Water in the form of leakage could be a dreadful nightmare for any infrastructure. To avoid such circumstances, Viha Chitroda, Business Operations, Maris Polymers India, talks about the company’s wide range of water-based products for a  sustainable earth and newly emerging  concepts of ‘Green Buildings’ that will soon be a trendsetter in the evolution of  the construction industry.

What is critical to be competitive in the construction chemical market?
As a solid competition for established market players in the waterproofing industry, one of the critical highlights recognised; was to have the entire basket of products/ solutions under one roof. Segmenting & marketing products  which are most suitable for the Indian ecosystem have made the customer’s eyes catch Maris Polymers SA Greece – A Saint-Gobain Group Company! Proving our products through various successfully delivered challenging projects and vital documents like the EOTA & BBA certificates gives us a cutting edge over the other market players.

Can you talk about the latest procurement trends in construction chemicals?
There has been a deliberate shift in the customer’s approach towards looking at waterproofing. Initially, as we only focused on delivering 100 per cent leak- proof projects & not on the marketing of the same, as a crucial arm of the brand ‘Maris Polymers SA – Greece’, we realised a vital function was missing. The standard practice of awarding the job to the lowest quotation is slowly becoming obsolete. Products/ solutions/ applicators with a decent experience with projects where customers are 100 per cent satisfied with the service/solutions are referred the most! Thus, the market is slowly becoming quality-driven rather than only a cost-centric one.

What is the current market demand  for environmentally friendly and sustainable construction chemicals and paints?
Due to the disrupted market after covid, environmentally friendly and sustainable construction chemicals and paints have been powerless to grab a decent market share. Whereas awareness exists to quite an extent, the transformation from ‘awareness’ to  demand’ is what we would call ‘change’  in the real sense! However, government rules & regulations similar to RERA will slowly be enforced looking at the current uncontrollable trends like pollution, global warming and market degradation.

How does your company contribute to green initiatives to increase sustainability in construction?
We at Maris look at sustainability from the eagle eye view. Designing, supplying, and applying the right product to the proper application area is the only way to sustain structures from water ingress. Water in the form of leakage could be a dreadful nightmare  for any infrastructure! We are keen on spreading the differentiation between spending more and spending right to our uncaptured market share.

Can you tell me about the eco-friendly features you’ve incorporated into your products and technology?
Maris Polymers offers a wide range of water-based products keeping in mind the increasing threat to our mother earth. Mariseal 250W, Mariseal 400W, Mariseal 710 Aqua, Marithan, and  more provides sustainable and long- lasting solutions, safeguarding the gift of nature. Even if the initial system rate might seem upward, it is only an  ‘investment’ in its real essence. Newly emerging concepts similar to ‘Green Buildings’ will soon be a trendsetter in the construction industry’s evolution as a whole.

Which technologies are being adopted in paints and coatings to ensure rust and corrosion resistance  even in extreme weather conditions?
Polyurethane technology is the latest trend in construction chemicals that has experienced success in the Indian market. India is one of the most cosmopolitan geographies available to test any material. We are blessed with such diverse weather conditions  to test the performance of our products in various atmospheric phenomena. Prevention of rust & corrosion can be  undoubtedly ensured with the correct use of polyurethane.

What services you provide to construction and equipment industry?
We offer a wide range of construction chemicals to the industry, ‘waterproofing chemicals’ being our forte. We at Maris believe waterproofing is more of specifications, service and after-sales support rather than just a product selling company. This USP  has started to distinguish us from competitors and help us gain a respected and chosen brand name here quality is the niche area of
concern.

Can you discuss the industry’s future in reducing, reusing, and  recycling?
Maris, a Saint-Gobain group company, has a huge responsibility to  maintain its prestige in giving back to the environment. The manufacturing facility in Greece is a zero waste and non-carbon mission one. Small efforts like cautiously designing the packing size of each material and selling it in metal tins so they can be recycled are a considerable contribution to God’s creation!