SUEZ and China: building a partnership for a greener future

For nearly 50 years, the French environmental company SUEZ has become part of China's landscape, working closely with local partners to bring sustainable water and waste management solutions to more than 30 cities. Now, as China pushes forward with its ambitious green goals, SUEZ's commitment to this partnership grows even stronger, with efforts spanning from industrial hubs to local communities.

At the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, Sabrina Soussan, SUEZ's Chairman and CEO, emphasized how much the expo's theme — "New Era, Shared Future" — resonates with the company's mission.

"For 160 years, sustainability has been at the core of what we do," she said, reflecting on the broader significance of SUEZ's work in China. "I'm honored to be speaking on this important topic during this occasion, where I could share SUEZ's insights and ambitions. I'm also excited to meet with the top leaders of Shanghai and our partners to exchange ideas on how SUEZ can further support the city's green initiatives."

SUEZ's commitment in China goes back decades. From its early projects in Hong Kong and Macao to a vast network of water and waste management contracts across the Chinese mainland, SUEZ's presence today reaches over 25 million people.

According to the company, the services help fulfill the nation's green priorities, including China's aim to boost the energy conservation and environmental protection sector to 15 trillion yuan ($2.1 trillion) and reach about 25 percent non-fossil energy consumption by 2030.

In Shanghai, SUEZ's efforts to advance green industry practices continue. For example, SUEZ has been partnering with Shanghai Chemical Industry Park, a world-class chemical park and home to major chemical giants like Sinopec, BASF and Covestro. The company provides integrated water and waste treatment services for the park and its customers.

"What I'm most proud of is that our solutions treat highly polluted effluents for reuse in production. We recover energy from hazardous waste while reducing carbon emissions by nearly 200,000 metric tons annually. Additionally, we design artificial wetland that uses nature's purification capacity to further treat industrial wastewater, creating an ecological habitat for local flora and fauna. This is green development — addressing today's challenges while generating resources for tomorrow," Soussan said.

Collaboration between France and China is essential for propelling all these projects. When Soussan accompanied French President Emmanuel Macron on his state visit to China last year, SUEZ signed a contract with Wanhua Chemical Group and Shanghai Civil Engineering of CREC to develop a seawater desalination plant in northern China.

Globally, SUEZ has recently won several significant contracts in its home country of France, as well as in the United Kingdom, Italy, the Middle East, and Morocco.

These agreements not only strengthen its international presence but also demonstrate its strong commitment to supporting the ecological transition in the water and waste sectors. For instance, the company has signed an agreement with CMA CGM Group, a world leader in logistics, to produce biomethane from waste, contributing to the decarbonization of the shipping industry.

As China's green transition gains momentum, SUEZ's readiness to bring the best of environmental technologies and state-of-the-art solutions to China underscores a shared commitment to sustainable development.

"Working alongside our Chinese partners, we're continuously inspired by what's possible when we join forces for a common purpose," Soussan said. "China is a key market for us, and we're more motivated than ever to advance circular solutions in water and waste. Together, we're helping to build a sustainable future that benefits everyone."

At a time when environmental challenges require immediate action, SUEZ's work in China stands as a powerful example of how international cooperation can foster solutions that are both sustainable and impactful, according to the company. As China advances its green vision, SUEZ is committed to turning these ambitious policies into tangible, measurable outcomes.