Material production and recycling
Essential for construction and development, materials shape our territories. Colas manages the entire materials lifecycle—covering production, recycling, and recovery—to build sustainably while preserving tomorrow’s resources.
Full control over the materials lifecycle
Colas is involved in every stage of the materials lifecycle, from extraction and production to recycling and reuse on new sites. Through Nexstone, we produce aggregates and concrete from local resources that are high-performing and sustainable. With Valormat, we collect, sort, and transform construction waste into high-quality recycled materials.
This integrated approach enables the construction of more sustainable infrastructure while reducing the environmental impact of projects.
Materials tailored to the requirements of each project
Roads, urban developments, civil engineering structures or buildings: every project comes with specific requirements in terms of strength, durability, implementation and use. The choice of construction materials must therefore reflect the characteristics of the structure, its environment and the expected performance.
Colas draws on its expertise in materials and construction to provide solutions suited to the needs of each project. Aggregates, concrete and other materials used for infrastructure can meet a wide range of requirements, from the different layers of a road structure to materials used for developments and engineering structures.
This combined knowledge of materials and construction makes it possible to select materials in line with the realities of each project: resource availability, technical constraints, implementation conditions and environmental objectives. The aim is to strike the right balance between performance, long-term durability and responsible use of resources.
Material performance for longer-lasting infrastructure
The quality of a structure also depends on how well the materials used are suited to the loads and stresses they will face. The intended use of the infrastructure and the specific constraints of the project must therefore be taken into account when choices are made ahead of construction.
Expertise in materials makes it possible to adapt solutions to the required performance and contribute to the durability of infrastructure. This applies both to materials sourced from natural resources and to recycled materials, provided they meet the specifications required for their intended use.
For project owners, local authorities and businesses, this expertise makes materials an integral part of project design, alongside technical requirements, resource management and the service life of the development.
Giving materials from construction sites a new purpose
Materials generated by construction work can become valuable new resources. When suitable for recovery, they can be collected, sorted and processed for use in new applications. This approach helps reduce the amount of construction and demolition waste sent for disposal and, where possible, limits the need for virgin raw materials.
Recycling and recovering materials therefore contribute to the development of a circular economy in the construction sector. Materials are no longer considered solely in terms of their initial use, but also in terms of their potential for recovery, processing and reuse.
This approach creates stronger links between the production, use and recovery of resources throughout a project. Depending on their nature and potential for processing, materials from construction, deconstruction or rehabilitation sites can all be concerned.
For public- and private-sector stakeholders alike, this provides a practical way to address resource conservation within their projects while maintaining the levels of quality and performance expected on construction sites.
A local network supporting projects across the country
The availability and transportation of materials also play an important role in the organisation of a construction project. Colas relies on a network of production sites and materials recovery platforms located throughout the country to respond as closely as possible to project needs.
This local presence helps take into account the resources available nearby, the volumes required and the specific constraints of each project. Where conditions allow, it also helps promote shorter supply chains between production or recovery sites and construction sites.
Proximity also facilitates dialogue between Colas teams, project owners and the various stakeholders involved. It helps provide solutions tailored to local conditions, whether for a road project, an urban development, a civil engineering structure or a construction project.
Do you have a project for material production or recovery?
Let’s design sustainable solutions together for your construction projects
Colas supports you in the production, recycling, and recovery of construction materials.
