The Business Bytes
THEBUSINESSBYTES.COM
NEW DELHI, JANUARY 15, 2025
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has achieved remarkable milestones in its sustainability efforts, reducing its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity by 28.5 percent from its FY2012 baseline. This significant achievement is part of the company’s broader commitment to responsible environmental practices and its vision of a Net Zero future. Detailed in the Sustainable Development Report 2023-24, Vedanta Aluminium’s strides in environmental stewardship, governance, and community initiatives have been commendable.
With a focus on inclusive growth, Vedanta Aluminium has invested INR 1.1 billion in community development projects, positively impacting approximately 600,000 individuals across 269 villages in underdeveloped regions. These efforts underscore the company’s dedication to enhancing social equity and driving socio-economic development in the areas it operates.
Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-executive Director at Vedanta, expressed pride in the company’s ‘Transforming for Good’ philosophy. She emphasized the importance of sustainable practices in aluminium production as a crucial part of the global energy transition. “As a key enabler of the global energy transition, aluminium production necessitates responsible and sustainable practices. Guided by our ESG principles, we are dedicated to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 while advancing eco-conscious operations that align with India’s Net Zero vision for 2070. Through bold climate action including the incorporation of renewable energy in our operations and in introduction of green aluminium lines, Restora and Restora Ultra, we are setting a benchmark for responsible industrial growth on a global scale. Together, we are creating a sustainable future for the planet and its people,” she said.
Commenting on the company’s sustainability journey, Sunil Gupta, COO, Vedanta Aluminium, said, “At Vedanta Aluminium, sustainability is at the core of everything we do. As a testament to our efforts, we are proud to have secured the second position in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2024. With the release of our FY2024 Sustainable Development Report, we celebrate significant milestones in our journey towards creating lasting environmental and social impact. Our commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050 is reflected in the substantial reduction of GHG emissions and our growing adoption of renewable energy. Beyond environmental stewardship, we continue to empower local communities and foster sustainable industrial practices. These achievements underscore our leadership in sustainability and reaffirm our dedication to balancing growth with responsibility — to people, the planet, and future generations.”
Key achievements from the report include securing the second position in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment for the aluminium sector globally, launching low-carbon aluminium products, and achieving a 10% reduction in GHG emissions intensity in FY2024 compared to FY2021. The company also achieved 133 percent utilization of generated ash, sourced 1.3 billion units of renewable energy, and recycled over 15 billion litres of water. Additionally, Vedanta Aluminium planted more than 1.3 million native saplings and utilized biomass briquettes daily, reducing GHG emissions by 10,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Vedanta Aluminium’s community impact initiatives have benefited around one million women and children through education, healthcare, and sanitation programmes. The company remains committed to workplace diversity and inclusion, achieving 19 percent gender diversity within its workforce and inducting 26 transgender individuals.
As India’s largest producer of aluminium, Vedanta Aluminium plays a pivotal role in advancing the applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a sustainable tomorrow.
