Routes Colas Group magazine, Number 45 - June 2021 - ColasSPECIAL ISSUE
answers questions from
0 8 SITE-SEEING
to the environment
16 Around the world in pictures The Group’s sustainable
works, projects
and solutions
a committed strategy
their environmental
I N T E R V I E W
Frédéric Gardès, Colas’ Chairman and CEO, answers employees’ questions
concerning the roll-out of the Group’s low carbon and biodiversity roadmap.
LOW CARBON AND BIODIVERSITY
Frédéric Gardès: Colas was founded over
90 years ago. And remember, for a very long
time, the environment was not really a source
of concern for businesses in general, so the
construction segment was no exception.
Today, times have changed. People have woken
up to the importance of the environment.
I think I can say that Colas was a step ahead
of other competitors in making the issue part
of its day-to-day business.
pavement way back in the late 1960s, then
gradually began collecting and recycling rubble
and waste. As of the 1990s Colas worked on
an increasing number of projects involving
drainage networks, retention basins, and more.
Over the decades, a multitude of local
environmental initiatives have been rolled out
at Colas’ sites all around the globe.
What’s more, we have been focusing on
preserving biodiversity in our quarries and
gravel pits for more than 30 years. Animal and
plant species have been happily nesting and
thriving on these sites, even when they are still
operating. This environmental reality, which
we want to foster, appears, on the face of it,
to be counter-intuitive, but the fact is with the
exception of the blasting zone, these large open
spaces tend to be relatively well preserved and
peaceful compared to an urban environment.
At the start of the 2000s, Colas’ increasing
concern about the importance of protecting
the environment led the Campus for Science
and Techniques to shift the focus of its R&D
programs to environmentally-friendly
products and processes.
in our environmental policy. Following the
announcement at the end of December 2020
of our commitment to a decarbonization
strategy, 2021 has seen the launch of our
Act and Commit Together (ACT) corporate
project, dedicated to Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR), and the roll-out of our
roadmaps, including several that relate directly
to the environment.
a major step forward in our environment
policy with the launch of
our ACT corporate project.”
#EXPECTATIONS
Has pressure from inside or outside the company forced Colas to be proactive when it comes to the environment?
F.G.: I prefer to talk about expectations rather
than pressure. The word “pressure” would
imply that we were acting under duress,
against our will. Obviously environmental
expectations have grown in recent years,
both internally and externally.
employees - especially the younger generations
up to the 40 to 50-year-old age bracket -
the pace of change is also starting to pick up
in the financial community. Today, with the
rapid development of sustainable investments,
our financial partners are just as interested
- if not more so - in questions surrounding the
environment and CSR, as they are in strategy
and bottom lines. In addition, we are lucky
to be part of Bouygues Group, which has made
reducing its environmental impact a key priority.
So these expectations are converging. And
we are ready to address them. But the majority
of local public decision-makers aren’t on the
same page yet. I would really like to see calls
for bids be more open to technical alternatives,
with successful bidders selected on the basis
of environmental performance criteria as well.
It would be good for the planet, and good
for Colas, too! We would be able to propose
solutions that clearly set us apart from our
competitors, such as in situ cold recycling,
warm mixes with Vegecol plant-based binder,
etc. Optimizing road maintenance - as part
of long-term contracts like the one we signed
with the city of Portsmouth, in the south
of England, for example - would also help
save raw materials, reduce greenhouse gas
and cut costs.
05
INTERVIEW
#OBJECTIVE
Colas has set itself a target to reduce its direct and indirect upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030. Do you think a goal this ambitious can be achieved?
F.G.: We used our carbon footprint as a starting
point to set the target. We looked at the areas
where we could take action, at the greenhouse
gas emission reductions we could hope to achieve,
at how fast we could do so and at what cost.
All the while taking care not to price ourselves
out of the market. We arrived at this figure of
30%, which is in line with the Paris Agreement.
True, it’s an ambitious target, especially since
we aren’t the only ones involved. It doesn’t
depend just on us!
emissions [scopes 1 and 2] involving the energy
consumed by our industrial operations, machines,
etc. These emissions account for about 15%
of our carbon footprint.
to working on our indirect upstream emissions
[scope 3a], related to purchasing, in particular.
This area accounts for some 85% of our carbon
footprint. And here we are largely dependent
on our partners - suppliers and subcontractors -
as well as technological advances. But we are
also determined to do our part where innovation
is concerned.
everyone to be onboard, which I am fully
confident will be the case. We are all committed.
#DECARBONIZATION
Colas uses equipment and machines that emit high levels of greenhouse gases and consume large quantities of cement and bitumen. How is decarbonization even possible?
F.G.: For our fleet, we are currently studying
the use of hybrid and electric vehicles. Electric
vans have already been delivered to one of our
profit centers in southeastern France. And in
the very near future, a trial of all-electric, driverless
machines will be launched at one of our quarries.
We also have a project underway involving green
hydrogen vehicles and machines, with the creation
of a hydrogen station powered by green electricity.
Cement is by far the biggest contributor to
our carbon footprint. We are encouraging cement
manufacturers to reduce their emissions and
they are increasingly turning to low carbon
cement. We are also coming up with our own
solutions, like flash metakaolin, something
we have been working on for a number of years.
As for bitumen, even though it is an oil-based
product, it is applied directly to the road
without being burned, unlike fuels, which are
combusted, and therefore emit a lot of carbon.
In other words, the process is emission-free.
We are also developing plant-based substitutes,
such as Vegecol binder, which is carbon-negative.
The ships and terminals we have invested
in for bitumen could be used to transport
and store Vegecol.
of the game, to contribute to change,
to drive change; in other words, we want
to be leaders, not followers.
“We want to be trailblazers
and change-makers on decarbonizing
#BUSINESSMODEL
Bearing in mind Colas’ commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, and with global awareness of the climate emergency, should the Group be turning its back on certain types of projects, such as airports and highways? Should Colas be adjusting its business model?
F.G.: If a project stems from political will and has
not been blocked along the way by opposition,
it will definitely see the light of day, no matter
what. So, other than in exceptional circumstances,
refusing to bid for the contract would make
no sense. On the contrary, we can propose
environmentally-friendly solutions aimed at
possible. Then, if we take highways, for example,
it will be up to the relevant authorities to make
sure it is hybrid or green hydrogen vehicles and
alternative-energy trucks that use them.
Beyond these circumstantial considerations,
Colas will fit into this future. As part of our
low carbon project, we have been working with
specialized consultants on several scenarios
relating to the long-term impact of climate
change on our markets and our business model.
In a decline scenario, characterized by lifestyle
changes, there would probably be fewer roads
and less traffic than today, but there may also
be other opportunities. In a techno-optimist
scenario, whereby innovation addresses the
consequences of the climate challenge, with
identified fields such as wind and solar energy,
our business model is likely to be less impacted.
In both cases, the future of the railway sector
is bright.
does not call into question the broad lines of
our business model. However, it is set to evolve,
particularly with the development of long-
term full-service maintenance contracts, and
with our new solutions like Flowelll, to share public
space, and Mobility by Colas services. These are
relatively far-removed from our core business, but
they do help protect the environment and keep
our business segment from getting “uberized”.
Colas’ future lies in its capacity to be a pioneer
and provider of innovative solutions that address
the environmental challenges associated with
its business.
SITE-SEEING Drawing on its collective global expertise and
its considerable capacity for innovation, Colas offers its customers across five continents a range
of infrastructure solutions that address current and future sustainable mobility needs.
Site-seeing around the world.
08
Colas operates in Croatia since the acquisition of Cesta Varadin in 2007, renamed Colas Hrvatska in 2013.
SITE-SEEING
the Hrastovljan sand and gravel pit
seems like the ideal place.
PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY
the gravel pit lies the Mura-Drava-
Danube nature reserve, extending all
the way to Hungary, nestled between
the three rivers that give it its name.
This vast reserve, occupying an area
of more than 630,000 hectares
and declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2016, represents
one of the best preserved wetlands
in the Danube basin.
The international organization has
lab for preserving biodiversity.
make”, goes the saying. Yet, 100 km
north of the Croatian capital, at
the Hrastovljan gravel pit*, the return
of the sand martin, a little bird from
the passerine family, is a sure sign
that summertime is on its way.
It also means that the gravel pit’s
teams will need to be extra-vigilant.
“Sand martins are a protected
species and they nest in the walls
of the pit”, explains Pero Ruso,
a mining engineer who has been
with Colas Mineral, a Colas Hrvatska
company, for five years. “We do all
we can to make sure our operations
disturb them as little as possible,
especially during nesting season,
One of the few birds to dig their
nests, the sand martin makes its
home near expanses of fresh or salt
water, excavating tunnels in the earth.
EN ROUTE
CROATIA: PRIORITY TO THE ENVIRONMENT
is a shining example of successful coexistence with the environment. Despite being in operation for 40 years, today its land and aquatic
biodiversity are preserved. In this report, we join Colas Hrvatska and immerse ourselves in an extraction site that is set against
the backdrop of a UNESCO nature reserve.
HRASTOVLJAN GRAVEL PIT, CROATIA
1981
10
SITE-SEEING
Back from Africa, where they spent the winter, colonies of sand martins nest in the walls of the Hrastovljan gravel pit.
SITE-SEEING
The Hrastovljan gravel pit produces an average of one million metric tons of sand and gravel annually.
Croatia boasts 410 natural reserves and 110 endemic species.
SITE-SEEING
“Water is thus recycled and reused
in the raw material washing process.”
A GLOBAL APPROACH FOR
annually. Two floating dredgers
equipped with hydraulic grabbers
of 60 meters. “Our machines and
facilities operate with electricity from
the local electricity grid”, continues
Pero Ruso. “But in the future,
our aim is to invest in alternative
energy sources. We are looking at
the possibility of setting up a solar
power plant that would meet some
of our electricity requirements.”
This global continuous improvement
no-brainer. Nenad Stimac, workplace
risk prevention and environmental
priority: “We are at the confluence
of the Drava and Mura rivers that are
so important to the beauty of our
landscape. So we are very careful
about how much water we use.
In 2015, we set up a water treatment
system at the Hrastovljan gravel pit,
the only one of its type in Croatia,
enabling us to recycle up to 90%
of the water we use, with no harmful
discharge into the surrounding
to obtain ready-to-use materials
for manufacturing concrete and
asphalt mixes. The traditionally
water-intensive process has been
considerably optimized at Hrastovljan.
have no impact on the environment,
ACTIONS “In the future, our aim is to invest in alternative energy sources. We are looking at the possibility of setting up a solar power plant that would meet some of our electricity needs.”
PERO RUSO, Mining Engineer,
307 employees
in 2013
305 construction
13
SITE-SEEING
The Colas subsidiary in Croatia is one of the first companies in the country to have made environmental protection a priority.
of immense pride to know that Colas
and its employees are working daily to
preserve the environment and reduce
the company’s CO2 emissions.”
Back from Africa, where they spent the
winter, colonies of sand martins nesting
in the walls of the Hrastovljan gravel
pit are testimony to their efforts.
of the Hrastovljan extraction site,
perfectly illustrates the responsible
in Croatia, one of the first companies
in the country to have made
environmental protection a priority.
CSR policy, Colas Hrvatska is
committed to positive, concrete and
measurable action addressing the
Its ambition is to set an example,
reducing the impact of its activity
and ensuring that everyone benefits.
Employees are fully aware of their
company’s societal responsibility.
“It is the duty of us all to tackle climate
change and to protect biodiversity
for the benefit of future generations”,
point outs Nenad Stimac. “It is a source
ACTIONS “We are at the confluence of the Drava and Mura rivers that are so important to the beauty of our landscape. So we are very careful about how much water we use.”
NENAD STIMAC, Workplace Risk Prevention and Environmental Protection Coordinator, Colas Hrvatska
* Alluvial aggregate extraction and production site.
** Biosphere reserves are UNESCO-recognized
via the sustainable use of natural resources.
14
SITE-SEEINGSITE-SEEING
COLAS HRVATSKA
A S U S TA I N A B L E C O M M I T M E N T
TRAINING
RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Employees at Colas Hrvatska are given ongoing training to raise awareness and develop expertise in the field of ecology. Environmentally-friendly processes are constantly introduced, sometimes supported by technology. Colas Hrvatska is also vigilant when it comes to its suppliers and commercial partners, closely monitoring the indirect impact of their activities.
WASTE
Controlled waste management, to protect both health and the environment
SOLAR ENERGY
Photovoltaic power plant project to gradually replace fossil energy with renewable energy
REFORESTATION
Reforesting the landscapes surrounding quarries and gravel pits to offset the impact of human activity
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SITE-SEEING
environmental protection. From Senegal to Australia
via France, the Netherlands, Morocco and Canada… a rapid trip
around the world to see the Group’s work in progress
and finished projects.
FRANCE
Vegecol, a new low carbon binder In Vedène, in the Vaucluse region of
south-east France, teams laid down 230 m2
of light-colored Vegecol asphalt mix around
a school. Because it is more than 80%
plant-based, the innovative binder used
to manufacture Vegecol has a very low
carbon footprint. The amount of carbon fixed
by plants during their growth is higher than
the carbon emitted in order to manufacture
the binder. The fact that it is clear means that
the Vegecol binder can be used to produce
light-colored mixes, highlighting the natural
color of the aggregates. It represents
a low carbon alternative to conventional
surfacing solutions designed for the visual
appeal of urban development projects,
for example. Vegecol is therefore fully
in line with Colas’ low carbon commitment.
SITE-SEEING
MOROCCO
subsidiary in Morocco, made up the
consortium which was awarded the
contract to extend line 2 of the Rabat
tramway. The project included the
construction of tramway platforms,
on a 7-km section of the route, creation
of an additional holding track and
relocation of the “Gare de Salé” station.
Two electric vehicles were made
available to project managers for
traveling between the different
the project’s environmental impact,
since electric vehicles do not emit CO 2
and are quiet. Present in Morocco since
2008, Colas Rail has been actively
involved in every one of the country’s
tramway construction projects and
at the start of 2021, the subsidiary
secured two contracts as part of a wider
project to build two new lines - T3 and
T4 - of the Casablanca tramway.
2 electric vehicles provided for the project for travel between the construction sites
7-km tramway extension
and reducing the carbon impact of
construction projects by optimizing
to do just that and it has paid off.
Colas’ innovative digital solution was
chosen and developed for the
neighborhood around Lyon Part-Dieu,
scheduled through 2022. In total,
around 40,000 trucks are currently
observed and controlled by the tool.
A year into the initiative, greenhouse
gas emissions in the neighborhood
have fallen in proportion to the length
of time trucks have been parked
in their designated control areas around
the edges of the city. The ultimate target:
to save more than 160 metric tons
of CO 2 by 2024.
1,900 hours of truck traffic avoided in 2020, i.e.,
30 tons of CO
western France), Colas is carrying out
water course maintenance and
water catchment area. A number of
interventions are scheduled throughout
to improve water flow and quality,
and develop the biodiversity of these
ecosystems. Thanks to its expertise
in earthworks, redevelopment and
engineering projects.
Embracing the circular economy During the summer of 2020, teams
from Barrett Paving New York Central
(NYC), a Colas USA company, repaved
a section of Interstate 81, a highway
that runs north to south alongside the
Appalachian Mountains. The section
York. On the agenda: milling the existing
road surface, repairing the roadway
when necessary, and laying down the
asphalt mix. The milling method used
meant the planed materials could be
immediately re-used in the new mix,
without the need for any additional
processing or grading. 35,000 metric
tons of these recycled materials have
been re-used for various projects in the
region. Thanks to this process, which
helps reduce carbon emissions, Barrett
Paving NYC exceeded the recycling
targets required by the customer.
13,000 metric tons of in place reclaimed asphalt pavement
35,000 metric tons of milled material reused for various projects in the region
FRANCE
Leading by example in Lyon Colas is carrying out a project
on the La Doua university campus,
in the city of Lyon, France, that sets
the example in terms of sustainable
development. The jobsite itself
as to limit its environmental impacts.
In particular, the site compound,
which is fitted with solar panels,
is energy self-sufficient. Secondly,
innovative and sustainable products
including Urbalith, a permeable
mobility: narrowing of roads, widening
of sidewalks, creation of pedestrian
and bike paths. The completed project
is set to be delivered in the fall of 2022.
18 kWh produced on average per day by the site compound’s solar panels
of which
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SITE-SEEING
MAYOTTE
Colas, an energy transition player With more than 50 projects delivered in the space
of two years, Colas has established itself as a leading
energy transition player in Mayotte. The company
has harnessed all of its know-how to support
renewable energy producers and help develop
the photovoltaic energy sector. In particular, teams
are called on to connect solar panels installed on
the roofs of public buildings to the local electricity
network. From design studies through to the actual
connection to Mayotte’s power grid, Colas Mayotte’s
expertise in the fields of electrical engineering, civil
engineering and roads and services has enabled
the successful completion of these projects.
SENEGAL
completed the renovation of a
section of the Kébémer-Touba road,
passing through Darou Mousty.
Colas’ technical department based
Group's Campus for Science and
Techniques, successfully imported
time the low carbon solution has been
used in the country.
SITE-SEEING
FRANCE
A schoolyard Oasis* Colas took part in a project to redevelop
the grounds of Jean-Macé school
in Clichy-la-Garenne, near Paris.
that the pupils themselves designed it,
as part of the “Imagine ton collège”
[Design your own school] initiative.
Teams resurfaced the entire schoolyard
in line with eco-friendly specifications.
A light-colored surfacing was applied
to tackle the urban heat island
phenomenon. The porous mix and
a specially designed water network allow
rainwater to be collected and then reused
to irrigate the school's vegetable garden.
Following the principles of the circular
economy, the concrete from the old
school yard was reused on the site to fill
the new gabions.
schoolyards cool in hot weather.
SITE-SEEING
WORLDWIDE
With the creation in 2020 of
Continental Bitumen Ltd, Colas has
extended its bitumen distribution
Middle East, Africa zone (including
France). One of the objectives is to
secure bitumen supplies across the
geography. Continental Bitumen Ltd
with a capacity of 20,000 metric tons.
Anticipating regulations imposed
impact: a hull that reduces drag and
energy consumption, liquefied natural
the same decarbonization approach,
older vessels in Colas’ bitumen fleet
operating in other parts of the world,
particularly the Asia-Australia zone
and draft optimization, exact
24
SITE-SEEING
FRANCE
(north-eastern France), Route 65
Teams used the Novacol process,
whereby materials taken from the old
pavement are re-used in place and
applied cold. Use of the process results
in significant savings in terms of energy,
transport and carbon-based energy.
Ecomac heads to Canada! In the city of Calgary, Alberta,
Colas Canada company Standard
semi-warm mix containing 60%
reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP):
a challenge, requiring the support
of Colas’ Campus for Science
and Techniques. The mix was
made using an asphalt emulsion
produced by McAsphalt Industries
Further trials with the innovative mix
are due to take place over the next
few months… Watch this space!
85% of materials used on this construction project were recycled (crushed concrete, RAP, etc.)
60% of RAP integrated into a semi-warm asphalt mix
26
SITE-SEEING
FRANCE
Nothing is wasted, everything is transformed On the île de Groix, an island off
the coast of Brittany in north-western
France, a water pipeline renewal project
threw up a challenge for the teams
involved: what to do with the waste
materials from the project. To avoid
storing the excavated materials
them on site and turn them into high-
quality fill. Once the water pipeline
had been laid, the excavated materials,
combined with cement, went into
the mixer before being used to fill in
the trenches. In place waste recycling:
a practical solution that also helps
reduce transport.
27
SITE-SEEING
FRANCE
Traffic flow optimization In the Paris region, Aximum’s ITS
division is leading an innovative project
for the road of the future on the ring
road around the La Défense business
district near Paris. For the project, the
company is using its SOFFT solutions,
based on traffic flow optimization at
signalized intersections. Objective:
and a corresponding reduction in
unnecessary accelerations, all of which
helps save fuel and thus reduce
CO 2 emissions.
SITE-SEEING
30% reduction in the energy needed to produce a new- generation Wattway photovoltaic panel
THE NETHERLANDS
panels have been installed on a bike
path. This photovoltaic road surfacing
solution makes it possible to supply
renewable energy. At the beginning of
2019, the Wattway solution, which has
the advantage of producing electricity
without impinging upon agricultural
Solar Impulse Foundation label. In total,
some forty trial sites have been built
around the world. While these trials
take place, research and development
teams continue to optimize the solution.
Their objective is to reduce the carbon
impact of producing the Wattway
panel. Since the solution was first
launched in 2015, the energy needed
to manufacture the panel has been
reduced by around 30%.
Bring on renewable energy! Teams from Sogetra, a Colas company
in Guadeloupe, are participating
Le Moule power plant, which supplies
a third of the archipelago’s electricity,
to biomass. By abandoning coal and
using wood pellets* instead, Albioma,
the island’s main electricity producer,
aims to massively reduce its CO 2
emissions. Sogetra is responsible for the
civil engineering aspects of the project,
including the construction of a storage
dome for the new fuel, with a capacity
of 20,000 m3, at the Jarry port site, and
a silo with a capacity of 6,000 m3 at the
Le Moule site, as well as various emission
treatment modernization operations.
be fully converted to biomass.
* The wood pellets are granules made from wood
by-products (wood chips, sawdust, etc.) that have
been compacted under high pressure. They have
a very high calorific value
87% lower CO
30
SITE-SEEING
DENMARK
A more sustainable asphalt plant A brand new asphalt plant has been built near
Horsens, Denmark. The state-of-the-art facility,
ideally located to serve the needs of construction
projects in the surrounding areas, replaces the
old port plant, first commissioned back in the 1970s.
Equipped with a dryer that is 12 meters long and
2.80 meters in diameter, the plant is one of the most
efficient in terms of asphalt mix and RAP. Moisture
makes it more difficult to work with recycled mixes.
With materials that are completely dry, it is possible
to increase the amount of recycled materials in mix
designs, without compromising their workability.
The site also includes warehouses for storing recycled
materials and office buildings fitted with solar panels.
Launched in October 2020, the work was completed
on schedule for the planned opening in April.
AUSTRALIA
Australia turns to warm mixes In New South Wales, Colas’ Australian
subsidiary repaved the access
were used for the project. Performing
just as well as a conventional mix, ECO5
incorporates between 25 and 40%
recycled materials: crushed glass, tire
rubber, RAP, etc. Manufactured and
applied at a low temperature, ECO5 falls
within the category of warm mixes, with all
the inherent advantages: energy savings
and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
SITE-SEEING
CROSSROADS Colas is mobilizing and transforming to address the evolving expectations of its stakeholders. To tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, the Group is committed to a strategy aimed at
decarbonizing its activities and preserving ecosystems. Analysis of an ambitious roadmap.
32
Colas has created a 10-km pedestrian and cycle path between France and Germany
CROSSROADS
we need to make.”
major issue for life on our planet.
But what is it all about exactly?
The “modern” era in which
we live is founded on large-
scale energy consumption.
radically transformed people’s
the 19th century and these same
fuels continue to underpin
today’s megatrends: urbanization,
globalization, digitalization…
On April 8, all Colas employees had the opportunity to take part in the Group’s Environment Day. This unprecedented event was
a high point for the company.
The aim was to raise awareness
and mobilize teams around the
issues of climate change and its
impacts, carbon footprints and
Colas’ commitment to reducing
industrial facilities and head
in webinars. “Climate change
are two major environmental
Anne-Laure Levent, Deputy
“To do so, we need to look
A COMMITTED STRATEGY
To tackle climate change, Colas has announced a strategy aimed at decarbonizing its activities. The Group has set itself an ambitious
target: reducing its direct and indirect upstream greenhouse gas emissions by 30%. And to help protect the planet, Colas is also
committed to preserving biodiversity. Teams around the world are fully mobilized to meet the undertakings set out
in the low carbon roadmap. Analysis.
2030 GOALS
-30%* of CO2 emissions
-30%* of CO2 emissions
#WHAT IS A CARBON FOOTPRINT?
#WHAT IS COLAS’ CARBON FOOTPRINT?
65% related to materials used on jobsites (asphalt mixes, concrete, metals, other required supplies)
12 M
16% related to energy consumed by facilities, vehicles and machines
Human activities generate greenhouse gas emissions. These are expressed in kg of CO
2 equivalent.
4 KG CO 2 eq.
One year of electric heating
350 KG CO 2 eq.
Traveling 500 km by high-speed train :
1 KG CO 2 eq.
by car :
by plane :
1 m3 of concrete
One 100-km round trip for one dump truck
107 KG CO 2 eq.
TONS OF CO2 EQ
IN 2020
19% OTHER *
* Comprising: Freight (9%), Individual journeys (2%), Fixed assets (5%), Waste (3%)
35
CROSSROADS
“To reduce the carbon footprint of our vehicle fleet, we are taking action on various levels, working closely with our suppliers and the Purchasing Department. We are starting by reducing the number of machines, getting rid of the older ones first since they consume the most fossil fuel. At the same time, we are acquiring electric and hybrid vehicles and machines. Lastly, we are working on the launch of 16 green hydrogen stations.”
Éric Plouzennec, Deputy Equipment Director at Colas
and member of the low carbon strategic committee
6PRIORITY AREAS
29 commitments
20 indicators
change challenges
to reduce the carbon
low carbon techniques
accounting
neutrality and reduce
the emissions of
customers and users
related to biodiversity
loss into activities
#IN THE FIELD
2030 TARGET:
#HIGH-POTENTIAL ACTION
36
CROSSROADS
In place pavement recycling: the Novacol process on a main road in the Charente-Maritime area of western France.
COLAS, ENVIRONMENT
infrastructure construction and
lead the entire sector in the right
direction. “Climate change calls
stakeholders, both internal and
external, have clearly expressed
Muriel Voisin, the Group’s
CSR Director. It goes without
saying that Colas’ activities
the environment. For example,
emulsion plants or asphalt
paving projects consume fuel,
bitumen), produce waste and
the atmosphere. Biodiversity is also
impacted: construction activities
invasive, exotic plant species;
of fauna and flora that need to be
protected. “Measuring the impact
change”, emphasizes Anne-Laure
year. “That’s too high”, comments
Anne-Laure Levent. “But there
can act.”
use of fossil fuels results in the
production of greenhouse gases.
since the start of the industrial
revolution) and a range of
imbalances: heatwaves, rising
The IPCC* estimates that
the global average temperature
1.5°C above pre-industrial levels
in order to avoid reaching a
tipping point in the climate system.
This means that greenhouse gas
emissions generated by human
over the next 10 years.
“Measuring the impact of our Group on the climate is a fundamental step on the road to change.” Anne-Laure Levent,
Deputy Director of Environment
use of warm mixes, semi-warm mixes
and cold mixes, as well as the in place
asphalt pavement recycling process
In addition, in accordance with its
objective of reducing its indirect
upstream emissions by 30%, Colas is
acting by focusing its procurement
programs on low carbon products and
materials for its construction projects
and industries. Across the Group,
the purchase of goods and services
represent 65% of Colas’ total carbon
footprint. But Colas’ ambitions
and indirect upstream emissions:
to global carbon neutrality and to
a reduction in emissions for customers
and users. To achieve this, innovation is
the name of the game! Colas develops
and produces innovative and
solution, delivering local energy
autonomy. Others are revolutionizing
solutions and Flowell dynamic
signaling have been developed
and organize preventive road
Group’s long-standing commitments”,
of biodiversity, Colas introduced
the world.” The policy encourages
operators to implement at least
one initiative promoting biodiversity
of our quarries have achieved
this objective: things take time in
a group the size of Colas”, observes
Anne-Laure Levent. “But it is the
time needed to instigate a radical
change in culture, whereby everyone
is committed to changing their
perspective and practices.”
AN AMBITIOUS ROADMAP
Structured, collaborative, cross-
biodiversity roadmap was officially
strategy aimed at helping to protect
the planet is one of the eight CSR
commitments set out in our ACT
(Act & Commit Together) corporate
project”, notes Muriel Voisin.
on the ground, structured around
six priority areas (see page 36),
and overseen by a low carbon
strategy committee, set up a year ago.
“We have defined clear and
attainable objectives for 2030”,
accounts for 14% of the Group’s total
carbon footprint. Reducing the
carbon footprint of products is also
a priority over the coming months.
Biodiversity: rehabilitation of a salmon spawning ground at Hidden Valley, in Alaska, USA.
“This strategy aimed at helping to protect the planet is one of the eight CSR commitments set out in our ACT (Act & Commit Together) corporate project.” Muriel Voisin,
Group CSR Director
#COLAS’ ACTIONS SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY
> Invasive exotic species
> Changes in land and sea use (for example, when intensive agriculture replaces forests and wetlands)
> Unregulated exploitation of ecosystems (overfishing, poaching, etc.)
> QUARRY REHABILITATION
> HABITAT PRESERVATION
> BEEHIVE INSTALLATION
or gravel pits
>
100 million hectares of rainforest felled between 1980 and 2000
85% of wetlands have disappeared
In 2019, in terms of surface area, tropical forests lost the equivalent of one soccer field every six seconds on average.
Eagle-owl Giant Pangolin
ITINERARIES Through their unwavering professionalism to meet
the commitments set out in the low carbon and biodiversity roadmap, the men and women of Colas continue to build the Group’s success, day after day. Here, they share their experience,
routine and projects.
Émilie Watine Environment Manager Colas France FRANCE
A continuous improvement process Émilie Watine’s job is to support profit centers in their initiatives to protect the environment. Reporting
both to Île-de-France Normandie’s and
Aximum’s Environment Departments,
environment policy, sharing her expertise
with some ten profit centers and close to
thirty industrial sites. “This job is about
defending a major cause for the company
and for society as a whole, namely
protecting the environment. These issues
have been becoming more and more
important in recent years.” Émilie goes out
into the field to help operators implement
measures designed to manage
comply with regulations but we also adopt
an approach of continuous improvement
that is sustainable over the long term.”
In addition to questions surrounding climate
change and resource depletion, biodiversity-
related issues are ever-present on projects
and jobsites. Émilie helps identify and
support solutions aimed at reducing the
environmental impact of site activities,
including protective fences for amphibians,
awareness-raising among teams, etc.
increase their resilience.
PROTECTION
In France, all amphibians are protected! A number of solutions are available to protect them on and around jobsites: fencing and barriers, designed to prevent the creatures from crossing roads, or culverts or small tunnels enabling them to cross safely.
42
ITINERARIES
Khalid Sbai BIM officer GTR MOROCCO
BIM for renewable energies “BIM* is all about building before actually building,” sums up Khalid
Sbai, BIM officer in Morocco. “This virtual
construction tool is used to anticipate the
conflicts and uncertainties associated
execution.” Applicable to a multitude of
sites, BIM can be used throughout every
stage of a project. The Taza wind farm
project, which Khalid and his teams
worked on, won the Le Moniteur 2020
silver BIM award, in the International
Infrastructure Projects category. Located
4,000-hectare wind farm with its 27 wind
turbines was modeled using aerial shots.
The models obtained made it possible to
analyze the site’s constraints, plan access
routes and ensure compliance with
environmental regulations. “For example,
is extremely useful since it helps identify
areas where there is a risk of landslides”,
explains Khalid. “For the Taza wind farm,
we were therefore able to minimize the
number of olive trees we had to
transplant.” Khalid and his teams will
continue to use modeling to optimize
renewable energy projects.
TWO AWARD-WINNING PROJECTS
The 2020 BIM d’Or awards, organized by Le Moniteur magazine and the Les Cahiers techniques du bâtiment journal, recognize the best projects carried out using digital modeling. Along with the Taza wind farm, the Flowell dynamic luminous road marking also won the silver BIM award in the Pioneering Initiatives category. A fine endorsement of the teams’ hard work!
* Building Information Modeling.
EXPERTISE SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY
Ecological engineering covers all the techniques and projects aimed at making ecosystems more resilient and protecting biodiversity.
The landscape has changed in Théziers, a small town in the Gard area
of south-eastern France. Superintendent
flows through the town. Despite the presence
of two dykes, it has burst its banks on a
number of occasions. To solve the problem,
we were asked to carry out earthworks.”
First the dykes were removed and the
riverbed was widened. The powerful flow,
exacerbated by the river’s straight course,
was channeled by creating meanders, using
ecological engineering. Like a few other
Colas companies, Perrier TP has built up
significant expertise in this sector over a
period of many years. For the Perrier TP
teams, who have worked on several ecological
engineering projects, this is a new large-scale
operation, bringing with it a host of new
experiences. “We had to work with the plant
life present on the site. Aristolochia is a
protected species so it had to be moved to a
temporary plot before replanting once the
work had been completed”, explains Fabrice.
In contrast, the highly invasive giant cane,
common in Provence, was thinned out
to prevent it from spreading. The soil from
the clearing operations was used for the
embankments. As a final touch, micro-habitats
designed to attract small animals and insects
were created around the site: not our regular
customers… but satisfied ones all the same!
Meandering curves
with the new vehicles as he travels
between sites. “They have a range of
100 km, so it’s important to be aware of
how far you’ve driven and make sure the
vans are charged up again every night
when they get back to the profit center.”
A mobile app has been developed to
help drivers familiarize themselves with
the new vehicles. The app geolocates
the vehicles, calculates routes and
identifies the nearest charging stations.
Thanks to an external battery, the van
itself can be used to recharge hand-held
electric tools, avoiding the need for
generators. Although the vans are still in
the trial phase, the outlook is promising for
their gradual incorporation within fleets.
Loïc is enthusiastic about the new vehicles.
“They are modern vans, a real pleasure to
drive, with tools and options that make
life easier on jobsites”, he explains.
A native of the region, the superintendent,
who counts himself lucky to work in the
great outdoors, knows that these initiatives
make a vital contribution to protecting
the environment.
Zero-emission vehicles
LIVE FROM GRENOBLE
Watch a video of life at the Grenoble profit center as it starts operating with all-electric vans.
https://admin-mediabox. colas.fr/pmWBRpia0N
Romain Redonnet Sector Manager La Neste Quarries and Comminges CMGO FRANCE
OFFSETTING HUMAN IMPACT
An offset measure is an ecological action aimed at restoring or recreating a natural environment, to compensate for damage to biodiversity resulting from a project or a planning document.
“I’m responsible for five quarries and a trading platform located across two regions”, explains Romain Redonnet,
Colas’ quarry and materials manager for the
Hautes- Pyrénées and Haute-Garonne
regulations mean that he is required to
compensate for the land clearance
operations carried out for the La Neste
quarry expansion project, at Hèches, in the
Pyrenees. He had two options: financial
compensation or compensatory
second solution: “the choice of reason!” as
he describes it. Supported by the expertise
of the French National Forestry Office
(ONF), a 3.5-hectare site was planted with
trees near the village of Lortet, 8 km from the
limestone quarry. “Everything was carefully
planned to create a new, sustainable and
environmentally-friendly woodland area”,
maintenance operations: two horses
to use fossil fuels. “Quarry work is a very
locally-based business,” explains Romain.
we damage ourselves. It is essential that we
adapt a sustainable approach.”
Peter Castiau Purchasing Manager Colas Belgium BELGIUM
For sustainable offices “To do my job properly I have to make sure I stay well-informed and think outside the box!”, explains
Peter Castiau, Colas Belgium’s purchasing
manager. In 2019, Peter, who manages a
team of eight buyers and leads purchasing
policy in the country, was handed a new
challenge: supervising the renovation of
the Colas Belgium head office building.
“We soon realized that renovating this old
building would be an expensive business”,
he explains. “When it became clear we
would have to move, I immediately thought
about fitting solar panels to the new
building.” Peter got the opportunity to visit
Prism’, Colas’ head office in Paris: a
positive-energy building. An “inspiring”
to the Belgian offices. Starting with the solar
panels: there are 1,400 of them and they
generate the equivalent to the annual
electricity consumption of 200 households.
Comfortably installed in their new head
office since February 2020, employees
appreciate the building’s environmental
credentials. “This modern, eco-friendly
commitments”, states Peter. Delighted to
have been able to implement sustainable
solutions, he still has lots more ideas that
he is determined to put into practice.
GREEN ENERGY
There are five types of renewable energy: solar energy, geothermal energy, wind energy, hydropower and biomass.
47
ITINERARIES
That was the impressive harvest resulting
from the project led by François Couture,
environment advisor for Colas’
quarry. Located in the municipality of
Saint-Apollinaire, south of Quebec City,
this former quarry, decommissioned in the
2000s, has now become the peaceful
rural setting for three hives and their
resident bees. “Restoring this abandoned
site, with its transient squatters, involved
improving the very poor, rocky soil”,
explains François Couture. “We had to
bring in and add several inches of topsoil
before the site could be replanted with
“THE EAGLE AND THE BEETLE”
A short film presenting the 5 factors that lead to biodiversity collapse and highlighting initiatives implemented at Colas Group quarries and gravel pits. Watch the film:
vegetation.” Indigenous tree species were
planted, as well as a flower meadow to
attract the honey bees. Introduced in 2019,
this year the bees are starting their third
season, having produced 88 kg of honey
in 2020, given away to employees and
customers. For François, who supervises
the preparation of operating permits,
rehabilitation projects and the implementa-
tion of new regulations, this unusual project
is a real source of pride. Following the
success of this first experiment of its type
in Quebec, he would like to copy it,
particularly on sites that are still operating.
Quarries make way for bees
François Couture Environment Advisor Sintra CANADA
https://admin-mediabox. colas.fr/pmUxHDCaA4
Vegecol: behind the scenes
From left to right: Stéphane Michel R&D officer, Materials Division Arielle Le Nué R&D Officer, Chemistry Division Samir Allam Electronics Engineer, D2I Division Colas Campus for Science and Techniques FRANCE
Sustainable, visually attractive, made up of 80% renewable plant-based raw materials: in 2021,
the Vegecol binder is set to undergo
a change in formulation. “Vegecol
is a product that is unlike any other:
it contains vegetal oil and pine
by-product”, explains chemist Arielle
binder in the lab. At the Colas Campus
for Science and Techniques (CST),
a team has been busy working on the
Vegecol project for the past few years.
At the helm, Myriam Desroches, a green
chemistry specialist: “A cross-functional
and specialties present at the CST
have been mobilized for this project!”
Samir Allam, in the road surveying
department, studied the behavior
test of time and outdoor conditions.
“Vegecol binder’s transparency
And that’s important”, underlines
Samir. “In the summer, temperature
differences at the surface of almost
10°C are observed between a light
mix and a dark mix!” The last step in a
new product’s development involves
finding out what end users think of it.
“There isn’t a lab test in the world that
can replace the feedback of site crews”,
says Stéphane Michel, a Materials
Division manager. Responsible for
studying the mechanical performance
of products and prepares and monitors
jobsites. In April 2021, Vegecol was used
on a site in southern France: the first
of a long series of similar projects!
49
ITINERARIES
resources manager is implementing a
range of corporate social responsibility
(CSR) initiatives across her perimeter:
“CSR gives employees the opportunity
to do something for their country, for
a community or for the environment.
It gives them a genuine sense of
satisfaction.” Initiatives promoting
issues are run throughout the year. The
environment is another area targeted.
RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS
The ISO 14001 standard provides a framework to assess environmental impact, set up actions, and meet the targets. In 2020, 93% of Colas Rail’s activities were certified.
For example, with the help of some thirty
students, twenty-one employees and their
families collected and analyzed garbage
found on Bagan Lalang beach. Another
initiative saw teams from Colas Rail Asia
take part in a project to rehabilitate a
stream in Taman Tugu park, the green lungs
of Kuala Lumpur. “As well as protecting the
environment and creating bonds between
employees, these rehabilitation projects
we’re engaging future generations.”
Engaging future generations
50
ITINERARIES
As far as Tony Perkins is concerned, curiosity is key. After starting out as
a temporary worker, he has built a solid
career, driven by his thirst for learning.
Today, Tony oversees a team of around
fifteen people: “My team is like a second
family for me. When we’re working on
big jobs, we spend a lot of time together,
a long way from our families, and it’s
very important that we all get on.”
Every morning, Tony gathers his team
for a safety briefing and to set out the
day’s program. He then coordinates
deliveries of materials and OB Vario
operations, an innovative gravel
and the binder simultaneously.
way we work, with fewer machines
on jobsites. Since the OB Vario is
self-loading, the supply of materials
needs to be efficient and secure.”
Tony was happy to travel to Europe
and meet the manufacturers in order
to familiarize himself with this new
technology. A rewarding experience
and reduce the environmental impact
of activities.
Tony Perkins Sealing Supervisor Primal Surfacing AUSTRALIA
IMPRESSIVE RESULTS
Thanks to the OB Vario, aggregate use has been reduced by 30%, cutter use in warm mixes has been abandoned, and site safety has been significantly improved with the removal of reversing tipper trucks.
51
ITINERARIES
OBJECTIVES FOR 2030
Asphalt plant energy sobriety 100% of asphalt plants equipped with telematics Reduce the carbon
intensity of our asphalt mixes 25 kg CO2/t for asphalt products, 50% warm mixes
How can the energy performance of asphalt plants be improved? As Equipment Manager of American
company Colas Inc., Larry Bingham
supervises all 105 of the asphalt
production sites operating in the USA.
Part of his job is to make sure their
energy consumption is optimized.
to control our consumption, such as
manage the moisture levels of materials,
make sure burners are regularly
serviced, adjust machine settings, etc.”,
he points out. Actively involved in the
One Colas Plants strategic program
since its launch, Larry contributes
technical studies with a view to
disseminating good energy practices
and aims to draw up a set of high
standards shared by all the Group’s
asphalt plants. These standards relate
to equipment modernization, energy
produced.” Always on the go, Larry
travels up and down the country visiting
the company’s asphalt plants. A rich and
varied work life that gives him the chance
to share his experience and learn from
colleagues on the ground.
52
ITINERARIES
Thierry Lartisant Industry Manager for the North-East region Colas France FRANCE
50% warm mixes in the Group’s global asphalt mix production by 2030: that is just one of
the ambitious objectives set out
in Colas’ low carbon roadmap.
“It’s quite a challenge… but not an
insurmountable one!”, believes
of our plants already operate with
30% to 40% warm mixes, proving
that it’s possible.” With the support
of Colas’ Technical and Equipment
departments, his teams work to limit
the environmental impact of the
business. A number of tools developed
by the Group enable them to monitor
the energy consumption and
both economic and ecological
moment, we incorporate up to 30%
recycled materials in manual asphalt
mix formulas, without compromising
and his teams take into account
customer requests and feedback
… for decarbonization constantly improve. “The operations
side of the business does not work in
isolation”, emphasizes the operations
plants and teams on the ground work
together, in order to be able to
innovate and move forward towards
a greener business.”
Christelle BOUSTAOUI, Stéphanie BOUVARD, François CASTEL, Victoria CHAMP, Thomas CHASSAT,
Stéphanie CHAUMONT, Sylvain CLÉMENT, Manon COLOMBE, Delphine CRAS, Thierry DEBIEN,
Thierry DELCROIX, Cécile DELMAS, Magdalena DULAC, Chloé GAUTHIER, Veronika HALAJOVA,
Nathalie HARDOUIN, Tracey HOFHEINZ, Alice LEFÈVRE, Étienne LEHUÉDÉ, Arnaud LEROY, Patrice LEROY,
Thierry MADELON, Charly MALEVAL, Fabrice MONNAERT, Megan MULLER, Lucie OHANA, Paula PERNA,
Julie RENAUD-SALIS, Mathilde RIVALLAIN, Gabriel ROY, Samantha SAEZ, Arnaud SÉMILLE,
Fabienne STEIN, Vincent VIDAL, Ghislain WAGON, Assia ZAKANI, Pascale ZURCHER
and the employees who asked questions to Colas’ Chairman and CEO.
A special thank you to Philippe Tournier, Group Human Resources Manager from 2008 to 2021, who helped create ROUTES magazine in 1996 and contributed to 45 issues since then.
Routes, a Colas Group magazine, 1 rue du Colonel Pierre Avia, 75015 Paris, France. Tel.: +33 (0) 1 47 61 75 00. www.colas.com. ISSN: 0988-6907. Director of publication: Frédéric Gardès. Managing editor: Delphine Lombard. Editor in chief: Aline Claustre. Copy: Judy Hue. Photo credits: Cyril Abad (p. 24) Jean-Dominique Billaud (p. 56), Laurent Cipriani/Capa Pictures (p. 44), Matthieu Colin (p. 2, 16), Denis Cugnod/Cinedia (p. 45), Nicolas Dohr (p. 25), Christian Fleury/Capa Pictures (p. 48), Julien Gazeau (p. 19), Getty Images (p. 28), Dominique Gianelli (p. 3, 7, 33), Richard Humphries/Capa Pictures (p. 50), Matthieu Latry/Sémaphore (p. 21), Julien Lutt/ Capa Pictures (p. 5, 49), Yann Manac’h/Capa Pictures (p. 47), Cécile Mazzarese (p. 42), Alain Montaufier (p. 37), Seanna O’Sullivan (p. 52), Hassan Ouazzani/Capa Pictures (p. 43), Laurent Pascal/Capa Pictures (p. 46), Guillaume Ramon/Capa Pictures (p. 53), Jean-Michel Ruiz (p. 2, 17), Satellite (p. 2, 3, 9, 11, 12, 14), Shutterstock (p. 27), Yves Soulabaille (cover, p. 3, 40), Oscar Timmers/Capa Pictures (p. 29), Grant Turner/ Mediakoo (p. 31, 51), Colas Photo Library (p. 18, 20, 22, 23, 26, 30, 31, 38), DR. Translation: Allingua. Design and production: 01 55 34 46 00 (ref. ROUT045). 26,000 copies printed by SNEL (Imprim’Vert-certified) on Magno satin paper (FSC®-certified, from sustainably managed forests), cover finished using 100% biodegradable acrylic varnish. Enveloping is performed by APM (protected workshop employing disabled people in Melun, France).
KERROUS QUARRY