Cement Energy & Environment

23 every operation. Indian companies are turning to renewable energy, waste heat recovery and green power agreements. These steps reduce emissions whilemakingoperationsstrongerandmoreresilient. Some of the most visible results are emerging from companies that have turned decarbonization into an everyday practice rather than a future plan. JK Lakshmi Cement, for instance, has integrated renewable energy across its manufacturing operations. Nearly half of its total electrical energy nowcomes fromclean sources like solar power and waste heat recovery. Emissions are now down to around 608 kilograms of CO 2 per tonne of cement which is a real step forward in suchanenergy heavy industry. Across the sector, renewable energy is now viewed as a strategic investment rather than an added cost. By combining innovation with responsibility, the cement industry has become oneof the leadingplayers in India’s green transition. BUILDING GREEN FROM GROUND UP A low-carbon future depends on using resources more wisely. Cement relies on limestone, fuel, and water, all of which leave a footprint. Indian companies are reducing this by rethinking waste and materials. They co-process industrial waste, use fly ash and slag and recycle wherever possible. At JK Lakshmi Cement, this shift is already visible. Last year, the company replaced over 680,000 tonnes of virgin resources with materials made from industrial waste. This has led to a reduction in the use of clinker - part of cement that produces the most carbon. The company now uses alternative fuels for more than 10% of its energy needs and wants to double this by 2030. The company now sees industrial waste as a valuable resource for future growth and not just as something to get rid of. Our push for new ideas goes into the product itself where being eco-friendly and working well come together. The innovation story now runs deeper into the product itself, where sustainability and performance intersect. It uses less clinker and more renewable energy, which leads to much less carbon output. This has earned it a GreenPro certification for being good for the environment. The company’s PRO+, Platinum Heavy Duty and Supremo products follow the same idea. These products mark a big step forward in the industry’s move towards low carbon footprint. WATER POSITIVITY: THE OTHER HALF OF THE LOW-CARBON EQUATION Carbon often dominates sustainability discussions, but water is an equally critical part of the equation. Cement production is water-intensive and climate change has made water scarcity a shared national concern. For the industry to be truly sustainable, it must give back more than it takes. This concept has an increasing influence on top factories where water positivity is now a quantifiable goal. JK Lakshmi Cement has reached 4.49 times water positivity by combining rainwater collection, groundwater replenishment, and zero-liquid discharge systems. Its facilities reuse over 90 percent of process water, while big watershed projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat spread these advantages to nearby areas. This method demonstrates how industrial expansion can exist alongside environmental renewal. FRAMEWORK FOR THE FUTURE The Low-Carbon Tonne is not a policy slogan or a marketing term, it is an operating principle for a future-ready cement industry. It calls for decarbonization to be viewed as a path to competitiveness. Green power use, waste valorization, digital monitoring and water stewardship together will create a foundation for both economic and environmental resilience. Now, the sector’s shared task is to expand these programs across plants and regions. Teamwork among lawmakers, tech suppliers and producers will determine the speed of this shift. As the world builds toward a net-zero future, the true measure of industrial progress will not be the number of tonnes produced but the sustainability embedded in each one. The Low- Carbon Tonne gives us this new way of thinking. It shows us a future where being strong and taking care of our surroundings go hand in hand. This approach will shape an industry that builds the nation while also preserving its environment.