehensive review of how circular economy (CE) practices are reshaping the cement industry. The authors highlight the dual role of cement: while it drives local economic growth through job creation and infrastructure, it simultaneously poses environmental and health risks. Cement production, which releases vast quantities of CO2 during clinker production, is projected to emit 3.8 billion tonnes of CO2 annually by 2050, up from 2.7 billion tonnes in 2024 if no corrective measures are taken.
The study adopted a systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis using the Scopus database, ultimately selecting 197 documents that met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed a steep rise in academic attention, with an annual publication growth rate of 23.41 per cent and an average citation rate of 26.04 per document, reflecting the growing importance of sustainability and circular economy in cement research. Regionally, Europe accounted for 52 per cent of publications, Asia 28 per cent, and the Americas 14 per cent, while Africa and Australia together made up the remaining 6 per cent, underscoring disparities in global research engagement.
From a practical standpoint, the review identified key CE strategies including clinker substitution with supplementary cementitious materials (SCM), urban mining of construction and demolition waste (CDW), and adoption of alternative fuels like biomass and waste tires. For example, Shah et al. demonstrated that SCM substitution could have avoided over 1.3 gigatons of CO2-equivalent emissions in 2018. Companies such as Holcim (via Geocycle) and HeidelbergCement are actively implementing waste valorisation and urban mining initiatives, while Cementos Argos and Dangote Cement are using waste-derived fuels such as plastics and palm kernel shells. These practices reduce reliance on virgin materials and fossil fuels, driving both environmental and economic efficiency.
Beyond technical measures, the study stresses the need to integrate social and environmental justice into CE adoption. Communities near cement plants often face disproportionate exposure to air pollution, water contamination and degraded land. Research cited shows that at least 1,000 species worldwide are at risk due to quarrying for construction minerals. Moreover, children and low-income groups are the most vulnerable to pollution impacts, including higher risks of respiratory illnesses. The authors argue that embedding justice considerations into life cycle sustainability assessments (LCSA), including tools like the Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) and frameworks such as Just Transition and Doughnut Economics, is essential for ensuring equitable and sustainable outcomes.

About the authors:
Susan K. Onsongo (writing – original draft, conceptualisation, methodology, investigation, formal analysis, data curation)
John Olukuru (writing – review and editing, supervision)
Onesmus Mwabonj (conceptualisation, resources, supervision, writing – review and editing)

*Published in Circular Economy and Sustainability (Springer Nature, Open Access journal) Dated: May 2025

Concrete

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

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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

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Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication 

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement 

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing. 

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities. 

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations. 

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events. 

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders. 

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem. 

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution. 

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Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, 
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

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