Asbestos, once regarded as a marvel of industrial engineering, played a crucial role in shaping the infrastructure of modern India. Its strength, affordability, and fire-resistant properties made it an ideal material for countless applications—from roofing sheets and insulation panels to pipe lagging and brake linings. The most commonly used form, Chrysotile asbestos, became deeply integrated into public buildings, manufacturing units, and housing across the country.
But what was once a material of utility has evolved into one of the world’s most persistent and dangerous environmental threats.Despite a nationwide ban on asbestos mining in 1993, Chrysotile imports continue, and vast quantities of legacy asbestos remain embedded in India’s built environment. Today, this hidden threat resides quietly in deteriorating buildings, disused factories, and aging infrastructure—waiting to be disturbed.
The danger lies in the microscopic fibers that asbestos releases when damaged or mishandled. These fibers are virtually indestructible and remain suspended in the air, invisible to the naked eye. Once inhaled, they embed themselves in lung tissues, where they trigger a range of deadly diseases. The World Health Organization has confirmed that all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic, with no safe level of exposure. Victims often suffer from asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pleural disorders—diseases with long latency periods and no known cure.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) is just 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) averaged over eight hours. Yet, in many cases, especially in informal sectors and unregulated environments, these standards are either unknown or unmonitored.
This long latency—often 20 to 40 years—makes asbestos a silent killer, demanding urgent and expertly managed intervention. And yet, across much of the country, remediation efforts remain fragmented, reactive, and under-resourced.
That’s where Integrated Sustainability Solutions (ISS) by Re Sustainability brings a new paradigm.
Through ISS, Re Sustainability has established a scientifically rigorous, globally benchmarked process for asbestos risk management. Every project begins with comprehensive site assessment, mapping all Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs), classifying them by friability, and analyzing potential exposure routes. ISS undertakes dismantling of facilities as required, with specialized equipment and trained personnel. Using advanced containment methods such as wet spray method, HEPA-filitered vacuuming, and chemical fiber-locking, and soil stabilization techniques, the risk of airborne and soil contamination is virtually eliminated.
All ACMs are then securely double-bagged, clearly labeled, and transported to authorized Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) in accordance with national and state regulations. Beyond containment, Re Sustainability specilaizes in thorough remediation strategies to safely remove or neutralize ACMs where feasible, ensuring long-term site safety and compliance. Every step is governed by an in-depth Health & Safety Plan (H&SP), including Task Hazard Analysis (THA), Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards, and decontamination protocols, ensuring workers protection.
ISS also ensures full alignment with regulatory bodies. Working closely with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), the team secures No Objection Certificates (NOCs), ensures real-time reporting, and maintains a clear chain of documentation for compliance.
The results speak for themselves. In a series of projects spanning two Indian states and four asbestos-affected sites, Re Sustainability—through its Integrated Sustainability Solutions (ISS) platform—achieved zero fiber release, aligning with the most stringent global standards in asbestos risk management. Each site was carefully assessed, asbestos safely contained, and cleared using best-in-class removal and disposal techniques. What were once high-risk environments have now been transformed into clean, certifiable spaces—ready for redevelopment, safe occupancy, or reintegration into industrial use. These outcomes not only demonstrate Re Sustainability’s technical expertise but also reflect the transformative potential of integrated, outcome-driven sustainability execution.
But for Re Sustainability, asbestos remediation is more than just environmental cleanup—it’s a deeper act of restoration and justice. It is about safeguarding vulnerable communities, reclaiming degraded land, and reinforcing the social license to operate in places once harmed by industrial legacy. Every successful clearance reaffirms a commitment to intergenerational responsibility—ensuring that tomorrow’s citizens are not burdened by yesterday’s decisions.
The path is not without obstacles—terrain, aging infrastructure, climatic conditions—but the approach is rooted in expertise, discipline, and compassion. ISS doesn’t just manage risks. It turns them into platforms for renewal, where science meets purpose, and sustainability meets real-world action.
India’s asbestos crisis will not solve itself. It demands more than regulatory intention—it calls for capable systems, coordinated execution, and courageous leadership. With ISS, Re Sustainability offers a powerful, integrated model that transforms fragmented efforts into high-impact outcomes—delivering safety, compliance, and sustainability in equal measure.
Because in the end, true sustainability isn’t just about protecting the present—it’s about healing the past to protect the future.
Over the past decade, sustainability has become a business-critical priority for India’s oil and gas sector. Investors, regulators, and communities are no longer satisfied with corporate pledges; they demand proof, measurable action, and lasting impact. The coming decade will define which companies simply talk about change and which ones are recognised for engineering it. While many leading firms have set ambitious decarbonisation and ESG targets, the biggest gap remains execution.
This is where Integrated Sustainability Solutions (ISS) and its brands ReIgnite for decarbonisation, Re Analytical for advanced testing and monitoring, and netZERO for EPR and carbon credits step in. We move beyond advisory to deliver end-to-end implementation, helping oil and gas players bridge the distance between boardroom ambition and on-site transformation.
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