What if innovation didn't have to be about sending rockets into space?

When we think about innovation, we often think about technology, applications, and aerospace. However, there are plenty of changes unfolding right at the heart of everyday usage. The climate crisis, changing behaviors, and increasing urbanization mean we need to reinvent our approach to infrastructure, cities, and transport.

Against this backdrop, innovation in the field – from construction to mobility to urban planning – is playing a key role. It enables us to build more sustainably, protect resources, and better meet the needs of communities and users.

Why do we innovate?

We need to innovate because the world around us is changing and our customers expect sustainable and high-performance solutions. Climate change is pushing sectors like ours to rethink their approaches. It's no longer just about building, but building in a more useful, agile, and sustainable way.

This is what guides us when we develop solutions like Easycold HP, a cold mix incorporating high levels of recycled materials, which reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 50% on average. A direct response to our customers' needs to lower their projects’ environmental footprints without modifying their worksite organization.

We also have StreetADAPT, our tailor-made approach to make towns and cities more resilient. To meet the specific needs of each community, the approach combines targeted solutions, dedicated expertise, and adapted products. By searching for solutions, Colas seeks to guarantee long-term performance. 

All these solutions have one thing in common: they are designed to address real needs, with a consistent focus on effectiveness, sustainability, and measurable outcomes.

How do we innovate? 

In a world on the move, innovation can no longer be centralized.  It must be connected to the field, as close as possible to local needs. It advances thanks to a culture of curiosity, sharing, and action. And that's where the best ideas are born! 

This culture of progress is brought to life every year through a competition that highlights the ideas put forward by Group employees. In 2025, over 400 initiatives were shared, all originating in the field. Five projects were selected by a jury of experts and employees. What they all have in common is they respond to a concrete need identified in the field.

Among the projects selected, several address cross-sectoral issues, such as the S.A.V.E. system, which analyzes the trajectory of motorists approaching a jobsite and triggers an alert if there is a risk of collision, or the Hit-Not sensor, used in the United States to detect the presence of pedestrians around construction equipment.

Innovation without borders

Innovation at Colas knows no borders. On every continent, we develop local solutions that meet global needs.

In Canada, a hydraulic system makes it possible to install traffic barrels without getting out of the vehicle. This means faster, safer worksites, with fewer risks for crews.

In the United States, smart cameras installed in asphalt plants detect loading errors before they become incidents. The result: fewer losses, greater reliability, and better cost control.

In France, Vegeroad combines recycled aggregates and plant-based binder, offering a concrete alternative to traditional asphalt mixes. A solution designed to reduce the carbon impact of roadworks, without compromising on performance.

Each of these ideas was born because someone said: “What if we did things differently?”

And what about tomorrow?

Tomorrow, we'll continue to innovate with the same energy. Without rockets or satellites, but with concrete solutions designed to last. Innovation doesn't have to shoot for the stars to have an impact. Sometimes, it simply transforms what's right beneath our feet.

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