BALCO’s Eco-Conscious Vision for Sustainable Progress Paves the Way for Nature’s Conservation
Balconagar, Korba; 27th 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.
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) is India’s iconic aluminium producer. It is owned 49% by the Government of India and 51% by Vedanta Limited. BALCO is part of Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, a division of Vedanta Limited, which is India’s largest manufacturer of aluminium. BALCO operates a 0.57 million tonne per annum aluminium smelter in Korba, Chhattisgarh. It is also a leader in value-added aluminium products that find critical applications in core industries. With its world-class smelter and power plants, the company fulfills its mission of spurring emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.
About Vedanta Limited
Vedanta Limited, a subsidiary of Vedanta Resources Limited, is one of the world’s leading Oil & Gas and Metals company with significant operations in Oil & Gas, Zinc, Lead, Silver, Copper, Iron Ore, Steel, and Aluminium & Power across India, South Africa, Namibia, and Australia. For two decades, Vedanta has been contributing significantly to nation building. Governance and sustainable development are at the core of Vedanta's strategy, with a strong focus on health, safety, and environment. Giving back is in the DNA of Vedanta, which is focused on enhancing the lives of local communities. Under the aegis of Vedanta Cares, the flagship social impact program, Nand Ghars have been set up as model anganwadis focused on eradicating child malnutrition, providing education, healthcare, and empowering women with skill development. Vedanta and its group companies have been featured in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020, and were conferred Frost & Sullivan Sustainability Awards 2020, CII Environmental Best Practices Award 2020, CSR Health Impact Award 2020, CII National Award 2020 for Excellence in Water Management, CII Digital Transformation Award 2020, ICSI National Award 2020 for excellence in Corporate Governance, People First HR Excellence Award 2020, ‘Company with Great Managers 2020’ by People Business and certified as a Great Place to Work 2021. Vedanta’s flagship Nand Ghar Project was identified as best CSR project by the Government of Rajasthan. Vedanta Limited is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange in India and has ADRs listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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