UltraTech Cement Limited, India’s largest cement and ready-mix concrete (RMC) company, announced today that it has conserved 105 million cubic meters of water in FY24, achieving five times water positivity in line with its stated ambition.
UltraTech’s comprehensive water management efforts cover both its unit premises and the communities in which it operates. The conserved 105 million cubic meters include reused, recycled, harvested, and recharged water. This marks an increase of over 20 million cubic meters from FY23.
Water Conservation Initiatives
UltraTech’s water conservation initiatives stem from its recognition of water as a critical shared resource essential for business operations, community wellbeing, and biodiversity. The company has proactively installed rainwater harvesting systems across its sites and established Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plants at several manufacturing units to enable 100% treated water reuse.
Through watershed management approaches and community-driven initiatives, UltraTech not only conserves water but also enriches lives and livelihoods. Its watershed management projects are designed based on rainfall patterns in specific areas, aiming to harvest a significant percentage of the rainfall alongside other water conservation activities. These projects focus on four main objectives:
UltraTech’s water conservation efforts emphasize effective natural resource management for sustainable use and conservation, integrating advanced agricultural practices to boost farm productivity. These initiatives not only focus on environmental stewardship but also promote livelihood activities, creating economic opportunities for local communities. Additionally, UltraTech empowers women through the establishment of community-based organizations, facilitating their active participation and decision-making in water management and conservation projects. This holistic approach not only conserves vital water resources but also enriches lives and supports sustainable development.
So far, UltraTech has constructed 191 check dams and 97 rainwater harvesting structures, soak pits, and large ponds. Over 35,218 farmers have benefited from these initiatives. These efforts highlight UltraTech’s commitment to building a sustainable future.
Sustainability Progress in FY24
UltraTech’s sustainability strategy integrates a low-carbon approach and emphasizes environmental responsibility across its value chain. Significant progress has been made in decarbonization, energy transition, circular economy, biodiversity management, water conservation, safe operations, and community development.
Decarbonization
UltraTech’s net CO2 emission intensity decreased to 556 kg per tonne of cementitious products in FY24 from 632 kg in 2017, aligning with its target of a 27% reduction in carbon intensity by 2032. The company has committed to not investing further in thermal power capacity as part of its expansion projects, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing green energy use.
Energy Transition
UltraTech has achieved its EP100 commitment ahead of the 2035 target, doubling its energy productivity from the base year 2010. As part of its RE100 commitment, the company has increased its renewable energy capacity by 77% and WHRS capacity by 32% from FY23. As of FY24, it has 612 MW of renewable energy and 278 MW of WHRS capacity, achieving a 23.6% electricity substitution by green power. UltraTech aims to increase the green energy share in its total energy mix to 85% by 2030.
Circular Economy
UltraTech has scaled up the use of alternative fuels and raw materials (AFR) in cement manufacturing to enhance circular economy practices and minimize natural resource utilization. In FY24, the company utilized over 33 million tonnes of recycled and alternative raw materials and over 1.5 million tonnes of alternative fuels. These efforts have made UltraTech 3.26 times plastic negative in FY24.
Biodiversity
Committed to ‘No Net Loss’ to Biodiversity, UltraTech has completed biodiversity assessments for 14 of its integrated units and plans to complete all units by December 2024. The company has adopted the Miyawaki afforestation method, planting over 34,000 trees in five units to increase green cover and provide economic benefits to local villagers.
UltraTech Cement Limited, the cement flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group, is a USD 8.4 billion building solutions company and the third-largest cement producer globally, excluding China. With a total Grey Cement capacity of 152.7 MTPA, UltraTech is a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the Net Zero Concrete Roadmap announced by GCCA.
