Building circular solutions in water and waste through innovation

The environmental services sector is at a turning point in its development. Climate change, scarcity of resources, the energy crisis and the return of inflation call for new solutions.
Our capacity for innovation

A dynamic of innovation at every level of the company

SUEZ has leading teams and assets, both in France and internationally, to support its capacity for innovation. 

Historical and recognised expertise in engineering and construction

With its own construction capacity, SUEZ innovates in order to design new infrastructures and plants, generating ever more resources for local areas and fewer greenhouse gases, as well as to modernise and renew existing facilities.

The ability to offer integrated digital services

SUEZ uses digital technology as a lever to optimise the performance of its clients infrastructures, to increase waste sorting and recycling, and to preserve water quality. Access to, and use of, operational databases on water and waste enable algorithms to be trained and new solutions based on artificial intelligence to be developed.

A positioning over the entire life cycle of an innovation,

from the design of the idea to its industrialisation. SUEZ is able to capitalise on the diversity of its sites and research and excellence centres, both in France and internationally. 

A complementary approach – open innovation

from the co-construction of solutions with our customers, to scientific partnerships with INRAE, BRGM, Bordeaux University, LSCE and Sorbonne University to encourage upstream research, right through to operational collaborations with startups (Lixo, Prodeval, etc.). The aim: Build an integrated ecosystem to rely on additional skills, maximise the detection of innovative startups and encourage their growth.

Expertise that goes beyond new technologies

and relates to behavioural, social and contractual innovation, to support the move towards more energy-efficient uses.
Our ambition

Increasing our capacity for transformation, innovation and collaboration

In order to meet the accelerating needs of its customers and partners, SUEZ is currently increasing its capacity for transformation, innovation and collaboration.

A new ambition embodied in the 2022–2027 strategy

+ 50%

budget

dedicated to R&D and innovation by 2027

60

new projects

per year

10 to 20

million € / year invested in open innovation

New strategic priorities

Budget

x2

Waste reduction and recovery

Budget

x4

Support for decarbonisation

Revenue

x2

Target revenue for digital

Our priorities
Our priorities in innovation are aligned with the 3 pillars of our value proposition for our customers. For them, we put the passion and commitment of our team at their service around the world to enable them to:
Provide access to water and waste services, with resilient and innovative solutions
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Ensure drinking water for all. While water is becoming scarcer, SUEZ is developing technologies at all stages of the water cycle to combat leaks and increase the efficiency of drinking water networks through digital technology, while creating new resources; this includes groundwater recharge, wastewater reuse and seawater desalination.

Ensure high-quality water. SUEZ makes water quality one of the priorities of its research activities. A pioneer in the analysis and treatment of micro pollutants, the Group is developing new processes to identify and eliminate complex pollutants such as PFAS and metabolites.

Going digital to sort more effectively. SUEZ is developing an ambitious digital strategy to avoid, reduce and better sort different types of waste and recycle it as much as possible in order to rise to the challenge of a more circular economy.

Create value over the entire lifecycle of their assets and services
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Add value to more material. From recycling wind turbine blades to recovering value-added molecules in water, SUEZ is pushing boundaries to create and exploit the value contained in all waste, including the most complex kinds.

Decarbonise our activities and produce more renewable energy. Faced with rising energy prices and the need to reduce the carbon footprint of our activities, SUEZ is innovating to transform non-recyclable waste and sewage sludge into local, renewable energy that supports the ecological transition in local areas. SUEZ is also exploring technologies for capturing, storing and using CO2 that will play a major role in achieving carbon neutrality.

Drive the ecological transition, together with their end users
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Behavioural innovation to help users adopt better sorting habits and consume water more sustainably. SUEZ relies on sociologists and behavioural economics specialists to offer strong expertise in this field.

Contractual innovation to change our business models. In this way, we can work with our customers to reduce the waste and water consumption associated with our services.

Embracing social innovation, as environmental stakeholders have a role to play in inclusiveness and ensuring that everyone is involved in sustainable development. SUEZ also promotes innovative financial models that combine public and private stakeholders, such as public private partnerships or SEMOPs, by extending this logic from construction to project operation and maintenance activities.