Veolia's businesses (water, waste, energy) are directly connected to natural environments and contribute to preserving the environment in territories, particularly by treating wastewater or limiting soil pollution through waste collection and treatment.
In January 2024, Veolia renewed its commitment to the Act4nature international initiative for the period 2024-2027. The Group has been a member since the 2018 creation of this initiative, which unites more than 70 major French companies and their non-profit and academic partners(AFEP, MEDEF, WWF, IUCN, etc.). This initiative creates a true collective dynamic around biodiversity protection.
Estelle Brachlianoff signed the 10 common commitments and their implementation into individual commitments for Veolia.
The objectives set by the Group as part of this commitment align with the recommendations of the Global Biodiversity Framework from COP15 and with CSRD directive expectations. For Veolia, in connection with our action priorities, this particularly involves:
strengthening biodiversity's place in its governance as well as in its communication with stakeholders.
deploying biodiversity preservation and restoration solutions to its clients, derived from its performance and innovation policy.
Governance
We are strengthening our commitment to biodiversity preservation by aligning with the objectives of the global biodiversity framework from COP15. We are thus responding to the growing expectations of our stakeholders.
► From 2024
The Group renewed its commitments in March 2024, which were signed by the Group's Chief Executive Officer, Estelle Brachlianoff.
► From 2024
4 multifaceted performance objectives are included in the GreenUp 2027 framework:
- Reduction of GHG emissions on scopes 1 and 2 with a 2027 target of -18% (compared to 2021)
- Offset GHG emissions scope 4 with a 2027 target of 18 Mt of CO2
- Implementation rate of action plans at sensitive sites with a 2027 target of 85%
- Volume of freshwater preserved (reuse, desalination, leak reduction) with a 2027 target of 1.5 billion m3
► From 2024
The 2023 URD incorporates dedicated sections for each of the 4 TNFD pillars as well as a correspondence table linking TNFD recommendations with the relevant URD chapters.
Strategy
We also wish to leverage our expertise in on-site biodiversity management to support our clients and offer them new services. To achieve this, we will adapt and deploy proven solutions by integrating them into our commercial offering. Our commitments also illustrate our desire to develop new areas of innovation, particularly through the development of Nature-Based Solutions.
► From 2024
Protocol validation pilots are in development, including the implementation of a bio-cover to facilitate temperature increase.
► From 2024
The objective of this catalog, dedicated to Veolia's activities, is to provide our customers with solutions to avoid or reduce their impacts and restore biodiversity.
► By 2025
Assessment of customer sites' biodiversity footprint, and action plans to reduce impacts and restore biodiversity.
Management of our impacts and risks
Our 2024-2027 commitments strengthen the performance objectives already in place, setting even more ambitious targets over an expanded scope following the acquisition of Suez.
On our sites and sites we operate on behalf of our clients
► By 2027
To identify its sensitive sites, the Group has defined selection criteria such as the ecological potential and sensitivity of sites, impacts related to their location and their activity processes. By 2027, all these sites must have measured their footprint and deployed their action plan to at least 85% for the Group's objective to be achieved.
► By 2027
Ecological management involves the mandatory implementation of Veolia's "green spaces" charter on sites, developed in partnership with the French IUCN Committee. Its objective is to support the transition of sites and landscape professionals towards more environmentally friendly practices (e.g., reduced mowing, planting of local species only, etc.).
► By 2027
The objective is to lead the Group to significantly reduce the use of phytosanitary products across its global scope. 95% of sites must transition to "zero-phyto". This commitment requires our sites to change practices and culture both internally and externally (visitors, clients, etc.).
► From 2024
Our commitment to achieve revegetation targets by 2027 and 2030 on our strategic landfill sites directly contributes to Target 2 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems.
On our value chain
► From 2024
► By 2025
In line with the identification of risks in our value chain in the TNFD framework, and, ideally, include at least one biodiversity score when assessing our strategic suppliers with the highest potential impact.
► By 2027
The objective of this commitment is to maintain 100% traceability of timber products for our energy chain, and target 100% certified supplies where we have operational control of the supply chain.
► By 2027
The objective is to preserve 1.5 billion m3 of freshwater by 2027 through treated water reuse, desalination, and leak reduction.