Cement Manufacturers' Association

30 The Net Zero Foundation: How Green Cement Could Lead to a Sustainable India Mr MM Rathi, Joint President, Shree Cement Limited India’s development story is one of extraordinary transformation. But as the foundations of a new India rise, a deeper question confronts us: can we continue to build the nation without burdening the planet that sustains it? As a country committed to achieving Net Zero by 2070, India stands at a pivotal moment. The challenge before us is not to choose between growth and sustainability, but to make them inseparable. Nowhere is this balance more critical than in the construction and cement sectors, the very backbone of our nation’s progress. The cement industry, second only to China’s in size, is both a driver of development and a significant contributor to global emissions. Yet it also presents one of the greatest opportunities for transformation, as the very materials we build with can become part of the solution, not just the problem. This means the journey toward sustainable growth must start where it all begins — with the materials that shape our world. The first step toward a sustainable construction future begins with rethinking the materials we use to build our foundations and infrastructure. For decades, traditional cement production has relied heavily on clinker, an energy-intensive component responsible for most of the sector’s carbon footprint. Reducing this dependency is essential, and this is where India’s green cement revolution is gathering momentum. India’s green cement market, valued at around USD 2.31 billion in 2024, is expected to almost double within a decade. This is not a niche shift; it is a mainstream movement redefining how the world builds. One of the most promising solutions lies in blended cements, which replace a portion