Birla Cellulose continues to advance its leadership in sustainable fibre production with significant achievements across environmental performance, innovation, and responsible sourcing in FY 2023–24.

A key highlight of the year was Birla Cellulose’s continued recognition as the top-ranked sustainable global viscose producer in Canopy’s Hot Button Report 2024. The company retained the prestigious ‘Dark Green Shirt’ category for the fifth consecutive year, reaffirming its commitment to forest conservation and low-risk sourcing.

Progress on supplier sustainability was further advanced through the implementation of Project Synergy. This initiative assesses the environmental and social performance of suppliers accounting for nearly 70% of Birla Cellulose’s procurement spend, enhancing accountability across the value chain.

Significant environmental milestones were realized during the year. Birla Cellulosic in Kharach achieved EU BAT (Best Available Techniques) conformance, bringing the total number of EU BAT-compliant sites to four out of seven. In manufacturing, the company recorded a 55% reduction in water intensity in its man-made cellulosic fibre (MMCF) processes, surpassing its 2025 target ahead of schedule. Additionally, sulphur-to-air emissions were reduced by 55% over the FY2015 baseline.

On the innovation front, the company introduced Birla EcoSodium, a sustainably enhanced sodium sulphate by-product with a fully traceable production process. Another key development was Birla Viscose Intellicolor, a patented product designed to reduce environmental impact. Intellicolor achieves over 95% dye exhaustion, eliminating the need for salt and soda ash while enabling brighter colours, lower chemical usage, and shorter processing times.

Strategic partnerships played a central role in scaling circularity. Birla Cellulose collaborated with SaXcell and Circ to produce recycled cellulose fibre, securing approximately 5,000 tons of recycled pulp for lyocell production. The company also partnered with Algaeing on biodegradable fashion solutions and with TextileGenesis™ to enhance fibre traceability and transparency.

These efforts collectively underscore Birla Cellulose’s commitment to leading sustainable transformation in the global textile industry. Through consistent performance across innovation, manufacturing efficiency, and stakeholder collaboration, the company continues to deliver measurable progress toward its long-term sustainability goals.