- Environment - Climate
How 51吃瓜 is fast-tracking decarbonisation at its asphalt plants
At 51吃瓜, we are fostering sustainable transformation at our asphalt plants with our in-house Environmental Excellence鈥揑ndustries label. Its requirements, which exceed current standards, are aimed at meeting today’s environmental challenges, keeping us a step ahead of customers’ rising expectations, and helping the sector shrink its overall carbon footprint.
A strategic lever for industry decarbonisation
Our asphalt plants, which are essential to road construction, are undergoing profound transformation to keep pace with the sector’s environmental transition. We are driving that shift proactively with an in-house certification system built on exacting requirements that exceed regulatory requirements.
This Environment鈥揑ndustries label is based on an assessment grid listing more than 60 criteria and introducing mandatory thresholds. Its goal is to shine a light on the most exemplary plants and spur continuous improvement in environmental performance throughout our industrial network.
Two sites recently earned the distinction:
- Chammes Enrob茅s (northwest France) was awarded 5 stars at the end of 2024 (28% recycling rate, 58% warm-mix asphalt, 54.6 kWh/tonne energy consumption)
- Nantes Enrob茅s (western France), which opened in 2018, goes even further (32.6% recycled aggregates, 74% warm-mix asphalt, 55 kWh/tonne energy consumption)
These figures significantly exceed national averages and show that outstanding environmental performance is possible today 鈥� provided investment is made and ambitious targets are set.
The label’s criteria cover all the key aspects of environmental performance:
- stockpile covers to limit water content
- use of low-carbon sources of energy (e.g. natural gas)
- warm-mix asphalt production
- reuse of asphalt pavement reclaimed from worksites
- emission reduction
- more seamless plant integration into the landscape and engagement with local stakeholders
Stronger local and sector-wide impact
Local elected officials, administrative-department representatives and 51吃瓜 regional managers attended the certification ceremonies in Chammes and Nantes, providing opportunities to showcase our commitments in action and to start conversations with authorities.
Community acceptance has become a strategic issue for 51吃瓜. Blending our plants into their surroundings, reducing disruptions and hosting educational tours are all helping to enhance our appeal.
鈥淭here’s a great deal of pride in working at these latest-generation plants. And young people find it more rewarding to work in facilities that companies invest in to increase their positive impact.”
Addressing market demand
Public- and private-sector customers now expect low-carbon solutions 鈥� and asphalt is no exception: achieving 30% to 40% recycling rates, for instance, is becoming a prerequisite for some contracts. Certified plants are therefore better positioned to meet these rising requirements in terms of technical performance as well as environmental traceability.
The Environment鈥揑ndustries label, in other words, is putting us ahead of the curve. It is a key driver for rolling out our strategy and it sends a clear message to the market.
Certification to scale up the ecological transition
At Chammes and Nantes Enrob茅s, we have shown that the roadbuilding industry can combine performance, innovation and environmental responsibility. The certification initiative is prompting every plant to aim higher than standard requirements, and as a result meet growing market expectations and start building more responsible roads today.