Sustainability in action: Committee visits Veolia’s Southwark facility

Our Sustainability Committee met at Patron Member and Sustainability Programme Partner Veolia’s Southwark Integrated Waste Management Facility for its November meeting, which included a behind-the-scenes tour of the site.

The visit provided valuable insight into waste sorting, material recovery and recycling operations, as well as some of the practical challenges involved in increasing recycling rates.

Committee members also heard about Veolia’s wider sustainability initiatives, ranging from electric vehicles and solar energy to closed-loop recycling.

The Committee went on to explore the impact of the Budget on London businesses and discuss its priorities for 2027. This included showcasing sustainability best practice, exploring London’s role in driving sustainable growth, and conducting research into the capital’s environmental performance, the challenges facing businesses and future sustainability priorities.

Thank you to Veolia for kindly hosting the Committee and sharing its expertise and insights.

Chaired by Mark Jenkinson, Director and Founder of Crystal Associates, LCCI's Sustainability Committee comprises of members with experience and expertise in a variety of related disciplines. The group supports London’s development as a centre of excellence for environment, sustainability and green growth through both a multi sector and sector specific approach.

Veolia is a world leader in environmental services, with expertise spanning energy, water and waste management. Employing more than 14,000 people in the UK alone and lead the sector with a substantial and transformative influence on the growth of the circular economy. Veolia can support members with:

• Waste audits: The Simpler Recycling policy takes effect on March 31, 2027, and it will mandate that businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees have dry recycling and food waste collection services set up. We can of course advise our fellow members on the most cost-effective way to meet these requirements by analysing the waste they produce and setting them up with the best services, for example dedicated paper/ card or glass collection services. See here the full guide about Simpler Recycling.
• Coordinating site tours of Southwark Recycling Facility or SELCHP Energy From Waste Facility (for larger groups, frequency TBC).
• Social value: support for company CSR events (e.g. similar to the Beach Clean event, but for businesses on dry land throughout the year), community tree planting through the Orchards project, responsible employment projects and working with our charity partners including Shelter. See a full overview of the Social Value activities.