Cement is a major source of carbon emissions in the construction industry, but replacing it at scale without compromising performance remains a challenge. Developers may be willing to use sustainable alternatives, but supply, quality, and cost must be comparable to conventional materials.
Bengaluru-based Ecopath is looking to address this problem with EcoConcrete, a cement-free construction material made using slag from steel plants.
Founded in 2024 by Sourabh Kumar and Abhishek Chhazed, the startup draws on his experience in infrastructure and real estate, where he saw growing demand for sustainable construction materials but limited availability at scale.
“People were willing to do it, but nobody was willing to offer things which are absolutely good and available at mass,” Kumar says.
Ecopath aims to make lower-carbon construction materials commercially accessible rather than positioning sustainability as a premium offering. By using industrial waste as a substitute for cement, the company is also looking to reduce emissions from conventional construction and find a use for steel-industry by-products.
Replacing cement, saving water
Ecopath uses ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS), a by-product of steel manufacturing, along with proprietary binders to replicate the properties of cement.
According to its website, EcoConcrete can be used to make pavers, kerbstones, blocks, and ready-mix concrete.
Kumar says the manufacturing process also eliminates the need for water-based curing, reducing water consumption as well as the carbon footprint associated with cement.
“In our case, there is no water needed for curing, so we save a lot of water and eliminate the footprint attached to this,” he says. “We are able to give materials which are much more superior and eliminate a lot of carbon footprint from the ecosystem.”
The company has filed six patent applications, with another five in the pipeline.
Kumar says customers were initially uncertain about whether a cement-free material could perform like conventional cement-based products. However, their response improved once they saw the product.
"At first, our customers were a bit apprehensive. They were doubtful how EcoConcrete functions like cement while not being anything like cement. But the moment they see the product, they are extremely happy, and that gives our customers more confidence,” he says.
Revenue and expansion plans
Ecopath has moved from product development to commercial deployment. According to Kumar, the company has generated nearly Rs 12 crore in cumulative revenue so far and expects to cross Rs 50 crore by the end of the current financial year.
The startup has a team of 20 people and currently operates in Bengaluru, Pune, Mumbai and Hyderabad.
It plans to expand into at least 20 Indian cities and is also exploring enquiries from the Middle East and Africa.
Kumar believes the sustainable construction industry needs to focus on material quality rather than marketing claims.
"There is a lot of greenwashing happening, which definitely should stop," he says. "If your material is good, we have enough buyers in the market. But if we lose our focus on material and start focusing only on marketing, it damages the entire ecosystem."
As Ecopath expands into new markets, the company is focusing on maintaining product quality, building its distribution network, and making lower-carbon construction materials commercially viable.
"Our speed and distribution set us apart, along with the quality of the materials we produce," Kumar says.
Ecopath is part of YourStory's Tech30 cohort—a showcase of India's most promising startups of 2026, unveiled at TechSparks Bengaluru.
Edited by Teja Lele