A N N U A L R E P O R T - Bouygues

COLAS
Prosign, a new Colas
subsidiary, the
substitution champion
Prosign, which makes and applies
road markings, joined the Colas
group in 2005 with a solid reputation
for environmental achievements.
The winner of many
prizes and other awards, it has
developed:
- coloured products without lead
derivatives,
- methacrylic cold plastics with
low emissions of volatile organic
compounds (VOC),
- solvent-based paints with a high
percentage of solids and no toluene
(30% less solvent),
- water-based products (< 5%
VOC) without glycol ethers.
Vegecol overlay used at Luxembourg Gardens, Paris
consistent with expectations, or even
better in some cases. The products in
the 3E range are therefore ready for
full-scale launch in early 2006.
Substitution and ecological design
REACH (Registration, Evaluation and
Authorisation of Chemicals), the
new European chemicals regulatory
framework, will come into effect in
2006. Some measures have already
been anticipated: research has long
focused on the reduction or elimination
of toxic or harmful substances
in products. The regulation will thus
have little impact on Colas products,
though it will imply even greater vigilance
in all forms of purchasing.
In order to reduce dependence on
oil, considerable efforts are being
devoted to making products from
renewable raw materials, like Vegecol,
a plant-based binder. This know-how
will be used to test other plant-based
components or substitutes for bitumen
products in 2006, probably for
launch in 2007, even if oil and petrochemical
products will continue to
predominate.
There is strong demand for the
Vegecol binder, which has won an
International Road Federation prize:
it was used on over 60 sites in 2005
(compared with four in 2004) and 600
tonnes of the binder were applied
(under 60 in 2004). Vegecol, a genuine
substitute for bitumen, is made
from natural materials (plant oils and
resins) and is an organic product that
does not contain any harmful or toxic
compounds. Translucent and colourable,
it has another environmental
advantage: a 30% reduction in temperatures
used and hence a reduction
in energy consumption and greenhouse
gas emissions. Substitution
also applies to products used in the
manufacturing process. Thus, antiadhesives
for spreading equipment
are increasingly being replaced by
rapeseed oil, workshop solvents are
being replaced by washing products
or bacterial solutions, and less use is
being made of chlorinated solvents in
laboratories (consumption has been
cut from 5,000 litres a year to less
than 100 litres a year in Denmark, for
example).
Noise
Colas has invested heavily over the
last fifteen years in the development
of products that reduce rolling noise
(the nuisance most often mentioned
by local residents) by several decibels.
Noise is a genuine issue in our
society.
Ten years after Colsoft, Rugosoft was
awarded the European Golden Decibel
prize in 2005 and a further prize
at the International Road Federation
Congress in Bangkok. The overlay
combines very high safety levels with
considerable noise absorption (7 to
8 dB).
■ Recycling
Recycling is another fundamental priority
for action and research. The
company engages in four types of
recycling:
• The incorporation of waste materials,
or raw and “secondary” materials,
to give roadways new properties:
it is a win-win situation for both the
producer of waste or coproducts and
the user. Colas has extensive experience
in this field, in particular with
Colsoft, a noise-reducing mix that
incorporates powdered rubber from
used tyres, Scintiflex, a reflective surfacing
incorporating glass waste, and
the Fractal anti-noise wall containing
wood waste. Compogom, developed in
2005, is used to make sub-bases from
ground automobile tyres.
• The recycling of roadbuilding and
construction waste. Colas makes
extensive use of recycled roadbuild-
Environment-friendly paint used for road marking
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