This World Environment Day, UltraTech Cement Limited reaffirms its commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship across the value chain of its business operations. Following this year’s theme, we turn our focus to land restoration, desertification and drought resilience. Land restoration is a key pillar of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030), a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems all around the world, which is critical to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Every dollar invested in restoration can bring up to USD 30 in ecosystem services. Restoration boosts livelihoods, lowers poverty and builds resilience to extreme weather. It also helps increase carbon storage and lowers adverse impacts on the climate. Restoring just 15 per cent of land and halting further degradation could avoid up to 60 per cent of expected species extinctions. 2024 also marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
Restoring and preserving the environment is the primary responsibility and focus for us at UltraTech. The Company has taken up several initiatives towards enabling land restoration, combating desertification, and improving drought resilience.
Land Restoration through the Circular Economy
UltraTech Cement Ltd is at the forefront of utilizing Alternative Fuels and Raw materials (AFR) in its manufacturing operations. By repurposing industrial waste and by-products, UltraTech significantly reduces the systemic dependence on traditional landfills. This minimises environmental and land pollution, and allows for a more sustainable utilisation of waste materials. UltraTech utilised 33.64 million tonnes of recycled and alternative raw materials in cement production in FY 24. This allows for the potential restoration of land that would otherwise have been disposed as landfill.
In addition, UltraTech has also taken the initiative to turn disused mine pits in its units into water reservoirs to improve ground water levels and meet the water needs of the unit and the local community. For example, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit Vikram Cement Works has converted its exhausted mine pits into reservoirs, enabling rainwater harvesting at scale. The unit harvests up to 75% more water than its operational requirements. The surplus water is supplied to several nearby villages to meet their freshwater needs. This provides significant relief to communities in drought-prone regions. This also contributes to enhancing local biodiversity by creating habitats for various species and fostering a balanced ecosystem while helping land restoration on ceasing of mining operations.
UltraTech organizes outreach programmes to promote sustainable and novel farming practices among local farmers. This advocacy for the use of good agricultural practices like use of organic fertilizers and efficient irrigation techniques helps promote the enhancement of soil health and agricultural productivity. This enables UltraTech to support not only the livelihoods of farmers but also contribute to the broader goal of land restoration by restoring soil health, reducing erosion, and improving water retention. This also enhances biodiversity and benefits farmers by increasing crop yields and profitability.
Combating desertification through UltraTech’s initiatives
UltraTech is actively involved in biodiversity management, ensuring that our operations do not disturb natural habitats near or around our units. All our sites have been assessed for potential biodiversity-related features through the Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool (IBAT), and none of our sites have a key biodiversity area within 10 km radius. UltraTech has completed comprehensive biodiversity assessments for 14 of its 24 integrated cement manufacturing units, with plans to complete assessments for all units by December 2024. We protect and enhance local biodiversity through detailed ecological assessments and strategic planning. This includes creating green belts around our plants and nurturing native flora and fauna.
Combating desertification requires addressing the underlying causes of land degradation. UltraTech’s biodiversity management takes a holistic approach by promoting various strategies such as reforestation, sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation as well as restoration of local flora and fauna. For example, UltraTech’s integrated cement manufacturing unit Sewagram Cement Works, located in Kachchh district in Gujarat, helped save 210 unique and endangered species of swimming camels by supporting vaccinations in Mohadi village at the vicinity of the unit. Fast shrinking mangrove vegetation, grazing tracts, scarce rainfall and water grabs put them at risk of undernutrition and dehydration, weakening their immunities and threatening their survival. This initiative helped protect the overall health and well-being of the camels which went a long way in helping them survive in the extremely arid climate of the Rann of Kutch, amidst shallow seas and high salinity in the marshes, and allows local populations to better manage living in this harsh, arid climate
Concurrently, so far, five of UltraTech’s units have adopted the Miyawaki afforestation method, a Japanese technique for creating dense, native forests. These plantations grow rapidly and become self-sustaining in a few years, providing a green cover that combats desertification and enhances carbon sequestration. Additionally, our green belt plantations around our manufacturing units serve as a barrier against dust and emissions, improving air quality and supporting local wildlife. Over 34000+ native trees have been planted through the Miyawaki afforestation method.
Another remarkable example of our efforts is the transformation of the barren land around our Star Cement unit in the UAE. The unit created a green belt aimed to provide refuge for endangered species in the region. The project focused on three key aspects - soil fertility, sapling selection and irrigation practices. Once surrounded by barren land, the plant now boasts a lush green oasis, thanks to our extensive tree planting and landscaping projects. This not only combats desertification but has also created a more pleasant and healthy environment for our employees and the local community.
Improving drought resilience around our units
With growing stress on water resources, UltraTech is conscious of its role in ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all and is proud to have achieved its goal of being 5 times water-positive by 2024. UltraTech’s water management efforts encompass areas within the unit premises and beyond the fence, i.e., within the communities the Company operates in. UltraTech’s water conservation initiatives are based on the criticality of water as a shared resource that is essential for business operations as well as the wellbeing of the community and for nurturing biodiversity. UltraTech promotes creation of water storage facilities across its units through initiatives like converting mine pits into reservoirs, constructing check dams, pond de-siltation, and watershed management.
Rainwater harvesting systems are integral to our facilities, capturing and storing rainwater for various uses such as gardening, green belt watering, dust control, etc. This reduces our reliance on groundwater and municipal water supplies, ensuring sustainable water management even during drought. UltraTech employs water-efficient technologies in its manufacturing processes, ensuring minimal water wastage. UltraTech has also set up Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) plants at several of its manufacturing units to enable the reuse of 100% treated water within the units. Our commitment to zero water discharge means that all the water used in our processes is treated and recycled, leaving no harmful impact on the environment.
Our integrated watershed management projects are designed to rejuvenate local water bodies and recharge groundwater. By constructing check dams, percolation ponds, and other structures, we enhance the natural infiltration of rainwater, thereby boosting groundwater levels and improving water availability for the local community. UltraTech also undertakes, in partnership with local communities, the rejuvenation of ponds and the creation of reservoirs. These water bodies not only support irrigation and livestock, but also help maintain the local microclimate, mitigating the effects of drought.
Through its water conservation efforts within its unit premises and within the local communities, UltraTech has successfully reused, recycled, harvested and recharged more than 105 million cubic metres of water in FY24. Striving to positively impact the land, environment, and communities, UltraTech’s initiatives reflect the belief that sustainable development is the foundation for a better future for all.
