The Indian cement industry is moving from being labeled a hard-to-abate polluter to a potential climate ally.
The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB), industry leaders, and government officials released a report, “Carbon Uptake by Concrete,” at a recent event.
The report, a collaborative effort between the NCB and the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) India, introduces a paradigm shift in how we calculate the environmental footprint of our built environment.
The science of reabsorption:
While cement production is responsible for roughly 7% of global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions due to the calcination of limestone, the new report highlights a natural counter-process: carbonation.
Using the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute’s Tier-I methodology, the study assesses how concrete structures act as “carbon sponges” over their lifetime, slowly re-absorbing CO₂ from the atmosphere. By documenting this “uptake” in the Indian context, the industry aims to provide a more scientifically balanced view of its net impact.
A policy push for carbon sinks:
A significant outcome of the report release is its regulatory ambition. The report will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) with a specific request: to include carbon uptake by concrete as a recognized carbon sink in India’s National Communications (NATCOM) to the UNFCCC.
If accepted, this would allow India to report lower net emissions for its infrastructure sector, acknowledging that the concrete in our bridges, homes, and highways is actively working to offset its own production legacy.
Infrastructure for quality and precision:
To support these green claims with rigorous data, the event also saw the inauguration of two advanced facilities:
Micro-Characterization Laboratory: Equipped to investigate the chemical intricacies of cementitious materials at a molecular level.
Gypsum Board Testing Laboratory: Established to enforce the Gypsum-Based Building Materials (Quality Control) Order, 2024, ensuring that sustainable building alternatives meet strict national standards.
Ms. Urmila, Economic Advisor, DPIIT, said that these advancements are critical for a sector evolving to meet “Viksit Bharat” infrastructure goals without compromising on ESG commitments.
