Responsible environmental management

APRR’s regional development role requires that it acknowledges the inevitable environmental impact of the human activities that are so essential for its growth. Over the past 30 years, the Group has shown its commitment in this area by going further than required by law, and developing a body of expertise and resources that enable it to plan for future developments relating to the environment, from the construction phase to motorway operation.

Environmental factors are now addressed as early as possible in the design phase of new motorways.
The sensitivity and ecological vulnerability of the environment along the routes are analysed upstream of the projects. The choice of route and decisions regarding special environmental measures designed to protect water, flora and fauna and to limit noise pollution are the focus of meaningful consultation and cooperation between specialists, local authorities, elected representatives, residents and associations, all of which detail their specific views and expectations. This is also the case for landscaping and infrastructure integration projects.

For new motorways, spending on landscaping and environmental integration represents more than 10% of investment. New motorways are equipped with high-performance environmental-protection systems such as retention basins and noise barriers. Biodiversity is also protected, with the integration of large-fauna passages and the recreation of biological corridors, for example. Entire biotopes can be recreated to enable the conservation of the fragile ecosystems in which motorways are sometimes built.

The Group has made all of its waste-management activities compliant with the regulations, and has initiated an equipment programme designed to ensure that all units make optimal use of existing facilities for sorting and eliminating waste.
The Group also conducts regular maintenance of more than 10,000 hectares of green spaces adjacent to the motorways and of over 10 million trees planted throughout the network. By managing these resources appropriately, the Group helps protect biodiversity.