This post is a part of the Early Stage Climate Startup series from Climafix 2024
Highlights
- GreenJam’s Agrocrete® is a carbon-negative bio-concrete made from crop residues and industrial by-products.
- Offers superior performance over traditional building materials, with properties such as thermal insulation, durability, and cost-efficiency.
- Over 1.5 lakh Agrocrete® blocks deployed and 14 completed projects.
1. Value Proposition
- A bio-concrete that actively captures and stores carbon, with an embodied carbon value of 0.14 kg CO₂ per kg, in contrast to 0.24 kg CO₂ per kg for conventional materials, transforming buildings into carbon sinks.
- Agrocrete® also provides a solution that is nearly 50% more cost-effective compared to traditional alternatives. It offers 350% better thermal insulation and has a lifespan of over 75 years.
2. Pain Points
- Environmental Impact: Conventional materials like clay bricks and AAC blocks have a high carbon footprint. GreenJams Agrocrete®, sequesters carbon and reduces the environmental impact of construction.
- Agricultural Waste Management: Agrocrete® repurposes crop residues into valuable construction materials, preventing 1,200 tons of stubble burning for every 3,00,000 sq. ft. of construction, and converts agricultural waste into a climate solution.
- Thermal Efficiency: The construction industry is under pressure to reduce costs. Agrocrete® is a material that is more affordable than traditional bricks and provides 350% better thermal insulation.
3. Climate Impact
- Sequesters CO₂: Agrocrete® sequesters 1,080 tons of CO₂ preventing 3,564 tons of CO₂ emissions through its lifecycle. Buildings constructed with Agrocrete® act as long-term carbon storage unit sequestering CO₂ for up to 75 years
- Stubble Burning: Agrocrete® repurposes agricultural residues that are otherwise burned, emitting CO₂ and particulate matter.
4. Current & Future Target Segments
- Current Target Segments: The residential and industrial sectors, with key customers reporting 90% retention rates. The company operates production facilities producing 1,500 blocks per day in Meerut and Visakhapatnam.
- Future Target Segments: By 2027, GreenJams aims to establish additional production units across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Mumbai, with a daily production capacity of 75,000 blocks.
5. USPs
- Carbon-Negative Concrete: Agrocrete® sequesters carbon, supporting net-zero targets and reducing the environmental impact of construction. GreenJams expects about 15 crores INR annually from carbon credits earned through carbon sequestration.
- Cost and Performance: Agrocrete® cuts construction costs by up to 50%, improves thermal efficiency, and enhances durability. Its lighter weight reduces labor and transport costs.
6. Team Profile
- Tarun Jami (Founder & CEO): Tarun holds a B.E. in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Environmental Science. As a Ph.D. Fellow and an expert in deep-tech construction innovations, he has headed the development of Agrocrete® as a carbon-negative building material, with his 9+ years of experience in construction and environmental science.
- Er. JLN Murty (MD): With over 37 years of experience in the construction industry, including roles as Project Director at TATA and VP & Head of Civil at JSPL, Er. Murty brings deep expertise in project management and the introduction of new construction technologies. His leadership has been critical in guiding GreenJam’s transition from pilot projects to full-scale commercial production.