Vedanta Aluminium partners with PwC on green initiatives

Vedanta Aluminium is collaborating with PwC India to promote biodiversity protection, carbon reduction, and sustainable community development in Odisha.

Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium manufacturer and a leader in sustainable development, is enhancing its environmental leadership by leading meaningful biodiversity and carbon reduction efforts in Odisha through a strategic relationship with PwC India. This collaboration extends Vedanta Aluminium’s long-standing commitment to sustainable development by offering novel ways of environmental protection and community participation.

Vedanta recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with PwC India that includes a number of ground-breaking projects aimed at restoring ecological balance, mitigating climate impacts, and promoting community well-being. These efforts, which focus on global best practices, innovative evaluation techniques, and local engagement, will produce concrete results for biodiversity conservation and carbon reduction.

Under this collaboration, PwC India will plan and implement a number of significant initiatives to address environmental concerns. These include the development of advanced carbon sequestration projects that will generate carbon credits to help offset emissions. The cooperation will use GIS-based mapping tools and seasonal plans to gradually remove invasive plants and replace them with native vegetation, therefore restoring the natural environment. Additionally, energy-efficient cooking stoves will be supplied to local people in order to reduce biofuel usage, eliminate emissions, and lower the total carbon impact. The Miyawaki approach will also be used to produce dense woods, so increasing local biodiversity and speeding up carbon sequestration.

These initiatives include restoring degraded areas to ensure No Net Loss of Biodiversity, as guided by detailed habitat development plans developed in partnership with local NGOs and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). To combat carbon emissions, Vedanta Aluminium will provide 2000 upgraded cookstoves to local populations, encouraging cleaner cooking practices that enhance air quality and minimise the use of traditional biomass fuels.

The company will also solve ecological imbalances by removing invasive species and reinstalling native flora through GIS-based mapping and seasonal restoration strategies. Furthermore, the company will use existing ways to plant dense, fast-growing trees, considerably increasing carbon sequestration efforts. These projects demonstrate Vedanta Aluminium’s ongoing commitment to sustainable development and environmental care.

Commenting on this partnership, Sunil Gupta, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Vedanta Aluminium, says, “This collaboration with PwC reinforces Vedanta Aluminium’s commitment to sustainable growth and environmental stewardship. By addressing critical ecological challenges and fostering community well-being, we aim to set new benchmarks for responsible business practices in the industrial sector. Together, we are taking decisive steps to ensure the conservation of our natural resources for future generations while fostering a healthier, greener planet.”

To guarantee effective planning and execution, Vedanta Aluminium and PwC will use globally known biodiversity tools such as the BRICS (Biodiversity Risk and Impact Assessment Tool) and GIS platforms for spatial mapping and restoration planning. These programs support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Climate Action (SDG 13), Life on Land (SDG 15), and Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12).

To emphasise the value of this partnership, Sandeep Kumar Mohanty, Partner- ESG Strategy & Transformation/Leader- Sustainability and Climate Strategy, PwC India said, “We are engaged by Vedanta Limited to explore advanced strategies for preserving biodiversity and reducing carbon emissions. Our efforts aim to support a more sustainable future for local communities and the environment.”
Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium manufacturer, remains committed to promoting sustainable industrial practices. By connecting its activities with ecological and social imperatives, the organisation continues to fulfil its purpose of building a greener, more sustainable future.

Vedanta Aluminium, a unit of Vedanta Limited, is India’s largest aluminium producer, producing more than half of the country’s aluminium (2.37 million tonnes in FY24). It is a market leader in value-added aluminium products that have important applications in key sectors. Vedanta Aluminium is ranked first in the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment 2023 world rankings for the aluminium industry, reflecting its industry-leading sustainable development policies. The company’s world-class aluminium smelters, alumina refinery, and power plants in India help it achieve its purpose of promoting emerging applications of aluminium as the ‘Metal of the Future’ for a greener tomorrow.

For more details, visit: https://vedantaaluminium.com/

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