Suez Environnement is launching Blue Orange, an investment fund to accompany the commercial and industrial development of fledgling firms developing technologies in the environmental services sector, specifically water and waste management.
Jean-Louis Chaussade, Suez Environnement’s chief executive officer, says: "With this innovation investment fund, Suez Environnement is taking up interests in the capital of start-ups with the ultimate goal of accelerating the concrete implementation of innovative solutions and the release of new offers for all our customers on our markets. Suez Environnement’s history has already been marked by several decisive innovations. By investing in these start-ups, we are going to further strengthen our expertise and develop our competitiveness through new business models driving our growth".
With EUR50m over ten years, Blue Orange is positioning itself as an industrial partner and investor. The teams from Blue Orange have already received or identified several dozen projects for the water and waste sectors, in response to the industrial challenges raised by smart networks or biogas production.
With a contribution of around EUR1m, Blue Orange is able to help fund start-ups from the outset as well as during their development phases as a co-investor.
Blue Orange will be helping fund the project of Sita UK, Suez Environnement’s subsidiary, with its partner Cynar, looking to launch an activity to transform plastic waste into ready-to-use diesel fuel. The first plant for producing this diesel is planned for the end of 2011.
