Reuse of waste and rainwater
Colruyt Group is fully committed to circular water management, both in the stores and at production sites, distribution centres and offices. By collecting rainwater and waste water as much as possible and - if necessary - treating it, we return it to the cycle and can reuse it.
By 2030 we want 50% of the total water consumption of our own activities to come from rainwater (rain, snow, hail, melt water) and waste water. The aim is zero discharge of rainwater into the sewers and less use of 'new' tap water (mains water).
of our total water consumption in 2023 comes from rainwater and waste water
Production sites
Our meat processing activities at the Stroppen site and the Dassenveld distribution centre in Halle together account for about half of our total water consumption. That is why we make maximum use of treated water there.
Since 2001, we have treated the waste water from our industrial activities at Fine Food Meat Stroppen in a biological treatment plant. After treatment, the water has the quality of river water.
Since 2014, a drinking water station has taken things to a higher level: part of the treated waste water is additionally treated into drinking water - under the approving eye of quality controller De Watergroep. This treated water flows directly back to the production site, where it can be used in the production process just like mains water. The reuse means we discharge much less waste water into the sewer and waste water treatment plants can work more efficiently. At the end of 2023, the installation was further adapted to the increasing activity on the site.
recycled waste water
at Fine Food Meat Stroppen in 2023
recycled waste water and rainwater
from the treatment plant in Halle in 2022
Distribution and office spaces
At our Dassenveld distribution centre in Halle, we also collect rainwater in buffers with a total capacity of 9,500 m³. It is treated by, among others, a sand and UV filter and then used for cooling systems and sanitary facilities. At the end of 2021, we also commissioned a new water treatment plant. It treats industrial and sanitary waste water for three sites in Halle: the Dassenveld distribution centre, the Wilgenveld headquarters and the Elbeek site. Together, these sites account for a quarter of our total consumption. The plant can also use the rainwater from Dassenveld to keep the water balance in check. Later, the buildings of the nearby Hellebroek site may also be connected. In addition, we are now also looking at the possibilities of treating the remaining rainwater at store sites.