SOCIETY
At Veolia, we strive to make a positive and lasting impact on society while contributing to a more sustainable future. We actively engage with local communities to foster strong partners and community development in the areas in which we operate.
We actively listen to the concerns and needs of our stakeholders and local communities, incorporating their feedback into decision-making processes and strive to deliver diverse, inclusive, and equal opportunities.
VEOLIA ORCHARD
In 2022, Veolia was proud to launch the Veolia Orchard programme, designed to bring fruit trees to schools in predominantly urban areas. In the first year, we supported 100 primary and secondary schools with 500 trees in total, building a network of orchards across the country.
The initiative brings a multitude of environmental benefits to the local area, including promoting biodiversity, and the role of trees in acting as carbon sinks to mitigate the effects of climate change.
SUSTAINABILITY FUND
The Veolia Sustainability Fund supports grassroots community projects across the UK, providing grants of up to £1,000 to help local projects that protect or preserve the environment or promote sustainable waste behaviours.
In 2022, £82,000 worth of funding supported 96 projects across the country. These include:
GROUNDWORK
We first partnered with Groundwork in 2021, a charity passionate about creating a future where every neighbourhood is vibrant and green, every community is strong and able to shape its own destiny, and no one is held back by their background or circumstances. In 2021 and 2022, Veolia staff fundraised more than £10,000 to support the charity. We have also partnered with Groundwork on a number of ongoing projects, using our resources, time and connections to improve quality of life in communities.
GREEN DOCTORS
Green doctors A scheme in which vulnerable householders are visited and offered energy efficiency advice to help keep their homes safe and warm.
WESTMINSTER WHEELS
A bike shop that serves the local community, and trains previously unemployed residents in bicycle repair. We have also worked with the charity to get bikes to low-income Veolia employees so they can cycle to work.