Reduction of virgin resources used
In the Construction and Energy businesses, efforts to minimise the use of virgin materials are implemented by the divisions and focus on reducing consumption, sourcing locally to create closed-loop systems for waste recovery, and using recycled, reused and reconditioned materials. For example, VINCI Construction has reused 100% of the soil excavated in situ on various sites, such as the bus rapid transit service connecting Bordeaux and Saint-Aubin-de-Médoc, and the cycle route between Montcetz-Longevas and Vitry-le-François. On the Bogotá–Girardot highway project, VINCI Construction’s Major Projects Division has recycled 100% of the reclaimed asphalt pavement in the project’s coating plant, and GTM Guadeloupe (VINCI Construction) has used glass sand made from crushed glass as backfill in public works. VINCI Energies also made use of equipment that was either reused or contained recycled materials. In Switzerland, Axians (VINCI Energies) used pylons for mobile telecommunications infrastructure containing up to 50% recycled steel. In Algeria, Actemium (VINCI Energies) staff recovered automotive interior trim parts that the customer had planned to discard and modified and adapted them to its new needs. Examples of reuse are detailed in paragraph 3.3.2.2, “Reuse solutions”, page 250.
In the Concessions business, consumption of the main raw materials is monitored, in particular the consumption of asphalt mix to maintain motorways in France. VINCI Autoroutes’ goal to recover 100% of asphalt and aggregates from removed pavement materials and reuse at least 45% at its own worksites is routinely included in any bids it submits for motorway maintenance contracts. As a result, out of a total of 1,172,532 tonnes of reclaimed asphalt pavement from VINCI Autoroutes’ road renovation projects, 581,340 tonnes, or nearly 50%, were recycled directly at VINCI Autoroutes worksites in 2023. Some pavement renovation projects carried out in 2023 met high recycling targets: the 25,000 tonnes of excess asphalt mix from the programme under way on the A68 will be transferred and used to make asphalt for the A20 motorway; on the A51 road maintenance projects, 100% of the asphalt mix generated is recycled, of which up to 50% is reused on the same projects. VINCI Concessions has also implemented similar initiatives, such as on the Via Pribina expressway in Slovakia, where 99% of the asphalt mix removed was recycled for use on the expressway itself. In addition, on the project to resurface the runways at Belgrade airport, nearly 180,000 sq. metres of concrete slabs were “rubblised” and recycled on site. The rubblisation technique involves fracturing concrete pavement into small, typically 2 to 15 cm, pieces and then compacting them into a base layer for the new asphalt road surface.
Bio-sourced materials
The use of bio-sourced material is growing thanks to timber construction, plant-based binder as well as building processes.
VINCI Construction is developing the use of bio-sourced materials in its projects through its Arbonis subsidiary (Building France Division), which is industrialising timber construction, utilising the advantages of this renewable, recyclable material offering a reduced carbon footprint. The wide range of current projects points to how mixed techniques are increasingly being used in the building sector. In 2023, the company broke ground on the Silva tower in Bordeaux, which will have 125 housing units in a mixed wood-concrete structure. In Laxou, near Nancy, a business complex planned for early 2024 comprises an office building and a silo car park, with 2,260 cu. metres of integrated wood, of which 950 cu. metres of glued laminated wood and 1,310 cu. metres of cross-laminated timber (CLT). The Edenn programme spanning more than 30,000 sq. metres in Nanterre aims for the most stringent environmental standards, such as NF HQE™, BREEAM®, OsmoZ, E+C− and BBC. To meet those criteria, construction techniques combine concrete, wood and steel. As part of the Grand Paris Express project coordinated by VINCI Construction’s Civil Engineering France Division, the distinctive feature on the new Noisy-Champs station is a remarkable dome combining metal and glue-laminated timber manufactured from larch. Lastly, Arbonis is taking part in the construction of the Envision EV battery gigafactory in Lambres-lez-Douai, which involves 58,000 sq. metres of structural framework for four buildings. Some 3,500 cu. metres of PEFC-certified wood will be used.
VINCI Construction also incorporates bio-sourced materials into its construction processes. For example, Freyssinet (VINCI Construction) has substituted polystyrene with bio-sourced and biodegradable honeycomb cardboard in its formwork when replacing road joints, and Soletanche Bachy (VINCI Construction) uses flax fibre formwork.
Meanwhile, VINCI Autoroutes is studying alternatives to traditional bitumen asphalt mixes, such as Vegeroad®, an asphalt mix made with a bio-sourced binder. The solution is being used in road renovation works at the two Bordes rest areas on the ASF network and in a test area at a worksite on the A8.
In terms of external recognition, VINCI was reviewed by CDP Forests for the fourth year and earned a score of C, “Awareness” level. Wood is one of the most important resources used by Group’s businesses, in terms of procurement risk management and in combating deforestation. Some VINCI Construction businesses, such as Arbonis, CMA Agencement & Menuiserie, Tarare Bois (Building France Division) and CBCI (Europe Africa Division), are particularly exposed to this risk and take special precautions in sourcing wood materials. For example, 100% of the wood used by Arbonis and CBCI is PEFC certified. Opting for sourcing through a short supply chain, the teams at Arbonis use local tree species and work with the French National Forest Office (ONF) to support the country’s certified timber suppliers, while 70% of the wood used by Tarare Bois is PEFC certified and all of its solid wood supplies come from French sawmills.
At Group level, many solutions are being rolled out to promote responsible sourcing and develop sustainable materials. VINCI Construction is continuing its work on life cycle analysis for environmental products and solutions (high-percentage recycled roads, Power Road® technology). This work provides tangible evidence of the environmental benefits it is able to offer. VINCI Construction companies continuously experiment with innovative processes and conduct many research projects. As part of VINCI Construction’s Networks France Division, Sodilor is France’s leading manufacturer of road safety equipment and sustainable urban furniture. A wide range of eco-designed road and urban comfort products made from recovered plastic waste is available. In September 2023, the company developed its own production line to make equipment out of recycled plastics derived from hard hats. Sodilor collects discarded hard hats from construction sites, disassembles them into component parts and grinds them into new recycled raw materials, which it then introduces into its equipment manufacturing process.
