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but on the other hand marine species are the first victims of plastic pollution from coastal areas. Protecting the living world involves, first and foremost, protecting biodiversity, it is a matter of safeguarding all the immaterial capital of our regions. For SUEZ, which is invested with other major companies under Act4nature1, this contribution is reflected in commitments made in our Sustainable Development Roadmap (2017-2021), and in France in our contribution to the National Biodiversity Strategy (2011-2020). In the other countries of operation, we take inspiration from our involvement in this national strategy to offer strategic objectives and action plans that meet local issues and specificities.

How can we protect this biodiversity?

In concrete terms, the first step in protecting biodiversity is for companies to take stock of and measure their impact.

To do this, they need measurement tools (quality indicators and decision-support systems) that are suited to their business activities. Once companies have defined a consistent frame of reference, they need to implement their global action plans and adapt them locally by setting priorities. These action plans aim to promote solutions that foster biodiversity as part of a circular economy. Take a particularly striking example: 80% of the waste dumped into the oceans is made of plastic, which affects biodiversity and the marine food chain. SUEZ provides expertise in implementing new models of water and waste management that reduce the quantity of land-based macro and microplastic debris that ends up in our oceans.

But applying today s sustainable solutions will not be enough. We must go even further. Which is why companies must explicitly take biodiversity into account in their research and innovation

La Farfana wastewater treatment plant in Santiago de Chile

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