From Corrosion to Conservation: Hindustan Zinc Champions Heritage Protection on World Heritage Day
Hindustan Zinc Highlights the Role of Zinc Galvanization in Preserving Modern and Historical Landmarks
On World Heritage Day 2025, Hindustan Zinc Limited, the world’s leading integrated zinc producer, has sounded an urgent call to action — emphasizing corrosion as a silent but destructive threat to India’s architectural legacy. With pollution and climate change exacerbating the pace of material decay, the company sheds light on zinc galvanization as a sustainable and vital solution for the long-term protection of cultural and infrastructural heritage.
Zinc Galvanization: A Silent Guardian of Modern Marvels
From the Lotus Temple and Statue of Unity to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Qatar’s Lusail Stadium, zinc-based galvanization has quietly played a key role in ensuring the structural durability and longevity of globally recognized landmarks. Other notable structures such as the Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, Nausena Bhavan, and Yashoobhoomi Convention Centre in India have also benefited from this powerful metal.
Unlike conventional coatings that wear down with time, zinc galvanization provides cathodic or sacrificial protection, shielding metal against corrosion and extending its life span by 30 to 40 years. In regions exposed to high humidity, salinity, or industrial pollutants, zinc ensures continued strength and safety of the metal frameworks, gates, railings, and support structures integral to both new and old buildings.
Economic and Cultural Losses from Corrosion: A National Challenge
India incurs nearly 5% of its GDP in corrosion-related losses annually — equating to around $100 billion. This loss is not only financial but also cultural, as corrosion deteriorates heritage assets, erasing pieces of our history. In contrast, countries like Japan and Australia have kept corrosion costs under 1.5% of GDP by extensively adopting zinc-coated steel in infrastructure and preservation efforts.
While iconic monuments such as the Taj Mahal receive regular upkeep, lesser-known metallic elements — from colonial-era iron bridges like the Howrah Bridge to wrought iron in palaces and gardens — are quietly succumbing to rust. Hindustan Zinc urges a nationwide shift toward corrosion-resistant materials, particularly in projects aimed at conservation and restoration.
A Call to Future-Proof India’s Past
This year’s World Heritage Day theme, “Heritage under Threat from Disasters and Conflicts,” resonates deeply with Hindustan Zinc’s mission. Zinc galvanization is not just a technical process — it represents a strategic approach to heritage conservation in an era where environmental stressors and infrastructural demands continue to grow.
Hindustan Zinc advocates for cross-sector collaboration — bringing together policymakers, engineers, conservationists, and the private sector — to champion corrosion protection as a national priority. Investing in zinc-based solutions today ensures that tomorrow’s generations inherit strong, intact symbols of cultural pride and national achievement.
