# Saint-Gobain India CEO pushes gypsum boards to replace brick walls 2026-08-22T00:38:46+00:00 | Business & Economy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Saint-Gobain India chief executive Sreedhar N is leading a campaign to shift Indian construction away from brick and concrete toward gypsum boards, glass wool and stone wool. The company is training workers, working with architects and developers, and engaging with central and state governments to promote building codes that favour insulation materials. Gypsum dry walls are 90% lighter than brick walls and offer five times better thermal insulation, according to the company. The materials cost more upfront but can save on construction and cooling costs over time. Saint-Gobain has signed an MoU with CEPT University in Ahmedabad to influence future architects and has engaged with 20 developers including Oberoi Realty and K Raheja Corps. The company plans influencer campaigns to drive consumer adoption. Sreedhar, who moved from global CFO to India chief in April last year, said the shift is his top priority. He ruled out a domestic listing for Saint-Gobain India, citing strong cash generation and low debt. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Saint-Gobain's bet on gypsum boards targets a construction market where brick-and-mortar is entrenched. India's building sector consumes over 70 crore tonnes of clay bricks annually, a process that strips topsoil and emits carbon. The company's strategy hinges on changing not just materials but the entire supply chain, from architects' specifications to worker skills. Success would require the government to tighten energy-efficiency norms in the National Building Code, something the company is lobbying for. Watch for state-level mandates on insulation in new commercial buildings, which could signal whether the push gains official backing. ## Coverage - livemint.com Straightforward business profile with no editorial slant, reports company claims and strategy without endorsing or challenging them. This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Tags: Oberoi Realty, Saint-Gobain, Sreedhar N Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/saint-gobain-india-ceo-pushes-gypsum-boards-to-replace-brick-walls/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/saint-gobain-india-ceo-pushes-gypsum-boards-to-replace-brick-walls/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes. How this brief was made: an AI model read the report linked above and wrote this summary and analysis, which were published automatically. Published briefs are sampled every hour by an automated quality check; the editor verifies its findings and approves corrections, and corrected briefs carry a dated correction line. We do no original reporting. Methodology: https://indianopinion.org/ai-use-policy/