press release

Colas is committed to reducing its carbon footprint

A dynamic urban scene where a bus crosses an intersection, creating a sensation of movement with a noticeable blur

In response to the challenges posed by climate change, Colas has made a strong strategic commitment to decarbonizing its business activities. The Group has set itself an ambitious target, in line with the Paris Agreement: reducing its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 30% (scopes 1 and 2) and its indirect upstream emissions by 30% (scope 3a).

Colas has drawn up a Carbon roadmap, overseen by a Carbon Strategy Committee. Designed to be rolled out across every unit in the field, the Colas roadmap includes 24 commitments, monitored by indicators that currently exist or are being created. The Group’s target is based on estimates of CO2 savings made possible by actions that aim to:

Integrate climate issues into Group strategy

  • Analyze the risks and opportunities of climate change on Colas’ business segments
  • Make all employees aware of climate issues
  • Develop new business segments based on renewable energy offers
  • Promote the Group's low carbon strategy in its offers

- Improve energy efficiency to reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to direct energy consumption

  • Set up energy monitoring and management tools for asphalt plants, machinery and vehicles (equipping 50% of the fleet with on-board telematics by 2024)
  • Train employees who use machines and vehicles in eco-driving
  • Reduce fuel consumption and vehicle idling rate
  • Reduce dependence on fossil fuels by using renewable energies
  • Promote alternative transport to roads for transporting bitumen and aggregates (rail freight or inland waterways)
  • Shift the vehicle fleet towards low carbon solutions (electric, green hydrogen, biogas, hybrids, etc.)

Develop and promote low carbon products, techniques and solutions

  • Develop the purchase of cement and low carbon hydraulic binders
  • Reduce the carbon intensity of concrete produced on Colas sites
  • Develop the use of bio-based materials
  • Make the Group a player in research on low carbon binders in transport infrastructure
  • Increase the proportion of recycled materials in asphalt mixes (target of 18% by 2024)
  • Grow in-place road recycling
  • Reduce the production temperature of asphalt mixes
  • Promote warm mixes, which provide energy savings of around 15% on production compared to hot mixes (target: 50% of warm mixes in the Group's total asphalt mix production by 2030)

Contribute to carbon neutrality and the reduction of emissions for customers and users

  • Offer innovative, sustainable mobility services: optimizing traffic flows and parking, preventive road asset management, planning and regulating traffic flows around urban construction sites (Mobility by Colas solutions); improving user safety and fostering better shared mobility flows (Flowell dynamic signaling solution)
  • Optimize infrastructure uses (local energy autonomy with Wattway photovoltaic road surfaces)
  • Promote research and development on carbon capture and storage, through partnerships with companies or start-ups specializing in the field

For Frédéric Gardès, CEO of Colas: “Climate change obliges us to make strong strategic commitments, for today and for tomorrow. Being a world leader in the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructure means we are opening the way for the entire sector. As of 2021, the men and women in Colas units around the world will begin making the commitments in our carbon roadmap come true. " 

News

Discover Colas’ latest press releases