The climate emergency and biodiversity loss are both major environmental and societal challenges. To address these issues, in 2020 Colas undertook a strategic review that culminated in the creation of a low carbon and biodiversity roadmap. The Group announced two ambitious targets for reducing its emissions, in line with the Paris Agreement* :
- a 30% reduction in direct greenhouse gas emissions (Scopes 1 and 2)
- a 30% reduction across the entire upstream value chain (Scope 3a), which accounts for 85% of the Group’s total emissions
* Well-below 2°C based on the methodology recognized by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)
Incorporating climate change priorities into our Group-wide strategy
Climate change has a direct impact on Aximum in its markets, prompting the Group to review the scope of some of its traditional operations and opening up new opportunities to adapt its business model in light of the green transition.
A Group-wide analysis of risks and opportunities arising from the low-carbon transition has been undertaken and the initial findings have been factored into the Group’s strategy.
To accompany this energy transition, the Group is raising employee awareness through competitions, webinars, days dedicated to environmental and climate change issues, Climate Fresco workshops and e-learning.
Taking action to lower the carbon intensity of our direct emissions
One of Aximum’s targets is to cut our direct CO2 emissions by 30% by 2030. To achieve this target, we are working in a number of areas across the entire Group :
- Boosting energy efficiency (reducing the energy consumption of our industries through operational excellence)
- Transitioning to less carbon-intensive energy sources (low-carbon machinery and light-duty vehicle fleets powered by low-carbon electricity, biodiesel, biogas and green hydrogen)
- Developing innovative new manufacturing processes that are less carbon-intensive (alternative energies, development of innovative solutions to replace heavy fuel oil)
- Promoting more sustainable behavior, such as by monitoring consumption and rolling out training in environmentally friendly driving across the Group
Developing and promoting low-carbon technologies and solutions
The reduction in our carbon impact will be achieved first and foremost through the introduction of low-carbon products and techniques developed and described by R&D, such as the use of biosourced materials, a reduction in waste, the circular economy, air quality, economy of resources, and also energy frugality.
Optimizing carbon accounting for our operations
The implementation of a carbon accounting approach based on physical flows is currently being developed at Group level, along with the rollout of tools and methodologies for calculating the carbon footprints of our different sites. That will then enable us to measure the progress made on the carbon impact of each site.
Helping our customers and users achieve carbon neutrality and reduce emissions
Business opportunities are being considered in the fields of CO2 capture and storage, preventing Urban Cool Islands (ICU), mobility and carbon-free transportation.
Aximum has already incorporated global warming-related priorities into its R&D activities.
Aximum is introducing new mobility solutions: SOFFT, Flowell etc.
Incorporating priorities related to biodiversity loss into our operations
In October 2022, the WWF (World Wildlife Fund) announced that nearly 70% of wild animal populations had disappeared since 1970. As climate change is one of the main causes, the challenge for Aximum is to continue to help preserve biodiversity everywhere it works :
- Protecting habitats and species through initiatives that promote biodiversity at quarries
- Launching an employee awareness and information program
- Controlling water, ground and air pollution
- Controlling the spread of invasive exotic species
- Responding to the challenges posed by land artificialization
Key figures (2022)
-
0
% of machinery are equipped with on-board telematics
-
30
employees have been trained to become climate fresco facilitators