BALCO’s Eco-Conscious Vision for Sustainable Progress Paves the Way for Nature’s Conservation

Balconagar, Korba; 27^th July 2023: Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO), India’s iconic aluminium producer and a subsidiary of Vedanta Aluminium, demonstrated its continued commitment to environmental stewardship through a series of impactful green initiatives undertaken throughout the year. Reflecting its unwavering dedication to sustainability, BALCO has taken proactive steps to reduce its ecological footprint and promote a greener and healthier planet through extensive plantations, meaningful employee engagement, and green competitions.

BALCO, amidst its commitment to fostering a culture for a sustainable tomorrow, has introduced a unique ‘Green team of the month’ competition within the organization. The competition uses a special assessment method called Green Champion Scorecard, held monthly, prepared for every department within the organization. This scorecard evaluates the performance of each SBU based on critical parameters, including Specific Energy Consumption, Specific Water Consumption, Water Discharge, Waste Management, Environmental Initiatives, Carbon Emission Reduction, Training & Awareness on Environment, Control Equipment Availability. This innovative initiative has led to healthy competition among the departments, driving continuous improvement in environmental practices. The best performing department is honored and recognized for its outstanding dedication towards ecological conservation, inspiring others to follow suit.

In addition to the aforementioned efforts, the company has embarked on various other initiatives to promote environmental consciousness. Among these are the “Eco-Friendly Business Partner of the Year” and the “Green Champion of the Year” awards. These accolades aim to acknowledge and honor business partners and individuals who have consistently demonstrated exemplary green practices throughout the year, thus fostering a sustainable culture within the organization and beyond.

In a pioneering move to engage employees and sensitize them towards sustainability, BALCO has developed a concept of ‘Green Birthdays.’ This initiative invites the employees to plant a fruit sapling on the eve of their birthdays at BALCO. The impactful initiative has been welcomed by employees allowing them to partake in the effort to make their special day an environmentally responsible occasion. So far, saplings of Mango, Guava, Jackfruit, and Banana have been planted by more than 150 employees establishing a thriving orchard.

Expressing his enthusiasm about these green initiatives, Mr. Rajesh Kumar, CEO and Director, BALCO, said, “We recognize the responsibility we hold towards the environment and the communities we operate in. Our green initiatives embody our commitment to preserving our planet for future generations. We strive to be at the forefront of sustainable practices and set an example for the industry. At BALCO, we are committed to fostering a culture for greener tomorrow.”

BALCO planted over 1.23 lakh saplings in FY 23. The company has recently adopted electric vehicles and forklifts in its plant premises and business practices taking a significant step towards reducing its carbon footprint. In its quest to achieve a status of net water positivity by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050,  BALCO continues to adopt sustainable business practices and conduct eco-friendly community engagement initiatives, including water pond restorations, plantations, cloth bag distribution, etc., benefitting planet and community at large. The company has recently pledged to plant over 1 lakh saplings in FY 24.