HONG KONG, July 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, SUEZ Asia released its 2019 Sustainability Report covering all its businesses throughout the region. Guided by the Group's "2017-2021 Sustainable Development Roadmap" that references 14 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report chronicles the Group's contributions in mitigating the impact of climate change, increasing renewable energy production, ensuring the sustainable use of water resources, and supporting local SMEs, all with the goal of promoting a low-carbon economy in Asia.
Steve Clark, CEO of SUEZ Asia, said: "The COVID-19 outbreak has increased awareness that sustainable development and ecological balance are closely interlinked. Faced with the challenges of climate change and climate anomalies, society urgently needs to adopt low-carbon circular economy solutions. Regional governments in Asia have long been committed to improving climate governance, and the role of the business community in achieving these sustainable goals is invaluable. As a leader in environmental services, SUEZ will continue to lead by example, to build a sustainable future."
Promoting a Circular, Low-Carbon Economy
The SUEZ Group is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In Asia, this commitment has helped mitigate causes of climate change by significantly increasing its renewable energy production by a factor of 6.05, from 2014 levels, exceeding the incremental target of 5.67. It has also helped customers prevent 2.36 million tons of GHG emissions. Furthermore, as well as the GHG emission intensity for its waste business being cut by over 10%, it has saved water equivalent in volume to the needs of 643,805 inhabitants.
Creating Shared Value for Society
SUEZ supports customers in achieving environmental transitions through concrete solutions. It has accelerated the digital revolution of water and waste solutions by boosting the number of connected objects by 50%. In procurement, it has raised the proportion of purchases from SMEs to over 70% for its water business and to over 85% for waste. These actions support local development and enhance regional attractiveness. SUEZ also regularly participates in environment-focused exhibitions, exchanges, chambers of commerce and alliances across Asia, where it provides guidance on how best to contribute to the public good.
Nurturing a Sustainable Workforce
The Group values diversity and the promotion of a safe work environment. The proportion of women in management is now 36%, exceeding the target of 33%. It has launched the SUEZ Women Asia Network (SWAN) to help promote gender equality among employees. Additionally, it has also arranged over 115,074 hours of occupational safety training for employees to ensure workplace safety.
Serving our Community
The Group has invested RMB 688 million into serving our community. We actively take part in local activities that promote public awareness of environmental protection, encourage schools to recycle plastics, support beach clean-ups, upcycle from waste, raise funds to support local communities and promote social harmony.
Joey Chio, Chief Corporate Communications and Sustainability Officer of SUEZ Asia, said, "In the past three years, we've worked with partners from around Asia to achieve progress towards our strategic goals. Looking ahead to the next decade, we will remain committed to the Group's targets to slash GHG emissions by 45% and to realize a portfolio of 100% sustainable solutions. We will also prioritize helping customers cut GHG emissions."
Read the full SUEZ Asia Sustainability Report 2019 here.
About SUEZ:
Since the end of the 19th century, SUEZ has built expertise aimed at helping people to constantly improve their quality of life by protecting their health and supporting economic growth. With an active presence on five continents, SUEZ and its 90,000 employees strive to preserve our environment's natural capital: water, soil, and air. SUEZ provides innovative and resilient solutions in water management, waste recovery, site remediation and air treatment, optimizing municipalities' and industries' resource management through "smart" cities and improving their environmental and economic performance. The Group delivers sanitation services to 64 million people and produces 7.1 billion m3 of drinking water. SUEZ is also a contributor to economic growth, with more than 200,000 jobs created directly and indirectly on an annual basis, and a provider of new resources, with 4.2 million tons of secondary raw materials produced. By 2030, the Group is targeting 100% sustainable solutions, with a positive impact on our environment, health and climate. SUEZ generated total revenue of €18.0 billion in 2019.
About SUEZ in Asia
With a strong presence of 60+ years in Southeast Asia and 40+ years in Greater China, SUEZ is a preferred partner in helping authorities and industrial clients develop water and waste management solutions that enable cities and industries to optimize their resource management and strengthen their environment and economic performances. With 9,000+ employees and 70+ joint ventures with local partners, the Group has built 460+ water and wastewater plants, with 32+ million people benefiting from our water and waste services. Today, SUEZ is recognized as one of the most influential companies and a service benchmark in leading the region's environmental industry. We operate China's first PPP water contract in Macau, one of Asia's largest hazardous waste treatment facilities in Shanghai, as well as a plastic recycling plant in Thailand. It is also a leader in Hong Kong's waste management industry and delivers environmental services to 20 industrial parks.
Find out more about SUEZ Asia on our website & social media: Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.
