Veolia focused on five strongest water industry demands to fuel growth

Veolia has experienced growth at a rate three times faster than the market by focusing on the most 'needed' technologies as the strong demand for innovation and solutions in the water technology sector continues.

Water tech market continues to grow

Veolia estimates that the market is worth around €220 billion and growing steadily by two to three per cent every year. The company believes the growth is being fuelled by micro-trends water scarcity, adaptation to climate change, health concerns, and the development of strategic industries such as semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and data centres.

Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia, addressing a conference, said: "It is crucial to meet the growing demand in key water technology sectors to strengthen the competitiveness of territories and industries and to meet the challenges of sustainable resource management."

Key sector demands fuelling growth

Veolia has been prioritising what it calls its five most 'promising offers' in response to a surge in demand in the sector. These are:

• Treatment of micropollutants in water (such as PFAS, endocrine disruptors, or pesticide residues and microplastics, etc)
• Advanced biological treatment, reuse of wastewater, and production of bioenergy from sludge
• Recovery of strategic metals and salts
• Ultrapure water for the pharmaceutical and microelectronics industries
• Sustainable desalination models to optimize energy efficiency and performance.

Brachlianoff added: "Thanks to our global technological leadership and the combination of innovations and know-how from all our businesses, we have a unique ability to develop tailor-made offers at the best price for communities and strategic industries such as microelectronics or pharmaceuticals, and to grow two to three times faster than the market."

Impressive figures reflect a strong water tech market

Reflecting the increasing awareness of the need for better water strategies, including reuse and conservation, among national governments, corporations and organisations of all sizes, Veolia's latest figures are impressive:

• Annual revenue growth of +6 to +10 per cent
• Average annual EBITDA growth of around +10 per cent
• Water technologies revenue growth of +50 per cent.

Water at the core of Veolia's GreenUp strategy

Water is a key driver in the company's GreenUp 2024-2027 strategy, which targets decarbonization, depollution, and resource regeneration through three growth boosters, including water technologies and new solutions. In total, Veolia is committed to spending €2 billion in targeted 'booster' investments in new technologies that also include local energy and bioenergies and hazardous waste treatment.