Preserving biodiversity

SUEZ is aiming to step up its role in protecting the environment and restoring our natural assets by taking action for the protection and rehabilitation of terrestrial, aquatic and marine biodiversity. To do this, the Group is accelerating its development of “100% sustainable” solutions characterised by their positive impact on the environment, i.e. on air, water and soil.

• Monitoring and environmental assessment tools
• Ecological rehabilitation plans for sites
• Based on Nature solutions, such as vegetated discharge areas
• Action plans to tackle invasive plant species.

• Optimised management and use of water resources
• Rehabilitation of the Earth’s natural habitats through remediation
• Promoting biodiversity
• Alternative means of water production
• Smart agriculture

In France, SUEZ is a stakeholder in the Entreprises Engagées pour la Nature / Act4Nature France initiative led by the Office Français de la Biodiversité (French biodiversity agency). In so doing, the Group is renewing the commitment it has made to the National Strategy for Biodiversity since 2014. Abroad, the Group is also involved in the Act4Nature International initiative led by EpE (Entreprises pour l’Environnement), in conjunction with the Business for Nature coalition run by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

In 2019, SUEZ also joined “Alliance to End Plastic Waste”, an international association which brings together a number of industry players with the common goal of “zero plastic waste in our oceans”.

Since 2008, operational action plans to boost biodiversity have been rolled out at priority sites in France and abroad. In 2019, SUEZ recorded implementation of action plans at almost 40% of its plants recognised as priority sites due to their location in protected areas.

The park, which was inspired by Mediterranean wetlands, reduces the impact on flooding and provides a wild area for fauna and flora. Consequently, numbers of local birds and flora are increasing, with currently over 90 bird species including protected species like the kingfisher. Guided tours and scientific bird-tagging sessions are held at the park.

“La Marjal” park received several awards in 2018:

• Alicante won the “Sustainable City” award in the complete water cycle category for the “Sustainable management of La Marjal floodable urban park”.
• The park was chosen by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as an example of a city’s good governance to solve problems relating to water and climate change.

The aim of the project is to rehabilitate the existing wetland to improve industrial wastewater treatment using a network of functional and natural wetlands. To meet the challenge of treating SCIP industry park’s salinated wastewater, coastal plant species with a high salinity tolerance were chosen for the wetland. This ecological engineering innovation helps to improve the quality of treated wastewater and boost the site’s high biodiversity.

SUEZ partners with The Nature Conservancy to help rebuild the reefs using oyster shells collected from seafood restaurants. The aim of the project: less waste, a restored habitat for native species and economic advantages for the marine industry.

Oysters are an integral part of marine ecosystems, improving biodiversity by improving water quality. The Port Phillip Bay project involved collecting used oyster shells from local restaurants and wholesalers. After collection, the shells were dried to eliminate pathogens, mixed with limestone rubble and placed on the seabed where young oysters were then able to gather. Since the start of the project, 1.5 hectares of shell reefs have been restored and 60 tonnes of shells have been recycled.

To recreate an ecosystem to boost marine biodiversity, SUEZ designed and installed artificial habitats along the quays at Marseille’s Pointe Rouge marina in 2015. The nurseries imitate the Posidonia meadows in which young fish shelter from predators, feed and grow before heading out to sea. This solution helps to restore marine biodiversity, particularly when combined with ecological rehabilitation work on the marine environment. In Marseille’s Bay of Cortiou, for example, actions included planting bunches of Cystoseira algae by hand so that their heavy seeds (zygotes) spread and grow, boosting biodiversity.