Build Ahead has investigated urban housing challenges in India, explored the carbon emissions associated with the built environment, and proposed a framework for carbon labelling of construction materials. Our research shows that by 2047, the majority of India’s population is expected to live in urban centres, necessitating large volumes of new construction. With the built environment contributing close to 39% …
Decarbonisation of Heavy Industry: A Good Growth Imperative
Heavy industry, which includes steel, cement, chemicals, oil and gas, automotive, shipbuilding, mining and metallurgy, machinery and industrial equipment, etc., forms the backbone of the modern economy. While heavy industry drives economic growth worldwide, it is also one of the major sources of GHG emissions. The path forward demands a delicate balance, maintaining industrial growth while dramatically reducing carbon footprint. …
Heavy Industry’s Climate Challenge: Innovating For A Low-Carbon Future In India
This article originally appeared in Construction Week on 17 July 2024 Heavy industry, which includes steel, cement, chemicals, oil and gas, automotive, shipbuilding, mining and metallurgy, machinery and industrial equipment, etc., forms the backbone of the modern economy. While heavy industry drives economic growth worldwide, it is also one of the major sources of GHG emissions. The path forward demands a delicate …
ESG spending is key to boosting business resilience
This article originally appeared on Consultancy.UK on 10 June, 2024 Amid rising costs and pressures on bottom-lines, the corporate world has been steadily rowing back on environmental, societal and governance spending over the last year. Arguing that this makes firms less resilient in the face of many other issues, however, Xynteo Director Ellie Besley-Gould explains how purpose-driven strategy can actually be the …
Decarbonising Heavy Industry, A Good Growth Imperative
The heavy industry sector has played a crucial role in facilitating India’s emergence as one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, having already a made substantial contributions to the socio-economic development and urbanisation of the country. With India now the second largest producer and consumer of steel, the sector is responsible for 2.5% of India’s GDP and employs 2.5 million people …
Clean Hydrogen Innovation And The Opportunities For Govt, Industry, Startups, Investors and Academia
This article originally appeared in the Economic Times on 26 May, 2024 In India, core technology advancements in clean hydrogen research primarily stem from premier institution research centres, funded by government agencies. These include areas such as electrolyser membrane materials and efficient industrial burners. India is targeting the production of 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen by 2030, which is one of …
Revitalising British Retail: How Brands Can Harness The Power Of Private Labels For Sustainable Growth
In the drastically shifting landscape of grocery retail in the UK, private label brands are leading the way in redefining consumer expectations and retail dynamics. Traditionally seen as value alternatives, these brands are increasingly viewed as leaders in both quality and innovation. In this article, we explore this shift which may have profound implications for legacy FMCG companies. The new …
Long-term Business Resilience Requires Nature-Based Solutions
World Environment Day should remind us to reflect on our practices, re-orient if off course, and renew our commitment to a people- and planet-positive world. As we navigate the complexities of a changing climate, it’s crucial we recognise that we, and our businesses, exist within a living system. At a time of increasingly devastating weather events, this year’s theme, “Land …
Using Green Materials In Construction Today May Not Be Expensive After All
Build Ahead has investigated the intricacies of the cement manufacturing process, computed potential premiums associated with decarbonising cement, and explored how this impacts end users. Our research shows that existing cement products on average can be made 30% less carbon intensive without impacting construction costs whereas a net-zero product would only lead to a 1-3% increase in construction costs. This …
Where is the opportunity with ESG regulation?
Despite the short-term fall in prominence for some ESG funds, the growth of ESG regulation has meant that demand for sustainability-linked products and services is here to stay. The question for asset managers and owners is how to respond to this increased regulatory responsibility. The short-term picture for ESG funds at the end of 2023 remained mixed, with Article 8 and …
A Framework For Cement And Steel Governmental Green Procurement
India is the second largest cement and steel producer, with capacity to produce approx. 7% of global production for both. To urgently kickstart the decarbonisation of these fundamental materials, the government of India should formally begin green public procurement. Strong signals from the public sector will provide the demand certainty that cement & steel producers need to invest in decarbonising …
Are We Making Money Yet?
This Autumn it’ll be four years since Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England, said, “the transition to Net Zero is the greatest commercial opportunity of our time”. In the face of macroeconomic headwinds characterized by sluggish growth, inflationary pressures, geopolitical unrest, and a fragmented policy landscape, we have asked ourselves a simple question: Are we making money …