CDE Asia: Solutions for Sand Production & C&D Waste Recycling

CDE Asia offers eco-friendly solutions for sand production, construction & demolition waste recycling, and ethical sourcing through their B2B platform, Doctor Sand.

The Infra Construction Industry is moving towards sustainable and eco-friendly construction techniques and materials. By recycling and reusing various types of waste, we can reduce the need to mine virgin material, minimize disposal of waste in landfills (which require large parcels of land), minimize environmental impact, and conserve natural resources.

Manish Bhartia - Promoter & MD, CDE Asia Limited

What innovative business models and trends is CDE Asia Limited employing to address sustainability and other challenges in the construction sector?

Through innovations in building material processing and availability, CFlo is transforming construction using a dual approach that focuses on sustainability and efficiency. Firstly, we address the issue of sand scarcity, a significant cost driver, by providing viable alternatives and upcycling low-grade minerals. We also purify silica sand for solar panels, promoting clean energy.

Further, we have developed recycling techniques for Construction & Demolition Waste Management by diverting waste from landfills and converting it into eco-friendly "green aggregates." This not only reduces costs and project schedules by minimizing reliance on virgin resources but also fosters a circular economy in construction.

Secondly, our B2B Managed Marketplace, Doctor Sand, is the premier sourcing partner for ethical construction. Catering to major players in the industry, we specialize in offering enhanced traceability and ethically sourced sand, aggregates and other green building materials.

We are cleaning the industry ecosystem by supplying only ethically sourced materials through our nationwide network of cloudmills. Aggregating and optimizing the production capacities of fragmented MSME manufacturers has allowed us to maximize their efficiency and improve the quality of products.

Please elaborate on Construction & Demolition Waste Management at CDE Asia Limited.

India generates an estimated 150 million tonnes of C&D waste every year. But the official recycling capacity is only 6500 tonnes per day (TPD) just 1% or so. The C&D Waste Management Rule, 2016 of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, recommends mobile wet processing of C&D waste and recycling, under the Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. Based on the circular model, the waste is collected from collection centres or transfer stations (TS).

CFlo’s Reurban recycling technology enables processing of the collected waste and allows 96% recovery of high-quality sand (50%), aggregates (28%), and soil (18%). The recycled sand and aggregates are reused in construction and to manufacture certified products such as tiles, blocks, pavers, etc. Our waste recycling technology is now being used in various cities in India. The manufactured recycled products are sold at 30% cheaper rates in the market with a buyback of recycled products by the local Municipal Corporation. Our breakthrough initiative is contributing towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG8, SDG9, SDG12, and SDG17.

A consortium comprising WRI India, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), Mahindra Lifespaces Developers Limited, and EcoCollab have launched the Decarbonisation Business Charter for the construction sector. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is backing key activities this year. The charter's successful implementation necessitates the entire building and construction sector value chain to decarbonize, encompassing emissions associated with the production, transportation, and disposal of building materials, as well as the construction of buildings.

CFlo proudly stands as one of the signatories of this charter, marking its active participation for the second time in driving sustainable transformation to support India's growth. Our dedication to advancing sustainability aligns perfectly with the spirit of the Decarbonisation Business Charter, and we are excited about the possibilities that await us on this journey.

How do your solutions enhance productivity, efficiency, and address the shortage of skilled labor in the construction industry?

At CFlo, we recognize the industry challenges with skilled labor shortages and tight deadlines. We offer a wide range of alternatives to meet the mammoth sand requirement of one billion tonnes per annum and offer a complete range of processing equipment and services, ranging from testing to design, manufacturing, installation and comprehensive on-site support, serving as a one-stop shop.

Our expertise in bespoke modular technology enables us to deliver prefabricated equipment, reducing on-site construction time and complexity. This decreases reliance on skilled labor and streamlines project schedules.

Through our Cloudlink remote connectivity platform, we provide remote monitoring and troubleshooting, allowing our skilled technicians to support operations from anywhere in the world. This reduces the need for on-site experts and allows existing staff to focus on higher-level tasks. Projects that use our widely popular AMC services benefit from having a fully trained CFlo engineer on-site, overseeing production and ensuring maximum plant uptime. This reduces the burden of hiring, training, and retaining skilled manpower, enabling customers to concentrate on business development without worrying about production.

Our Doctor Sand platform delivers ethically-sourced sand and aggregates to the doorsteps of Indian Infrastructure builders, along with other green materials as substitutes for conventional building materials.

What forward-thinking strategies and collaborations are you pursuing to overcome challenges and seize opportunities?

To meet evolving customer needs and market expectations, we are expanding our product range and incorporating advanced technology, all while maintaining a focus on sustainability, reliability, and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles. Recently, we ranked in the Top 6% globally in the Industrial Equipment and Machinery industry by DJSI on the ESG scale.

To continue our progress and foray into global markets, we are implementing several strategic initiatives. For example, we are investing in new product lines with larger processing capacities to meet the demand for manufactured sand and waste recycling, addressing market trends and supporting our sustainability goals through responsible and green techniques.

We are developing integrated processing solutions for various minerals, sand, and aggregates. These processes aim to enhance performance and efficiency while reducing environmental impact compared to less efficient methods.

We are establishing ourselves as an ethical-sourcing partner to leading infrastructure and cement players. This gives us a competitive edge as we offer a comprehensive pan India solution for their sand and aggregate needs. The fact that 'A-rated' construction giants are already utilising the services of our Doctor Sand platform is a testament to this potential.