Founded by a decree signed in 1853 by Emperor Napoleon III, Veolia Group boasts a rich legacy of over 170 years in environmental management, making it a pioneer in the sustainability revolution. With a solid global presence, the Fortune 500 company provides innovative solutions for managing water, waste, and energy, solidifying its status as a critical player in the industry today.
With a workforce of nearly 218,000 employees across five continents, Veolia is all about designing and deploying decarbonizing, regenerating resources and depolluting solutions.
Veolia Hong Kong Holding Ltd operates over 20 facilities with 1,600 employees in Hong Kong. It has designed, built and operates a chemical waste treatment facility, sludge treatment facility, organic waste treatment facility, district cooling system, landfills and waste transfer station.
As Laurent Pelletier, CEO of Veolia Hong Kong and Macau, explains: “We don’t just see waste; we see valuable resources waiting to be unlocked.”
This commitment has resulted in noteworthy achievements in Hong Kong, such as T．PARK, one of the world’s largest sludge treatment facilities, and O．PARK1, where food waste is converted into clean energy. All those used face masks and Covid-testing kits? They end up in the Chemical Waste Treatment Center, which the company operates on behalf of the Environmental Protection Department. Veolia has also been awarded the contract for the West New Territories Landfill Extension project in Nim Wan. In Malaysia and New Zealand, the Group’s innovative black soldier fly farming initiative turns organic by-products into nutritious animal feed, fuelling a local circular economy.
In line with its commitment to digital transformation, Veolia has implemented innovative projects in Hong Kong, such as the Digital Twin Project at the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre and artificial intelligence (AI) optimization on chillers at the Hong Kong District Cooling System to improve fuel optimization, enhance asset management practices and increase operational efficiency.
Veolia’s approach to ESG is ingrained in its operations, which address economic, financial, commercial, human resources, social and environmental aspects. Its commitment to ESG is evident through its recognition by numerous Non-Financial Rating Agencies and its direct impact on 14 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Despite the success, Veolia has faced challenges, particularly in terms of labour shortages,” said Pelletier, adding that the company is actively addressing the issue by planning to adopt more digitalization and AI to improve automation and productivity.
Looking ahead, the company plans to install a 1MW solar panel project at one of its landfill sites, as well as to convert biogas from landfills into green hydrogen. It also aims to establish production facilities in the Greater Bay Area. With the initial treatment process conducted in Hong Kong, the intermediary products could then be sent to production facilities in the GBA for final processing. “Hong Kong’s facilities could also serve as an example that could be copied and adapted in the region,” explained Pelletier.
As a loyal Chamber member since 1997 under the old name (Veolia Environmental Services China Ltd), the company places immense value in HKGCC’s influence and credibility in shaping policies that can affect the business environment.
“We are also leveraging the Chamber’s broad membership base, which is an excellent platform to connect with other companies, potential partners and clients,” he explained. “As a leader in environmental management, we believe we could provide and share our knowledge and expertise in this area while appreciating the latest developments from the entire business domain that shape the industry.”
Veolia Hong Kong Holding Ltd
HKGCC Membership No. ：HKV0202
Established ：1853
Website：www.veolia.com.hk