Brian Barton
India has six of the world's ten most polluted cities, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city globally. The country's poor air quality can be attributed to various factors, including automobile emissions, construction, crop burning, and industrial activities. While multiple industries and companies contribute to India's pollution, American companies have also played a role. U.S. refineries have been criticized for exporting large volumes of petroleum coke (petcoke), a dirty oil byproduct, to India. This fuel has higher planet-warming carbon and sulfur content, contributing to India's air pollution crisis. Additionally, some Indian state-owned companies, such as Coal India, rank among the world's top polluters in terms of carbon emissions.
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What You'll Learn
US refineries sell dirty oil byproducts to India
India is already one of the most polluted countries in the world, with six of the world's ten most polluted cities. In 2024, New Delhi was the most polluted capital city globally. Air pollution in India is a significant health burden, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.
U.S. oil refineries have been exporting large quantities of petroleum coke, or petcoke, to India. In 2016, the U.S. sent over 8 million metric tons of petcoke to India, which is enough to fill the Empire State Building eight times. This was about 20 times more than in 2010.
Petcoke is the bottom-of-the-barrel leftover from refining Canadian tar sands crude and other heavy oils. It is cheaper and burns hotter than coal but contains more planet-warming carbon and far more sulphur, which is damaging to the heart and lungs. This is why few American companies use it. Instead, refineries send it around the world, especially to energy-hungry India.
One of the biggest refiners in India, Reliance Industries Ltd., has ramped up petcoke production. Indians typically buy petcoke with about 6-7% sulphur, more than double that of coal, because it is the least expensive fuel option.
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Indian companies among the world's top polluters
India has 6 of the world's 10 most polluted cities, according to a 2024 report by IQAir, a Swiss air monitoring company. The report also noted that India, the world's most populous country, saw a 7% decline in PM2.5 concentration in 2023, but air pollution remains a significant health burden, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years.
While there is no standard approach to determining the most polluting companies, Indian companies feature prominently in lists of the world's top polluters. For instance, Coal India has been ranked as the fourth most polluting government-owned company in the world in terms of carbon emissions since 1965. It is the only Indian company among the top 20 companies responsible for 35% of all carbon emissions globally during this period.
Indian companies also feature 12 times in the list of the top 100 most polluting companies worldwide. The energy sector, including fossil fuel producers, plays a significant role in emissions, with ExxonMobil, Shell, BP, and Chevron being among the highest-emitting investor-owned companies.
In addition to Indian companies, American companies have also contributed to pollution in India. For example, U.S. refineries have been sending large volumes of petroleum coke (petcoke), a dirty oil byproduct, to India. In 2016, the U.S. sent over 8 million metric tons of petcoke to India, contributing to dangerously filthy air in a country that already struggles with severe air pollution.
Various factors contribute to pollution in India, including traffic, fossil fuel-burning power plants, heavy industries, and the use of petcoke in factories and plants. The Indian Ministry of Environment and Forests has identified 64 industries under the "Red Category," including tanneries, firecrackers, smelting plants, animal slaughterhouses, and oil refineries.
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Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle: top polluting companies
India has six of the world's ten most polluted cities, and California has the worst air pollution in North America. Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle are among the top polluting companies in India.
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola has been accused of leaving farms parched and land poisoned in India. The largest Coca-Cola plant in India is in the southern state of Kerala, and it is designed to meet the demand for Coke in the company's fastest-growing market. The plant has been accused of draining the water that feeds the wells of thousands of farmers, leaving them without water, and poisoning the land with waste sludge that the company claims is fertilizer. Samples taken in India and analyzed by Exeter University show high levels of lead and cadmium in the sludge, which can be toxic and cause cancer. Coca-Cola has denied that their use of up to 1 million liters of water a day is the cause of the water shortages and has stood by their claim that the sludge waste is fertilizer.
PepsiCo
PepsiCo was named the top plastic polluter in India in 2022 by Break Free From Plastic, a global movement working to eliminate single-use plastics. PepsiCo was followed by CG Foods India and Perfetti Van Melle, the maker of confectionaries. The report highlighted that the most common plastic products found in India were food packaging, household products, and other packaging materials. Single-serve sachets and flexible packaging are also concerning trends in Asia and Africa, as they are often sold in small quantities at low cost to appeal to consumers in emerging economies.
Nestle
Nestle was one of the top three plastic polluters globally in 2022, along with Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. Nestle has recognized plastic pollution as an urgent priority and is collaborating with other companies, research institutes, and governments to reduce plastic waste. They aim to make 95% of their plastic packaging recyclable by 2025 and are working to eliminate unnecessary plastic and innovate to make their plastic packaging recyclable and reusable. They are also part of the Consumer Goods Forum's Plastic Waste Coalition for Action and other initiatives to lead voluntary action by companies in this space.
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Automobiles and transport emissions worsen air quality
India is home to six of the world's ten most polluted cities, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city globally. The country's air pollution is a significant health burden, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. While automobile emissions are a leading cause of India's poor air quality, it is worth noting that the country's automotive sector is making efforts to become more environmentally conscious.
The Indian automotive industry has been criticised for its lack of environmental consciousness, with no auto company receiving the top award for environmental performance. However, some companies, such as Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors, have been recognised for their positive climate advocacy and high current and future battery-electric vehicle (BEV) production. India is one of the fastest-growing BEV markets globally, with electric vehicles accounting for over 6% of all vehicle sales in 2023.
Despite these efforts, the number of registered vehicles in India continues to rise, contributing to worsening air quality. The pre-monsoon report on air quality released by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR) in 2023 identified automobiles as a leading cause of recorded air pollution during the 2022-2023 period. The report noted a 6.3% increase in the number of registered vehicles since 2022, with two-wheelers accounting for a significant proportion of this increase.
While the shift towards electric vehicles is encouraging, the production and use of conventional fuel vehicles continue to impact India's air quality. The Indian automobile sector has been criticised for its lack of initiative in improving engine design and adopting alternative fuels. The use of compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles, for example, has been promoted by the industry, but these vehicles still contribute to emissions and air pollution.
To meet its net-zero 2070 goal and effectively reduce air pollution, India must continue to promote the electrification of its vehicle fleet. Additionally, the country should address the impact of fuel quality and engine design on emissions, as well as strengthen its regulatory approach to the automobile sector to ensure more sustainable practices.
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India's construction industry and dust pollution
India has six of the world's ten most polluted cities, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city globally. California, on the other hand, has the worst air pollution in North America.
While it is challenging to ascertain the exact American companies responsible for this pollution, it is evident that India has been purchasing large volumes of dirty oil byproducts from U.S. refineries. Petroleum coke, or "petcoke," is a bottom-of-the-barrel leftover from refining Canadian tar sands crude and other heavy oils. It is cheaper and burns hotter than coal but contains more planet-warming carbon and harmful sulfur. While few American companies use it due to its high sulfur content, U.S. refineries send it to energy-hungry countries like India. In 2016, the U.S. sent over 8 million metric tons of petcoke to India, contributing to the country's dangerously filthy air.
India's construction industry also plays a significant role in the country's air pollution crisis. The country is experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization, with a projected 70% of its buildings in cities yet to be constructed by 2030. This has led to a substantial increase in construction activities, resulting in worsening air quality. The heavy-duty diesel equipment used on construction sites, such as excavation, demolition, and transportation, contributes to NO₂ emissions and particulate matter. Poor building standards and antiquated practices further exacerbate the problem, making construction and demolition the third-largest contributor to coarse pollutants.
To combat this issue, the Indian government has implemented several measures. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has introduced the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi NCR to regulate air pollution levels. This plan targets high-polluting sectors like construction and imposes restrictions on their activities during periods of high pollution. The government may enforce the use of anti-smog guns, water sprinklers, and dust suppression measures during the earlier stages of poor air quality. In the most severe stage, a blanket ban on construction activities may be imposed to improve air quality. Additionally, the Delhi government has launched a web portal for self-monitoring and enforcing compliance with dust control guidelines, with provisions for scoring compliance and imposing fines.
Furthermore, strategic planning and effective dust mitigation measures are crucial. Construction companies can incorporate measures such as water sprinklers, anti-smog guns, dust suppressants, covering materials, and installing barriers to control dust from the beginning of a project. A pilot study by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Signature Global (India) Ltd. aims to evaluate the intensity of dust emissions from different construction activities and the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Proper dust mitigation measures have been successfully employed at various construction sites in the Delhi NCR region, demonstrating the importance of proactive planning and regulation in India's construction sector to reduce air pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
While I cannot find a ranked list of American companies that have contributed the most to India's pollution problem, I can tell you that India has received large volumes of dirty oil byproducts from U.S. refineries. Petroleum coke, or "petcoke", is the bottom-of-the-barrel leftover from refining Canadian tar sands crude and other heavy oils. It is cheaper and burns hotter than coal but contains more planet-warming carbon and far more heart- and lung-damaging sulfur. In 2016, the U.S. sent over 8 million metric tons of petcoke to India, which was about 20 times more than in 2010.
The use of petcoke has contributed to dangerously filthy air in India, which already has many of the world's most polluted cities. The air pollution in India has been linked to a range of negative health effects, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and heart disease.
Yes, there are several other factors contributing to India's pollution problem. These include automobile emissions, construction dust, industrial emissions, crop burning, and the burning of agricultural stubble by farmers. Additionally, Indian companies feature 12 times in the list of the top 100 most polluting companies in the world, with Vedanta Limited holding the first spot.
To reduce pollution, industries can adopt several measures such as using real-time air quality monitoring systems, switching to clean energy, improving efficiency, and implementing sustainable practices. Better public transport, cleaner fuels, and smarter logistics can also help reduce transport emissions, which are a significant contributor to air pollution.
Yes, one example is the Tiroda Thermal Power Plant in Maharashtra, one of India's largest coal-based plants, which installed Oizom's air quality monitors to track pollutants in real time, helping them follow regulations and make better decisions.
