Bhubaneswar: Vedanta Aluminium, India’s largest aluminium producer, has engaged more than 14,600 people through a month-long series of environmental conservation, resource management, safety and community development initiatives as part of its Sustainability Month 2026, the company said on Sunday.
The initiative, conducted across the company’s operations in Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh, BALCO and its coal mining divisions, focused on promoting environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation, water management, waste reduction, community health, education and sustainable livelihoods.
As part of the programme, employees and community members across Jharsuguda and Lanjigarh participated in various environmental and community outreach activities, including the plantation of 50 mango saplings, career counselling support for more than 300 students and agricultural assistance for over 300 farmers.
The initiative also covered 10 villages and included a pond-cleaning drive across 12 water bodies, benefiting more than 2,500 people.
At BALCO, the programme engaged over 2,600 employees, business partners, students, families and community members through plantation drives, sustainability awareness campaigns and community health initiatives.
Meanwhile, Sustainability Month activities across VAML’s coal mining operations benefited more than 8,390 people. These included 5,500 beneficiaries through solar lighting installations and over 1,000 students and young people through education and talent development initiatives, including SURAVI, a government-led programme supported by Vedanta Aluminium.
The programme also featured several initiatives focusing on sustainability awareness, workplace safety and community outreach.
Commenting on the initiative, Rajesh Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium, said the manufacturing sector’s ability to create long-term value would increasingly depend on balancing business growth with responsibility.
“Building future-ready businesses requires more than technology and infrastructure; it requires a culture where sustainability informs decisions at every level. Sustainability Month reflects our commitment to nurturing that culture across our operations and communities,” he said.
The initiative also recorded achievements in sustainability-related learning and collective action across the company’s business units.
BALCO secured first place in the Learning Powerhouse Award in the Large Business Unit Category, with 60 per cent completion in VEDAS Level 1: ESG Essentials.
The Coal Mines Division secured first place in the Small Business Unit Category of the Learning Powerhouse Award, recording a completion rate of 98.5 per cent.
It also secured second place in the Collective Action Award in the Small Business Unit Category, with a score of 76 per cent, while Lanjigarh secured third place in the Large Business Unit Category of the same award.
The company said the initiatives reflected its continued focus on integrating sustainability into business operations while strengthening environmental responsibility and community development.
