As a global leader in the water and waste management sectors, we have been operating for over 160 years all over the world. We provide essential services to protect the resource and improve quality of life wherever we operate.
Save natural resources and develop reuse
Although there is no international agreement on a definition of the circular economy, the United Nations Environment Assembly provides a description of the basic principles. The circular economy is a sustainable business model, in which products and materials are designed in such a way that they can be reused, remanufactured, recycled or recovered and therefore kept in the economy for as long as possible. We sometimes refer to it as a cradle-to-cradle approach.
Circular economy solutions
We work on different pillars of the circular economy:
- Sustainable sourcing: We market recycled raw materials that can be integrated into your value chain and limit the use of natural resources.
- Eco-design: thanks to our perfect knowledge of waste management and recycling channels, we can support you in the eco-design of your products and change your business to a climate-friendly activity.
- Industrial and territorial ecology: as a regional player, we work with local players to develop short and local circuits, lowering the emissions of the systems.
- The extension of the life of use by setting up resource centres so that the objects that some want to get rid of find a new life in others.
- Recycling, transforming waste into resources, is at the heart of our activities.
As part of your ecological transition, whether you are a local authority or a company, we offer innovative solutions allowing you to integrate the circular economy according to your expectations.
In addition to our traditional activities of recycling your waste into resources, we develop solutions for:
- User waste: we participate in the design and deployment of resource centres in partnership with local SSE (Social and Solidarity Economy) actors. We can support you in reducing waste.
- Building waste: we have developed a digital and innovative solution for renovation and selective deconstruction for the circular economy
We can participate in the evaluation and eco-design of your products or services, to increase sustainability and limit material loss. Trough our actions and reports, you can implement a global strategy that will reduce emissions and limit the impact on climate.
Technology and innovation
All our digital solutions are at the service of the circular economy. To optimise our services, we develop digital solutions across our entire value chain: customer portals, artificial intelligence, containers connected thanks to the IOT, etc.
All of our digital solutions are put at the service of the circular economy. Traceability is an issue that is growing with the transformation of waste into new resources. In France, we have developed the CircularChain traceability platform to guarantee the transparency of waste flows from end to end: collection, analysis, sorting, recycling, etc. Already used for users' recyclable waste and the transformation of wastewater treatment plant sludge, many other use cases are under way.
Commitment to sustainability
Sustainability is at the heart of our mission. We do everything we can to reduce the environmental impact of waste collection, by promoting sorting at source, energy recovery and recycling.
By transforming waste into added resources, we contribute to a low-carbon circular economy.
Our inspiring stories
The Renew Hub: Delivering re-use on an industrial scale
In partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and nine local authorities in Greater Manchester, the Renew Hub, along with three Renew shops, opened in 2021. At more than 5000m², the award-winning Renew Hub is the UK’s largest re-use operation, delivering re-use on an industrial scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
The circular economy is based on 7 pillars divided into 3 areas:
Production / offer
1. Sustainable sourcing (responsible purchasing)
Sustainable sourcing favours the use of renewable resources, exploited taking into account their capacity for renewal. This includes companies, where possible, prioritising the use of recycled materials, which have a lower environmental impact compared to virgin raw materials.
2. Eco-design
Eco-design aims to reduce the environmental impact of a product or service from the manufacturing phase. This makes it easier to dismantle, recycle or dispose of once consumed.
3. Industrial (and territorial) ecology
and territorial ecology aims to optimise the resources of a territory, whether they are energy, water, materials, waste, but also equipment and expertise, via a systemic approach that is inspired by the functioning of natural ecosystems.
4. Functional economy
The functional economy makes it possible to put the performance linked to its uses back at the centre of the supply of a good or service. It is not only a service economy because it seeks significant environmental gains throughout the life cycle.
Consumption
5. Responsible consumption
Responsible consumption is consumption that is more respectful of the environment or more ethical, i.e. in which consumers want to favour consumer products manufactured under conditions that respect the environment, labour protection laws, or products that are subject to fair trade.
6. Extension of the life of use
The extension of the life of use by the consumer leads to the use of repair, second-hand sale or donation, or to the purchase of second-hand in the context of reuse or reuse.
Waste management
7. Recycling, product end-of-life
The principle of the circular economy is based on the observation that in a finite world, current production processes will have no future without the integration of circularity into the life cycle of products. Recyclable materials are used to produce identical or broadly equivalent materials by reinjecting them into the initial production process as a substitute for virgin raw materials.
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption that involves sharing, reusing, repairing, renovating and recycling existing products and materials for as long as possible so that they retain their value.
The challenges of the circular economy are as follows:
- Saving resources
- Moving away from the linear production model: production – consumption – waste
- Contribute to the prevention, sorting and recycling of waste
- Setting up circuits for the reuse and repair of products
1. Decline: Wondering if I need this product
2. Reduce
3. Reuse
4. Recycle
5. Giving back to the earth
Your trusted partner for circular solutions in water and waste
With a presence across the entire value chain, we are recognized for our technical expertise, commitment to sustainability, and ability to provide you with tailored solutions.