Universal Registration Document 2020

3.2.4.2.4 Optimisation of paper consumption

Since 2012, EDF has implemented a policy with two types of measures to reduce paper consumption:

• development of e-billing for residential customers, replacing paper bills: this development is boosted by the adoption of the French Pacte law, which allows energy suppliers to offer customers⁽¹⁾ e-billing by default. By the end of 2020, 50% of individual customers in France had chosen electronic invoicing, compared with 34% at the end of 2019 and 30% at the end of 2018;
• setting of an office paper purchasing reduction goal: in four years, EDF’s annual printout volume was halved, falling by 60% from 400 million pages in 2015 to 158 million in 2020.

The profit-sharing agreement signed for 2020 contains a 40% reduction target for paper printing. A number of measures were implemented to encourage staff to reduce paper printing: fewer printers, removal of individual printers, default double-sided printing, generalisation of secure print with password and, finally, on some sites, targeted and encrypted campaigns are carried out. This reduction target follows three years of declining printing (-19% in 2017, -15.4% in 2018, -18% in 2019). In addition, 100% of the paper used is FSC paper (recyclable and carbon neutral) and carries the EU Eco label. Since 2018, the paper used by our approved suppliers in the mass publishing market (invoices and letters to Group customers as well as HR management documents sent to Group employees) is 100% recycled paper. Recycled paper is much more energy and water efficient than non-recycled paper, exceeding the obligation imposed by the Energy Transition Act⁽²⁾ which requires 40% recycled paper to be used as of 1 January 2020.

3.2.4.3 Conventional waste management and recovery

So-called conventional waste includes waste passed on to a certified subsidiary during the year. Waste stored on-site, waste awaiting removal, materials reused on-site (e.g. spoil and rubble⁽³⁾) and equipment that could be reused (sold or gifted)are not taken into account. They do not include radioactive waste. Combustion fly ash and gypsum from the process are reviewed specifically⁽⁴⁾. Construction and decommissioning waste is included in this report, if its management falls under the responsibility of the EDF group.

3.2.4.3.1 Conventional waste

In addition to prevention measures, the Group’s environmental policy aims to improve the recovery of waste that is produced by taking the following steps:

• developing the recycling of parts and materials, particularly in the decommissioning phase;
• the efficient sorting of waste so that it may be sent to energy or materials recovery companies (e.g.: EDF Renewables PV Cycle and First Solar agreements which take panels back at the end of their useful life, rental of IT equipment to DSP⁽⁵⁾);
• developing partnerships with recycling players (RECYLUM for Citelum, Veolia and Suez for conventional waste, Ateliers du Bocage for printer cartridges);
• implementing on-site pre-treatment of various waste items, in order to limit the volume of hazardous waste and promote the recovery of the remaining portion (e.g.: concentration of hydrocarbons).

The EDF sustainable development policy has set an objective to recover all 90%waste for the entire Group by 2021. Year-to-year changes in tonnage are strongly influenced by investments and decommissioning programmes as well as, regarding the hydropower sector, the cleaning work for dams. Waste that is collected in an ultimate waste storage centre consists of waste that does not benefit from recovery processes: sludge from flue gas processing (de-sulphurisation) or effluent processing and containing hazardous substances (the prefectural by-laws for authorisation require burial of this waste), insulation and mineral insulation (no industrial-sector solution available), and mixed waste similar to household waste. Results remain at high levels.

*The methodology associated with this data is explained in section 3.7.2.3 “Further details on environmental, social and societal data from the Statement of non-financial performance".

3.2.4.3.2 Combustion products

Resulting from the combustion of coal to generate electricity, coal ashes have properties that enable them to be used in various applications (in particular cement and concrete). In France, these ashes are classified as non-hazardous non-inert waste. Each year, EDF SA aims to exploit not only the ash produced during the year (a quantity proportional to the electricity generated from coal), but also some of the already existing ash stocks.

In 2018, EDF SA produced 128,000 t and exploited 157,500 t of coal ashes, corresponding to a 123% exploitation rate.

In 2019, the ash exploitation rate was 373%, as coal-fired power generation was historically low (31,500 t of ash produced) while ash exploitation remained at a high level (117,500 t of ash exploited).

In 2020, the health crisis had a severe negative impact on the building and public works sector in which almost all of EDF’s ashes are currently used. In addition, coal-fired power generation remained at the previous year’s level. Under these conditions, EDF SA produced 33,461 t and exploited 36,250 t of coal ash, corresponding to an exploitation rate of 108%.

The Group has also undertaken research into better recovery of ash, sediment and sludge and is an active participant in the work of the non-profit RECORD to develop methods and tools together with other industrial groups⁽⁶⁾. Tests in previous years on hydraulic generation to recover sediment for use as soil resulted in high levels of recovery in 2019. Dalkia Wastenergy is actively participating in the research project TERRACOTA for the recovery of solid recovered fuel (SRF) supported by ADEME.