Cement, Energy and Environment

10 among all 3 pillars of sustainability. The industry has undergone through remarkable changes in last decade, to grow more sensitive and cautious to environmental aspects through inducing, stabilizing and improvising the systems of environmental governance. Acceptance and emergence of Environmental Governance in the industry are now taken as more of voluntary and competitive aspect, rather regulatory. However, the government has been playing a key role in putting up with the industry through implementing more and more stringent norms on environmental fronts, that is elevating the level of environmental standards to new levels. Presently, Approach to systematic and awakened environmental sense has been flowing from top to bottom i.e from companies boardroom to the factory shop floors are carried on the sound policy framework, formulated and established by the Indian cement companies. Most of the companies, contributing about more than 75 % of total installed capacity is ISO Certified for 14001- Environment Management System., which is backed up with sound policies, like Corporate Environment Policy, Sustainability Policy, Water Policy and many more. Many of these capacity representing companies have been disclosing their information and figures with the stakeholders on aspects of Environment, Resource Conservation, Human Values, Economic Status, Market Strategy, Supply chain, Governance, Health and Safety, and many more in form of voluntary “ Sustainability Reports ” based on various international standards, like Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and “ Business Responsibility Reporting (BRR) ”, as per SEBI Directions and etc. With emerging way to more transparent disclosure, the industry is further preparing to follow on Integrated Reporting Framework, that further strengthens the core of Environmental Governance. Compliance with the applicable environmental norms has been the topmost priority for the Industry. Sector-specific contributions, with help of experienced experts, majorly through Cement Manufacturer’s Association (CMA) and other advocacy and research associations and institutions, have been valuable to government and other non-governmental agencies to formulate and develop strong and sound policy framework leading to the sustainable growth of the nation. Knowing the fact that Limestone Reserves being limited, the industry has taken up stand ahead towards using alternatives through, innovations and giving way to research and development to produce low clinker cement. The cement industry is doing its way through utilizing waste-derived material (flyash, slag, gypsum, etc) as an alternative to natural raw materials, thereby saving natural resources and reducing environmental footprint. Indian Cement Industry is one of the largest consumers of flyash (a waste generated from the coal-based thermal power plants) generated in India, helping the government to increased utilization of fly ash, thereby working towards a circular economy. All this comes with a system and rigid governance structure that empowers the people of Indian cement industry to take sustainable decisions every day and every time. To have implemented a sound environmental management system, the industry has employed experts from relevant backgrounds of Environment Science & Technology, Environment Management, Biodiversity, etc. that have experience and excellence in environmental systems and technology. With every year passing by, Indian cement industry is ingraining the core of environment into the manufacturing and business at higher levels, through innovating the ideology, integrating the environmental values, and Motivating other sectors to make sustainability the way of business, thereby leading in the development of the nation and the mankind. ****** Environmental Governance Policy Framework Resource Management Regulatory Compliances Sustainability Approach Innovations Training and Awareness