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ROUTESCOLAS GROUP MAGAZINE | NUMBER 45 - JUNE 2021

SPECIAL ISSUE

ENVIRONMENT Low carbon

and biodiversity

1 6

04 Interview Frédéric Gardès,

Chairman and CEO of Colas

answers questions from

the Group’s employees

ROUTES #45 CONTENTS

SPECIAL ISSUEENVIRONMENT JUNE 2021

0 8SITE-SEEING

10 En route Croatia: priority

to the environment

16 Around the world in pictures The Group’s sustainable

works, projects

and solutions

around the world

3 2

CROSSROADS

34 Report Low carbon & Biodiversity:

a committed strategy

ITINERARIES

4 0

42 Portraits Employees talk about

their environmental

commitments

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’slow carbon and biodiversity roadmap.

LOW CARBON AND BIODIVERSITY

#ENVIRONMENT

Is the environment a new priority for Colas?

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.

For example, Colas started recycling asphalt

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.

Today, we have reached a major milestone

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.

04

“In 2021, we have taken

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.

In addition to a growing awareness among

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!

Obviously, we have control over our direct

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.

But, unlike our competitors, we are also committed

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.

So in order to achieve our target, we need

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.

On all these issues, we want to be ahead

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

issues.” 06

#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

keeping the project’s carbon footprint as small as

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,

we clearly need to understand what kind of

future the world is heading towards and how

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.

Hence, this forward-looking reflection process

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.

07

SITE-SEEINGDrawing 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 Varaždin in 2007, renamed Colas Hrvatska in 2013.

SITE-SEEING

So it comes as no surprise that

the Hrastovljan sand and gravel pit

seems like the ideal place.

PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY

The site is located within a preserved

natural area; just a few meters from

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

also recognized it as a “biosphere

reserve**”, making it a genuine open

lab for preserving biodiversity.

“One swallow does not a summer

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,

when they return from migration.”

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

MATERIALS

PRODUCED

sand and gravel

AVERAGE ANNUAL

PRODUCTION

1,000,000 t

NUMBER

OF EMPLOYEES

35

YEAR OPENED

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

accelerates the sedimentation of

solid particles”, explains Pero Ruso.

“Water is thus recycled and reused

in the raw material washing process.”

A GLOBAL APPROACH FOR

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

Commissioned more than forty

years ago, the Hrastovljan gravel pit

produces an average of one million

metric tons of sand and gravel

annually. Two floating dredgers

equipped with hydraulic grabbers

enable excavations to a depth

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

approach, so characteristic

For Colas Hrvatska, helping to

preserve this environment is a

no-brainer. Nenad Stimac, workplace

risk prevention and environmental

protection coordinator, makes it his

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

environment.” In quarries and gravel

pits, washing aggregates is essential

to obtain ready-to-use materials

that meet the quality requirements

for manufacturing concrete and

asphalt mixes. The traditionally

water-intensive process has been

considerably optimized at Hrastovljan.

“The addition of flocculants, which

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,

Colas Mineral

COLAS IN CROATIA (2020 FIGURES)

307employees

2007Acquisition of

Cesta Varaždin by Colas, renamed Colas Hrvatska

in 2013

305construction

projects

15.6kilotons of

reclaimed asphalt pavement

221kilotons

of asphalt mix

1.1 million tons

of materials produced (Colas Mineral)

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

attitude of the Colas subsidiary

in Croatia, one of the first companies

in the country to have made

environmental protection a priority.

Within the framework of a structured

CSR policy, Colas Hrvatska is

committed to positive, concrete and

measurable action addressing the

needs of society and the environment.

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

sites that promote solutions reconciling the

conservation of biodiversity and human activities

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

15

SITE-SEEING

Every year, Colas performs projects and offers solutions aiming

to address a variety of sustainable mobility issues, including

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.

AROUND THE WORLD IN PICTURES

FRANCE

Vegecol, a new low carbon binderIn 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

Eco-friendly travelColas Rail and GTR, Colas’ road

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,

track-laying and installation of signaling

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

construction sites. The idea was to limit

the project’s environmental impact,

since electric vehicles do not emit CO2

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

the momentum has been maintained:

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.

2electric vehicles provided for the project for travel between the construction sites

7-km tramway extension

17

SITE-SEEING

FRANCE

Keeping traffic moving in LyonRelieving congestion downtown

and reducing the carbon impact of

construction projects by optimizing

truck traffic flow: Reguly was designed

to do just that and it has paid off.

Colas’ innovative digital solution was

chosen and developed for the

neighborhood around Lyon Part-Dieu,

where around fifty major projects are

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 CO2 by 2024.

1,900hours of truck traffic avoided in 2020, i.e.,

30 tons of CO

2 emissions

avoided

18

SITE-SEEING

FRANCE

Ecological engineering at work! In Pontchâteau (Loire-Atlantique,

western France), Colas is carrying out

water course maintenance and

restoration work in the Brière-Brivet

water catchment area. A number of

interventions are scheduled throughout

the rest of the year and into 2022

to improve water flow and quality,

and develop the biodiversity of these

ecosystems. Thanks to its expertise

in earthworks, redevelopment and

hydraulic works, Colas is now seen

as the ideal partner for ecological

engineering projects.

SITE-SEEING

20

SITE-SEEING

USA

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

involved was in North Syracuse, New

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.

13,000metric tons of in place reclaimed asphalt pavement

35,000metric tons of milled material reused for various projects in the region

FRANCE

Leading by example in LyonColas 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

has been designed in such a way

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

and processes are being used,

including Urbalith, a permeable

surfacing solution made from a cold

mix of aggregates and an organo-

mineral binder. And thirdly, the work

itself is intended to promote soft

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.

18kWh produced on average per day by the site compound’s solar panels

of which

50%is injected into the public electricity grid

21

SITE-SEEING

MAYOTTE

Colas, an energy transition playerWith 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

First microsurfacing In Senegal, teams from Colas Africa

completed the renovation of a

section of the Kébémer-Touba road,

passing through Darou Mousty.

Colas’ technical department based

in Senegal, with the support of the

Group's Campus for Science and

Techniques, successfully imported

the microsurfacing technique, the first

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.

What set this project apart lies in the fact

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.

*The objective of the Oasis program is to keep

schoolyards cool in hot weather.

SITE-SEEING

WORLDWIDE

Reducing the carbon impact of bitumen tankers

With the creation in 2020 of

Continental Bitumen Ltd, Colas has

extended its bitumen distribution

and trading activity to the Europe,

Middle East, Africa zone (including

France). One of the objectives is to

secure bitumen supplies across the

geography. Continental Bitumen Ltd

ordered two bitumen tankers, each

with a capacity of 20,000 metric tons.

Anticipating regulations imposed

by the International Maritime

Organization (IMO), these green

ships have been specifically

designed to reduce their carbon

impact: a hull that reduces drag and

energy consumption, liquefied natural

gas (LNG) fuel, etc. And as part of

the same decarbonization approach,

measures will be implemented for

older vessels in Colas’ bitumen fleet

operating in other parts of the world,

particularly the Asia-Australia zone

and Canada: weather routing, speed

and draft optimization, exact

calculation of port arrival time.

24

SITE-SEEING

FRANCE

In place recycling with NovacolBetween Latrecey and Boudreville

(north-eastern France), Route 65

was given a makeover back in the fall.

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.

SITE-SEEING

CANADA

Ecomac heads to Canada!In the city of Calgary, Alberta,

Colas Canada company Standard

General paved the roads on an

industrial hub project. Teams used a

semi-warm mix containing 60%

reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP):

a first in Canada! Designing an

Ecomac asphalt mix and adapting it

to the Canadian climate was quite

a challenge, requiring the support

of Colas’ Campus for Science

and Techniques. The mix was

made using an asphalt emulsion

produced by McAsphalt Industries

Ltd, a Colas Canada subsidiary.

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 transformedOn 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

on the island or transporting them

to the mainland, teams from Spac,

a Colas company specializing in water

and energy transport, opted to process

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.

70%of excavated materials recycled on this project

27

SITE-SEEING

FRANCE

Traffic flow optimizationIn 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:

to improve traffic flow and road safety,

adapting the amount of time lights stay

on green to ease traffic. This full-scale

trial has resulted in reduced road noise,

fewer stops, less time at traffic lights

and a corresponding reduction in

unnecessary accelerations, all of which

helps save fuel and thus reduce

CO2 emissions.

SITE-SEEING

30% reduction in the energy needed to produce a new-generation Wattway photovoltaic panel

THE NETHERLANDS

Wattway on trackIn Grave, in the Netherlands, Wattway

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

land and natural areas, was awarded the

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%.

29

SITE-SEEING

GUADELOUPE

Bring on renewable energy!Teams from Sogetra, a Colas company

in Guadeloupe, are participating

in a project to gradually convert the

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 CO2

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.

By 2023, the Le Moule power plant will

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

2 emissions

by abandoning coal

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 mixesIn New South Wales, Colas’ Australian

subsidiary repaved the access

roads to the port of Newcastle, one

of the country’s biggest shipping ports.

1,500 tonnes of a new mix - ECO5 -

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

CROSSROADSColas 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

LOW CARBON & BIODIVERSITY

at how we do business around

the world in a brand-new light.

We have to take these issues

to heart, and make the changes

we need to make.”

SPOTLIGHT

ON CLIMATE ISSUES

Climate change is currently a

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.

Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)

radically transformed people’s

ways of life from the end of

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

emissions. Dedicated question

and answer sessions were held

on jobsites and employees across

the Group’s profit centers,

industrial facilities and head

offices were able to take part

in webinars. “Climate change

and the collapse of biodiversity

are two major environmental

challenges we must face”, says

Anne-Laure Levent, Deputy

Director of Environment at Colas.

“To do so, we need to look

A COMMITTED STRATEGY

To tackle climate change, Colas has announced a strategy aimedat decarbonizing its activities. The Group has set itself an ambitious

target: reducing its direct and indirect upstream greenhousegas emissions by 30%. And to help protect the planet, Colas is also

committed to preserving biodiversity. Teams around the worldare fully mobilized to meet the undertakings set out

in the low carbon roadmap. Analysis.

2030 GOALS

Direct emissionsScopes 1 and 2

-30%* of CO2 emissions

Indirect upstream emissionsScope 3a

-30%* of CO2 emissions

*reference year: 2019

34

CROSSROADS

#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.

Eating a hamburger on the go

4 KG CO2 eq.

One year of electric heating

350 KG CO2 eq.

Traveling 500 km by high-speed train :

1 KG CO2 eq.

by car :

100 KG CO2 eq.

by plane :

115 KG CO2 eq.

1 ton of hot mix

56 KG CO2 eq.

1 m3 of concrete

290 KG CO2 eq.

One 100-km round trip for one dump truck

107 KG CO2 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

PRIORIT Y ARE A 1Incorporate climate

change challenges

into Group strategy

PRIORIT Y ARE A 2Implement initiatives

to reduce the carbon

intensity of direct

emissions

PRIORIT Y ARE A 3Develop and promote

low carbon techniques

and solutions

PRIORIT Y ARE A 4Optimize the carbon

accounting

of activities

PRIORIT Y ARE A 5Contribute to carbon

neutrality and reduce

the emissions of

customers and users

PRIORIT Y ARE A 6Incorporate issues

related to biodiversity

loss into activities

#IN THE FIELD

#LOW CARBON AND BIODIVERSITY

> electric vehicles> biogas solutions> hydrogen vehicles

2030 TARGET:

> 50%of the Colas fleet will be low carbon

#HIGH-POTENTIAL ACTION

TRANSFORM THE VEHICLE FLEET

36

CROSSROADS

In place pavement recycling: the Novacol process on a main road in the Charente-Maritime area of western France.

COLAS, ENVIRONMENT

PLAYER

As a global leader in transport

infrastructure construction and

maintenance, Colas has a duty to

lead the entire sector in the right

direction. “Climate change calls

for action on our part, and our

stakeholders, both internal and

external, have clearly expressed

their views on the issue”, says

Muriel Voisin, the Group’s

CSR Director. It goes without

saying that Colas’ activities

have a significant impact on

the environment. For example,

emulsion plants or asphalt

paving projects consume fuel,

water and raw materials (including

bitumen), produce waste and

emit gas and dust particles into

the atmosphere. Biodiversity is also

impacted: construction activities

may, for example, promote the

propagation and growth of certain

invasive, exotic plant species;

the Group’s quarries host a variety

of fauna and flora that need to be

protected. “Measuring the impact

of our Group on the climate is

a fundamental step on the road to

change”, emphasizes Anne-Laure

Levent. Currently, Colas’ total

carbon footprint is estimated

to be 12 million metric tons per

year. “That’s too high”, comments

Anne-Laure Levent. “But there

are a number of areas where we

can act.”

The big problem is that the

use of fossil fuels results in the

production of greenhouse gases.

The accumulation of these gases

causes global warming (+ 1.1°C

since the start of the industrial

revolution) and a range of

imbalances: heatwaves, rising

sea levels, biodiversity loss, etc.

The IPCC* estimates that

the global average temperature

increase needs to be limited to

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

activities need to be cut by 40%

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

at Colas

* Intergovernmental Panel

on Climate Change.

37

CROSSROADS

Concretely, the idea is to promote the

use of warm mixes, semi-warm mixes

and cold mixes, as well as the in place

asphalt pavement recycling process

using bitumen emulsion called Novacol.

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

do not stop at limiting its own direct

and indirect upstream emissions:

the roadmap also targets contributing

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

sustainable solutions. Some relate to

infrastructures, such as the Wattway

Pack photo voltaic road surfacing

solution, delivering local energy

autonomy. Others are revolutionizing

mobility: the Mobility by Colas

solutions and Flowell dynamic

signaling have been developed

to optimize traffic flow and parking

and organize preventive road

maintenance. “The roadmap is also

an opportunity to reassert the

Group’s long-standing commitments”,

notes Anne-Laure Levent. “In terms

of biodiversity, Colas introduced

a biodiversity policy as far back

as 2013 in its quarries around

the world.” The policy encourages

operators to implement at least

one initiative promoting biodiversity

at each site. “Today, only some

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-

functional: Colas’ low carbon and

biodiversity roadmap was officially

unveiled at the end of 2020. “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”, notes Muriel Voisin.

The roadmap is supported by actions

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”,

specifies Anne-Laure Levent.

“The most efficient approach is

to prioritize the highest emissions.”

First in line: energy consumption

by facilities and machines, which

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

38

CROSSROADS

#THE CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

#COLAS’ ACTIONS SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY

> Climate change

> Pollution

> 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

> CREATION OF SPECIES CONSERVATORIES

> AWARENESS-RAISING AROUND INVASIVE EXOTIC SPECIES

> HABITAT PRESERVATION

> BEEHIVE INSTALLATION

145unique speciesare hosted in quarries

or gravel pits

56sites host hives

EMBLEMATIC SPECIES PROTECTED ON COL A S SITES

>

1million species under threat of extinction

100million 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

Midwife Toad

Sand Martin Wall Lizard

EUROPE EUROPE

EUROPE

AFRICA

WORLD

39

CROSSROADS

ITINERARIES

ITINERARIESThrough 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.

4141

Émilie WatineEnvironment ManagerColas FranceFRANCE

A continuous improvement processÉmilie 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,

she oversees the application of the region’s

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

environmental risks. “Obviously we need to

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.

She is also increasingly focusing on

ecological engineering, which aims to restore

the functionality of ecosystems and help

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 SbaiBIM officerGTRMOROCCO

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

with a project, and optimize its design and

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

on a vast area of rugged terrain, this

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,

having detailed knowledge of vegetation

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.

43

ITINERARIES

Fabrice AccardoSuperintendentPerrier TPFRANCE

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

Fabrice Accardo explains: “The Briançon river

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

44

ITINERARIES

A minor revolution. In January, four

all-electric vans were added to the

fleet run by Colas’ Grenoble profit

center. Behind the wheel, Loïc Ravix,

superintendent has been getting to grips

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

Loïc RavixSuperintendentColas FranceFRANCE

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

45

ITINERARIES

Romain RedonnetSector ManagerLa Neste Quarries and Comminges CMGOFRANCE

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

regions of south-western France. Local

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

afforestation. The company opted for the

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”,

he emphasizes. Animal power is favored for

maintenance operations: two horses

harnessed to a plow flatten the ferns, thereby

avoiding soil compaction as well as the need

to use fossil fuels. “Quarry work is a very

locally-based business,” explains Romain.

“If we damage our working environment,

we damage ourselves. It is essential that we

adapt a sustainable approach.”

A sustainable choice

46

ITINERARIES

Peter CastiauPurchasing ManagerColas BelgiumBELGIUM

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”

experience for the purchasing manager, who

set about applying “the same philosophy”

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

building reflects our company and its

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

350 Sintra-labeled jars of honey.

That was the impressive harvest resulting

from the project led by François Couture,

environment advisor for Colas’

Quebec-based company, at the Drapeau

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 CoutureEnvironment AdvisorSintraCANADA

https://admin-mediabox.colas.fr/pmUxHDCaA4

48

ITINERARIES

Vegecol: behind the scenes

From left to right:Stéphane Michel R&D officer, Materials Division Arielle Le Nué R&D Officer, Chemistry DivisionSamir Allam Electronics Engineer, D2I DivisionColas Campus for Science and TechniquesFRANCE

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

Le Nué. She is the person responsible

for developing the formula for the new

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

team was set up in 2017”, she recounts.

“It’s quite simple: all of the expertise

and specialties present at the CST

have been mobilized for this project!”

Samir Allam, in the road surveying

department, studied the behavior

of the mix, having exposed it to the

test of time and outdoor conditions.

“Vegecol binder’s transparency

allows to produce a light mix.

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 asphalt mixes, he checks the workability

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

Veerasingam RaywathyHuman Resources ManagerColas Rail AsiaMALAYSIA

Veerasingam Raywathy is passionate about raising employee awareness around societal and environmental issues. The Malaysia-based human

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

inclusion or raising awareness of health

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

play an educational role. By getting

students and people in difficulty involved,

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

spreader that applies the aggregates

and the binder simultaneously.

“This marks a real change in the

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

that has helped improve site safety

and reduce the environmental impact

of activities.

Changing the way we work

Tony PerkinsSealing SupervisorPrimal SurfacingAUSTRALIA

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 sobriety100% 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.

“There are a number of things we can do

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

for plants around the globe. He explains:

“This initiative was launched by Colas SA

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

efficiency and the quality of the asphalt

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.

Asphalt plants mobilized…

Larry BinghamEquipment Manager Colas Inc.USA

52

ITINERARIES

Thierry LartisantIndustry Manager for the North-East regionColas FranceFRANCE

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

Thierry Lartisant, who manages

operations at 39 bitumen emulsion

and asphalt production sites. “Some

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

manufacturing temperatures

associated with asphalt mix

production. Increasing recycling rates

is also a priority. “Recycling offers

both economic and ecological

benefits”, explains Thierry. “At the

moment, we incorporate up to 30%

recycled materials in manual asphalt

mix formulas, without compromising

their quality or workability.” Thierry

and his teams take into account

customer requests and feedback

from end users as they seek to

… for decarbonizationconstantly improve. “The operations

side of the business does not work in

isolation”, emphasizes the operations

manager. “It is vital for us to ensure

plants and teams on the ground work

together, in order to be able to

innovate and move forward towards

a greener business.”

53

ITINERARIES

ACKNOWLEDGMENTSStéphanie BEAUVAIS, Sébastien BERRUYER, Jean-Charles BERTRAND, Julie BOUCKAERT-BIGOT,

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

At the Kerrous Quarry in western France, the last blasting operation took place in 2017, 50 years after it was first opened. The former quarry has now been turned into a reservoir, providing drinking water to the city of Quimper. The site is open to the public and hosts several pairs of common ravens — it is not a threatened species on a global scale but only 40 pairs remain in Brittany, 30 of which live in the quarry.