Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, and SUEZ environnement, a French-based utility company which operates largely in the water treatment and waste management sectors, have signed an agreement aimed at optimising the economic and environmental performance of Sanofi's manufacturing sites in France and abroad over a three-year period with the possibility of renewal.

Pursuant to the agreement, SUEZ environnement will develop tailor-made solutions aimed at improving the energy efficiency of Sanofi sites, by optimising the operation of water and waste treatment systems and the sites' waste-to-energy performance and conserving water resources, in particular by optimising water management, treatment and recycling at production sites.

Already two major projects have been started in France under this agreement. The first is focused on modernising and increasing the capacity of the wastewater treatment station at the biochemicals site in Saint-Aubin-lès-Elbeuf (Seine-Maritime), and the second is focused on building a waste-to-energy and volatile organic compound treatment unit for the chemicals site in Sisteron (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).

"Managing the environmental impact of our industrial activities is a high-priority objective for Sanofi," said Olivier Brandicourt, chief executive officer, Sanofi. "This agreement with SUEZ environnement will enable us to implement state-of-the-art technologies that will help make our water and waste management processes more eco-friendly."

"Conserving resources, such as water, has become a fundamental issue for industrial companies and a key factor in their competitiveness. We are delighted with this agreement with Sanofi, which is in line with our strategy of supporting industrial companies in sustainably managing their resources," said Jean-Louis Chaussade, chief executive officer, SUEZ environnement.