Commitment to sustainability

Our actions

At Colas and our companies in Canada, we understand the pressing challenges posed by climate change and the need for a better quality of life for everyone. Together with our partners worldwide at the Colas Group, we have developed strategies to reduce the environmental impact of transportation infrastructure, construction, and maintenance activities.
Our approach focuses on several key strategies:

1.   Lowering our carbon emissions and fossil fuel use: We aim to reduce fossil fuel consumption during construction and at our production sites.
2.    Biodiversity Preservation: We actively work to protect local ecosystems and minimize disturbances to wildlife in the areas where we operate.
3.    Resource conservation through innovation: We prioritize recycling materials and resources through innovative processes throughout our projects.

Through these initiatives, Colas Canada is dedicated to promoting sustainable construction practices that contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.

Low carbon strategy

Global Carbon Reduction Targets

We have set two bold goals to significantly reduce our emissions by 2030:
• 46.5% reduction in direct greenhouse gas emissions.
• 30% reduction in upstream emissions across our entire value chain.

*Reduction targets are based on 2019 levels. These targets align with the Paris Agreement and reflect our commitment to operating well below the 2°C threshold established by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

To effectively implement our low-carbon strategy, we are focusing on several key initiatives:
•    Energy Efficiency: Enhancing operational excellence to reduce energy consumption.
•    Low-Carbon Energy Sources: Transitioning to biodiesel, biogas, and green hydrogen where possible.
•    Innovative Manufacturing Processes: Developing alternative methods to lessen our carbon footprint.
•    Employee Training: Promoting sustainable practices through workshops and awareness programs.

Additionally, we are developing and marketing low-carbon technologies, such as eco-friendly binders, and encouraging clients to increase the use of recycled materials.

Biodiversity strategy

Preserving biodiversity is a critical focus of our operations. In 2022, the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF) announced that nearly 70% of wild animal populations have disappeared since the 1970s. We recognize the urgent need to protect ecosystems. Our efforts include:

•    Habitat Protection: Protecting habitats and species through initiatives that promote biodiversity at quarries
•    Pollution Control: Implementing measures to manage air, ground, and water pollution
•    Invasive Species Management: Addressing the spread of non-native species
•   Land Artificialization Response: Developing strategies to mitigate the impacts of urbanization
Through employee education programs and strategic initiatives, we strive to ensure that our projects contribute positively to the ecosystems in which we operate.

Pavement recycling

Colas companies across Canada are pioneers in pavement recycling. Ever since Colas company The Miller Group was the first to introduce a full-depth reclamation machine in Canada in 1983, Colas companies have been key players in sustainable practices such as Cold-In-Place Recycling (CIR) and Full Depth Reclamation (FDR).

Learn more

Achievements

The Miller Group and Standard General Edmonton become the first two companies in Canada to release Environmental Product Declarations asphalt mixtures
Colas companies The Miller Group, NPA, and McAsphalt come together to pave 36km of highway 33 in Alberta using Cold In Place Recycling (CIP)
Colas company Miller Group’s restoration of the Boyington Gravel Pit receives the Judges’ Choice Rehabilitation Award
Colas company Terus implements innovative drone technology to help revegetate land as part of the Westside Gravel Pit reclamation effort
Colas Quebec reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning two asphalt plants to liquid propane
The Miller Group and Standard General Edmonton become the first two companies in Canada to release Environmental Product Declarations asphalt mixtures
Colas companies The Miller Group, NPA, and McAsphalt come together to pave 36km of highway 33 in Alberta using Cold In Place Recycling (CIP)
Colas company Miller Group’s restoration of the Boyington Gravel Pit receives the Judges’ Choice Rehabilitation Award
Colas company Terus implements innovative drone technology to help revegetate land as part of the Westside Gravel Pit reclamation effort
Colas Quebec reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning two asphalt plants to liquid propane
The Miller Group and Standard General Edmonton become the first two companies in Canada to release Environmental Product Declarations asphalt mixtures
Colas companies The Miller Group, NPA, and McAsphalt come together to pave 36km of highway 33 in Alberta using Cold In Place Recycling (CIP)
Colas company Miller Group’s restoration of the Boyington Gravel Pit receives the Judges’ Choice Rehabilitation Award
Colas company Terus implements innovative drone technology to help revegetate land as part of the Westside Gravel Pit reclamation effort
Colas Quebec reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning two asphalt plants to liquid propane
The Miller Group and Standard General Edmonton become the first two companies in Canada to release Environmental Product Declarations asphalt mixtures
Colas companies The Miller Group, NPA, and McAsphalt come together to pave 36km of highway 33 in Alberta using Cold In Place Recycling (CIP)
Colas company Miller Group’s restoration of the Boyington Gravel Pit receives the Judges’ Choice Rehabilitation Award
Colas company Terus implements innovative drone technology to help revegetate land as part of the Westside Gravel Pit reclamation effort
Colas Quebec reduces its greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning two asphalt plants to liquid propane