What is low carbon?
Low carbon in the construction industry refers to all practices, technologies and materials aimed at reducing CO2 emissions throughout the life cycle of construction projects. This approach encompasses the design, construction, operation and demolition of buildings and infrastructures.
What is Colas' low carbon strategy?
In a global context where reducing the carbon footprint has become a priority, Colas, leader in the construction and maintenance of transport infrastructures, is resolutely committed to an ambitious and innovative low-carbon strategy:
- Reducing CO2 emissions
- Innovation and R&D
- Waste management and recycling
- Optimizing the carbon accounting of its activities
- Stakeholder engagement
To find out more: here
How does Colas contribute to reducing CO2 emissions with its solutions?
Cement reduction or substitution
To reduce or substitute cement in our mixes, Colas offers several options:
- Colas uses residues from different industries to incorporate them into our mixes: “one man's waste is another man's raw material”: slag, metakaolin and fly ash are used to make products such as Colstab and Colstab compaxem.
- Colas is also developing new alternative binders to replace cement:
- organimineral binders created by subsidiary INMS, with which Colas is developing Urbalith,
- a new alkali-activated binder developed by teams at the CORE Center (Colas R&D center) and used in Colstab Geo
Preserving non-renewable resources
What is a non-renewable resource? It's a material created by nature that doesn't renew itself, or only very slowly, for example: rock, gas or oil.
Circular economy and recycling are at the heart of our thinking! A few examples? The use of cork in asphalt mixes, oyster shells in paint or stabilized sand, rubber in bitumen or asphalt, and of course asphalt aggregates, which we use as much as possible.
Colas is also developing an in-place recycling process, which means that everything is done at once, cold and in the same place (planing, recovery of aggregates, addition of emulsion, etc.): this is Recycol!
This range includes these solutions:
VEGECOL
The environment-friendly Colas solution
Vegecol is an aesthetically pleasing clear asphalt mix with a carbon footprint that is at least 70 % lower than traditional clear asphalt...
VEGEROAD
Asphalt mix with plant-based binder access
Vegeroad is a range of asphalt mixes, obtained by mixing aggregates with a binder containing plant-based raw materials.
RECYCOL
In situ pavement recycling
Recycol is the in situ recycling solution. It breathes a new lease of life into pavements that are damaged or at the end of their life cycle...
OPTIBASE
The most cost-effective structure
Optibase is a high-performance mix for sub-grade courses…
OPTIGRAVE
Optimized compacted concrete for roadways
Optigrave is a roller-compacted road concrete that offers the same performance levels as concrete but at a lower cost and with shorter lay-down times...
COLGRILL
Reinforcement for asphalt mixes
Colas has developed a pavement design method for reinforced road structures using Colgrill, based on feedback from the field over 30 years...
COLSAVE
The antidote to cracks
The Colsave range of solutions extends the lifespan of a pavement by delaying the appearance of cracks.
EASYCOLD
Cold mixes for roads
The Easycold range of asphalt emulsion mixes is an example of Colas’s commitment to being eco-responsibles...
COLSTAB
High-performance stabilized sand
Colstab offers a range of attractive pavements for soft mobility options: paths and tracks through parks, gardens and landscaped areas.
URBALITH
Highly-aesthetic, permeable solution
Urbalith is a range of permeable, natural and recyclable pavements...