Low carbon and renewable energy highlighted in Veolia’s Impact 2023 plan

Veolia has outlined plans to increase the rollout of solutions to combat climate change, including low carbon and renewable energy, in its Impact 2023 report.

The company’s latest sustainability strategy reveals it is currently managing over two million tonnes of reclaimed material, but planning to expand its ‘pioneering’ new technologies that lower resource use. Backed by a planned multi-million-pound investment by 2022, Veolia said its commitment adds to the £2 billion (€2.21 billion) already invested in new infrastructure across the UK.

Impact 2023 will drive developments to tackle climate change and pollution, such as plastics recycling, refuse-derived fuel production, biodegradable waste recovery, and the treatment of hazardous waste.

The firm said industrial ecology services will benefit the environment by extending the current production of 220,000 tonnes of peat-free compost from green waste and 30,000 tonnes of organic fertiliser from sludge, for use in agriculture – offsetting the use of synthetic fertilisers and reducing carbon emissions from industry.

Veolia will roll-out solutions including low carbon and renewable energy, energy efficiency services, electric vehicles, and wastewater re-use. Over the last five years, the firm has made ‘dramatic cuts’ in fossil fuel use by delivering renewable energy derived from food waste, sludge and slurry and turning this into green electricity and heat for industry and communities.

Gavin Graveson, executive vice-president of Veolia UK & Ireland, said: “Our planet and society today find themselves at a historic turning point with awareness of environmental issues, and the circular economy is key to addressing these.

“2020 is the first year of this strategic programme, which aims to make Veolia the benchmark company for ecological transformation.

“Veolia has crucial know-how to provide solutions and we know we can advance sustainability even further. What makes us different is that we are focused on preserving resources, energy and water, and manufacturing green products, and by driving innovation we are creating new skills and jobs, and delivering wider social impact for all.

“This supports the green recovery and will bring benefits to local communities and the plant, potentially adding £2.9 billion (€3.21 billion) per annum to UK Gross Domestic Product and 175,000 jobs.”