Colas installs permeable and eco-designed Purple Pav slabs on the McPhy Gigafactory site in Belfort

Permeable, eco-designed and produced in France with 100% French plastic waste, these tiles aim to limit the waterproofing of soils and make it possible to recycle plastic waste normally incinerated or buried. A project that is part of Colas' decarbonization trajectory and illustrates its commitment to developing sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions.

A project with a strong environmental dimension

McPhy has entrusted the GSE Group with the design and construction of its new factory of more than 22.000 m2 in Belfort. Keen to reduce its environmental impact, the group - which aims to obtain HQE Sustainable Building certification at Excellent level - paid particular attention to the choice of materials used as part of this project. As such, McPhy selected Purple Pav® slabs for the construction of its car park over an area of ​​almost 500 m2.

For Marie SONNTAG, Director of the McPhy factory: “Choosing the Purple Pav® solution from Purple Alternative Surface symbolizes the requirements of McPhy and the industry in terms of social responsibility. By selecting materials with a low carbon impact, we help to limit the artificialization of land and we participate on a larger scale in the green network of the ZAC. It was also important to us to work with local stakeholders to carry out this major project. Purple Alternative Surface was able to meet our expectations in every way with its innovative technology and we are proud to enable a local startup to continue its development. »

The Colas company, responsible for installing Purple Pav® tiles in the factory parking lot, has been working with Purple Alternative Surface for several months and recently signed a partnership with the start-up.

For Jacky DUCHANOIS, Head of the Colas Franche-Comté Nord establishment: “Our common ambition is to promote innovation and environmental preservation in surface development linked to the construction of infrastructure of all kinds. Designed from recycled plastic waste, Purple Pav® tiles are an asset for meeting the challenges we face on a daily basis. Their permeable surfaces facilitate the infiltration of rainwater into the ground and avoid the risk of runoff. Thanks to their interlocking system, they are also very easy and quick to install, without mechanical means, which allows our teams to gain comfort and efficiency. »

1 parking space = 1 ton of CO2 saved

Purple Pav® tiles are a grass paver paving solution for parking areas. They allow rainwater to infiltrate deep into groundwater and reduce the urban heat island effect. Made from non-recycled French plastic and composite waste, Purple Pav tiles are part of a circular economy approach and contribute to decarbonization, since each parking space saves a ton of CO2.

Finally, to deal with possible pollution due to runoff, a geotextile is installed under the slab and filters micropollutants.

For Pierre QUINONERO, CEO and co-founder of Purple Alternative Surface: “As a Belfort company, we are very proud to have been selected as part of this major project and to make our contribution. This project is part of the same environmental logic as ours, and it is particularly important to us to contribute to the decarbonization of our country. We are convinced that our innovative Purple solutions, specially designed for parking areas, are an excellent alternative to traditional coatings. »

The Colas group has set ambitious objectives, compatible with the Paris Agreement and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): reduce its direct greenhouse gas emissions by 30% and its emissions by 30%. indirect upstream by 2030.