Material recycling and recovery
Each year, Colas recycles and recovers over 11 million tons of materials from construction sites. By giving existing resources a second life, we embed our activities within a concrete circular economy approach.
Giving materials a second life
At Colas, the circular economy is driven by a clear goal: to reuse and valorize existing resources. From deconstruction to reconstruction, we help construction stakeholders transform site waste into new resources, reducing CO₂ emissions.
With a dense territorial network, we act at every stage of the cycle: collecting materials from sites, sorting and processing them at our regional platforms, and then reusing or recycling them to sustainably build the infrastructure of tomorrow.
Valormat: a partner for recycling professionals
A national network for collecting and sorting construction materials
To bring this ambition to life on the ground, Colas relies on Valormat, its national network of platforms dedicated to collecting, sorting, and processing construction materials.
Present across France, these facilities welcome all sector professionals—public works companies, contractors, project managers, and local authorities—who wish to locally recover their inert waste.
This local network helps reduce transport, limit associated emissions, and ensure full traceability of the materials handled.
Ready-to-use recycled materials for tomorrow’s construction sites
Once sorted and processed, materials are crushed, screened, and requalified to be reused as recycled aggregates. These materials meet strict technical standards and are used in:
- Sub-base layers and embankments
- Roadway construction
- Production of recycled concrete and asphalt
Throught Valormat, project owners and construction companies have access to a local, reliable, and sustainable supply of recycled materials.
Turning waste into sustainable construction
Construction materials can have multiple lives. Using proven processes such as Recycol and Vegeroad, Colas incorporates up to 70% recycled materials in its asphalt and concrete. These solutions reduce the carbon footprint of construction sites while maintaining the durability and technical quality of structures.
This approach relies on strong partnerships between Colas’ different brands to ensure the quality, traceability, and large-scale reuse of materials.
Our solutions
Innovation in the service of the circular economy
The CORE Center, Colas Group’s research hub, leads R&D programs focused on material recovery and reducing the carbon footprint of processes.
Innovations include:
- Low-carbon binders
- Cold recycling of asphalt
- Use of bio-based materials
These advances allow Colas to increase the proportion of recycled materials in its formulations while ensuring performance equivalent to new materials.
Premys, deconstruction for material reuse
The circular economy doesn’t start at recycling—it begins with deconstruction.
Through its subsidiary Premys, Colas works upstream to prepare materials for a second life.
On each site, Premys teams sort, separate, and store materials (concrete, wood, metals, plastics) to maximize their recovery or reuse. These resources are then directed to the appropriate channels, including Valormat platforms, to be processed or reused in new projects.
An approach at the heart of the ecological transition
The recovery and valorization of materials are central to our strategy. By optimizing resource reuse and developing low-carbon solutions, we contribute to:
Frequently questions
Recycling transforms waste into a new material.
Recovery also includes reuse and repurposing, following a “second life” approach.
Valormat platforms mainly handle inert waste: concrete, asphalt, rubble, soil, metals, and uncontaminated wood.
Yes. Valormat platforms are open to all construction sector professionals, whether or not they are Colas clients: companies, contractors, local authorities, project managers, and more.
They are reused locally: as aggregates for new roadways, as recycled concrete, or incorporated into asphalt with a high rate of material reuse.
Tell us about your project
Do you want to recycle or recover your materials?
Our teams support local authorities, companies, and construction professionals in implementing circular solutions tailored to their sites. Our experts can advise you on:
Recovering and valorizing your deconstruction materials
Local reuse channels
The Valormat platforms nearest to your site
