1 . India has the world’s worst air pollution. Home to 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, its poisonous air kills more than one million people each year. That’s partly because the South Asian nation is the world’s second largest brick producer. Brick kilns(砖窑)— which account for 20% of black carbon emissions globally—make a significant contribution to its terrible air.
Indian architect Tejas Sidnal was shocked to discover the construction industry’s role in the pollution crisis. “That was a crazy eye opener,”he says, “As architects, we should take responsibility for so much air pollution.”Determined to make construction more sustainable and tackle India’s air pollution, Sidnal launched Carbon Craft Des2019. “We found a way to add value to this recovered carbon by using it as a pigment （颜料，色素）in carbon tiles（瓷砖，瓦片），”he says.
To create the carbon tiles, Carbon Craft Design partnered with Graviky Labs, an Indian company that previously created “Air Ink”, a technology that captures carbon soot from cars and factories, and converts it into ink and paint.” Graviky Labs views pollution as a resource,” company founder Anirudh Sharma tells CNN. “We are one of only a few companies in the world to capture these carbon emissions and turn them into new materials.”
Since launching its first tiles a year ago, Carbon Craft Design’s customers have included global fashion brands and architecture firms in India. In November 2020, the company retrofitted an Adidas store in Mumbai, covering the walls and the floor with its carbon tiles. Architect Manan Gala, whose firm Bombay Contractors designed the Adidas store, describes the carbon tile as a “winner” for the construction industry. “As well as being sustainable, the product has better strength than conventional cement tiles due to the carbon content, and the raw and rustic feel adds to the overall charm,” he says.
“Carbon Craft Design is currently rising investment and hopes to start distribution in Europe this year.” says Sidnal, adding that “We are flooded with inquiries from in and out of India.”
1. What does the author want to tell us by the figures in paragraph 1?| A．Global pollution crisis. |
| B．Brick kilns’ side effects in air pollution. |
| C．Benefits of bricks production. |
| D．Significance of environment protection. |
| A．He cares about crises. | B．He prefers profits. |
| C．He’s a responsible architect. | D．He’s crazy about construction. |
| A．Carbon tiles are stronger than traditional cement tiles. |
| B．“Air Ink” was specially created to produce carbon tiles. |
| C．Global fashion brands and architecture firms join Graviky Labs. |
| D．Many companies can transform carbon emissions into new materials. |
| A．Cautious. | B．Doubtful. | C．Self-critical. | D．Hopeful. |
