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The circular economy: at the heart of Bouygues Construction’s strategic thinking

4 minutes of reading
Transforming waste into resources: when the circular economy disrupts our growth models and the way we consume and produce goods. Bouygues Construction is fully committed to acting as a responsible and committed industry player.
On May 30 this year, as part of the European Sustainable Development Week, Bouygues Construction launched its “Responsible and committed” strategy. Since then, a large number of innovative initiatives and experiments have emerged, and are currently being implemented on our construction sites and elsewhere. The circular economy – a topic which echoes the Group’s own sustainable development strategy – is a concept intended to break the link between our business activities and our growing consumption of finite resources. As part of Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France’s sustainable development strategy, it was a natural choice for the Bouygues Construction subsidiary to take part in the second edition of the “Grand Paris circulaire” event, enabling the company to showcase its efforts in this area.

Educational role

In France, the Building and Civil Works sector produces 260 million tonnes of waste a year, 40 million tonnes of which are produced by the building sector alone. These alarming statistics have led Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France to become involved in educating the general public about the circular economy. Classes have been given by circular economy managers to students at the ESTP, CNAM and Ponts et Chaussées educational institutions.

Consultancy role

ELAN, a real-estate consultancy subsidiary of Bouygues Bâtiment Ile-de-France, has begun to introduce profound changes in its identity and skillset. As part of this process, it has created a circular economy consultancy service. Its main aim? To assist clients in planning for changes in their way of living and its impact. By enabling them to create economic, social and environmental value, ELAN is increasing their competitiveness through innovative projects designed to produce sustainable economic performance.

Role of engagement to institutions

The proof of our commitment is in our proposals! In order to accelerate the implementation of the circular economy in France, our teams have completed a study and put forward practical proposals for solutions as part of a joint national effort with the EGF BTP general professional organisation. The teams also got involved in the Grand Paris Métropole co-operative organisation in support of circular economy requirements in works specifications. Other proposals were made to various players in the Greater Paris region, including Paris’s City Hall – thus demonstrating the Group’s full commitment to this transition to the circular economy.

Project implementation role

Lastly, many initiatives to develop the circular economy strategy initiated by Bouygues Bâtiment France Europe are starting to take shape at the operational phase at construction sites: selective dredging, remote platforms, specific collection of reusable waste, service provider waste monitoring, etc. In this way, at each stage – from assembly, construction, renovation and maintenance through to the end of the building’s life – initiatives supporting the circular economy are being implemented across Bouygues Construction’s various businesses as a practical demonstration of the adage, “Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed” (Lavoisier). At Bouygues Entreprise France Europe (Nord Est)’s La Maillerie (59) operation, 10,000m2 of hard oak flooring was recovered during demolition work. This represents the equivalent of two hundred 135-year-old trees – the number of trees now saved from being cut down to produce new flooring. In addition, it is 35% cheaper to recycle exterior trimwork (PVC and glass uprights) than to throw it away. This solution has already been tried and tested at eight sites. A key player in the Building and Civil Works sector, Bouygues Construction innovates in order to invent new models and move old linear production methods towards circular production, transforming waste into resources.