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The need for water resilience

Water, essential for life and business alike, poses both challenges and opportunities for Aditya Birla Group's diverse sectors and geographies of operation.

With a keen awareness of the critical role of water in sustaining operations, we have prioritised tackling water stress as a strategic business imperative.

ABG's perspective on water usage

  • The Group implements a proactive Water Policy due to heavy reliance on water, focusing on sectors like Pulp & Fibre and Aluminium.

  • Through risk assessments and prioritisation, ABG identifies water conservation opportunities and implements mitigation plans, including recycling and strategic collaborations

  • The Water Policy guides the development and implementation of mitigation plans, which include initiatives such as water recycling, strategic collaborations, and efficiency enhancements.

Progress made

Here is a quick overview of our achievements and advancements

We'll look at the percentage reduction in specific freshwater withdrawal intensity per tonne of product compared to the FY2015-16 baseline.

  • Water Stewardship

    Businesses set goals to reduce water use per product and adopt water-positive measures.

  • Water Inventories

    Accurately track water usage to prioritise reduction efforts across all sites.

  • Water Risk Assessment

    Evaluate all sites for water-related risks, including availability, regulatory concerns, and quality, and integrate climate risk into long-term strategies.

  • Water Risk Mitigation Plan (WRMP)

    Develop plans for high water-stressed regions, considering different water sources.

  • Implementation and Monitoring WRMPs

    Follow internal water governance structures, conduct regular monitoring, and communicate performance internally and externally.

  • Communicate Performance

    Businesses share their performance internally in quarterly Business Review Council meetings and externally through Integrated Reports.

Water sustainability

UltraTech Cements became more water positive, increasing from 2.18 times in FY15 to 4.17 times in FY23, aiming for 5.0 times in 2024.

ABFRL has achieved water positive status and currently recycles/reuses 68% of its water.

Hindalco's Mouda unit in water-scarce Nagpur, Maharashtra, built two large rainwater ponds. With a total storage of 1.1 million KL, it became water positive, reducing freshwater use by 61% from FY22 to FY23.

Novelis Yeongju, South Korea, installed a DAF system on its cooling tower, reducing water discharge by 100 m3/day and makeup water by 170 m3/day.

ABG businesses prioritise water stewardship, recycling treated effluent within plant boundaries.

Effluent recycling rose from 12.3% to 16.0% from FY21 to FY23, a 30.1% increase.

Business like UltraTech, Hindalco, and Birla Cellulose harvest rainwater and recycle sewage water to reduce reliance on freshwater sources.

70% reduction in water

Grasim Cellulose Division, Vilayat achieved a 70% reduction in water intensity from the FY2016 baseline, reclaiming up to 70% of process water and meeting EU-BAT standards.

80m3 of water and 16 metric tons of salt per day.

Grasim Chemicals, Karwar's Sulphate Removal System and Chemical Dosing Tank achieved an 80% reduction in brine purging, saving 80 cubic meters of water and 16 metric tons of salt per day.

Championing & collaborating for water

Aditya Birla Group utilises collective learning, collaborative solutions, and tech exploration platforms to introduce and enhance best water management practices across the group.

  • Water Champions Programme

    Launched in 2022, the Water Champions Programme trains site-specific champions responsible for water management. By FY23, over 200 employees were trained across various businesses, covering topics like cooling water treatment and Zero Liquid Discharge systems.

  • Water Working Group

    Water Working Group includes representatives from high-water footprint the group businesses. Through cross-business collaborations and engagement with technology providers, it identifies solutions and shares best practices to enhance water management.

  • Collaborations with startups

    The Group collaborates with innovative water treatment startups to implement cutting-edge technologies, fostering sustainability and cost-effectiveness in water management practices.