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D'ores Ile-de-France as a whole and the Val d'Oise in particular already benefit from a number of important assets for the development of ecoindustries:
the historical origin of a large number of environmental technologies, designed and developed in the region;
a closely-knit fabric of innovative SMEs working in specific technological niches;
major private and public-sector R&D centres;
the presence of multinationals in leading
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positions in traditional environmental sectors;
a broad variety of consulting,
engineering and service professionals. The Val d'Oise is home to some 300 companies involved in environmental technology, spread across a number of fields. Every aspect of eco-activity (waste, water, air, noise, soil and energy) is represented in the Val d'Oise to differing degrees. In terms of the number of companies, waste tops the list, accounting for 48% of all companies, followed by water (29%) and just 4% relating to noise. 40%
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are commercial in nature, 35% are industrial, while the remaining 25% are service-based. One of the historic flagship companies is Véolia Environnement, which set up its training centre here in 1994: every year, it welcomes 14,000 interns (6,500 on its Campus) and over 10,000 other visitors
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SOME OF THE TOP COMPANIES IN THE VAL D'OISE
AACTIBIO (Treatment products and biological filters) - Montmagny
ASHLAND France (Water treatment) - Bezons
CANADA CLIM (Low-energy heating and air conditioning solution) - L'isle Adam
CGECP (Waste sorting, incineration and composting) - Saint-Ouen-L'aumone
FASEO (Renewab le energies) - Argenteuil
HYTEC INDUSTRIE (Construction of liquid industrial effluent treatment plants) - Saint-Ouen-L'aumone
IDEX ÉNERGIES (Climate control) - L'isle Adam
SIDAC (Waste processing equipment) - Ennery
SILEX INTERNATIONAL (Manufacture and marketing of hydrometric, groundwat er depollution and pumping equipment) - Ennery
ULTRAFILTER (Air handling equipment) - Vigny
VÉOLIA PROPRETÉ IDF (Industrial waste reception for sorting and recycling) - Goussainville
WATERLEAU France (Air depollution) - Cergy
COVED (Waste collection and processing) - Argenteuil
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ECO-INDUSTRIES AND ECO-ACTIVITIES: A QUICK GUIDE
The OECD definition of eco-industry refers to "activities which produce goods and services to measure, prevent, limit, minimize or correct environmental damage to water, air and soil, as well as problems related to waste, noise and eco-systems." These eco-activities may be exercised by public administrations such as municipalities, local area authorities or private companies: the latter are known as "eco-businesses". Eco-businesses in France are enjoying rapid growth: overall, they grow faster in economic terms than the national average, successfully export their products and expertise and have a highly promising outlook. The growing awareness of the fragility of our mode of development is inciting governments to adopt increasingly stringent environmental policies; in turn, these generate new markets for ecobusinesses. What is more, the OECD/Eurostat definition specifies that eco-activities include "technologies, products and services that reduce environmental risk and minimise pollution and resources..." The definition excludes the manufacture of products and equipment which are "clean" or "lean" (in terms of energy or raw materials). However, any clearly identifiable research/ development and engineering activity prior to the marketing of such "cleaner" or "lowenergy- use" products has been classified as an eco-activity. The field of eco-activities also includes all companies whose activity is related indirectly to the first type of company: industrial products designed solely for environmental use and construction activities requiring
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specific technical expertise. Unlike 'curative' activities (such as end-ofprocess collection and treatment of polluting effluents, waste disposal, subsequent depollution of contaminated sites and soils and so on) which currently make up the majority of eco-industrial activities, 'preventive' activities are aimed at introducing changes to the design and operation of production systems and urban districts.
THE ECO-INDUSTRY NETWORK
Launched in September 2004, the Yvelines / Val d'Oise eco-industry network is the fruit of an initiative by the Versailles Val d'Oise / Yvelines Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Composed of companies which are leaders in their respective fields, its purpose is to bring together key expertise and skills relating to the environment in the following fields:
- waste collection, processing and recycling
- production of industrial water and treatment of waste water,
- treatment of gas emissions,
- reduction of noise and vibrations from equipment, etc.,
- soil depollution and site restoration,
- equipment for the production of renewable energies,
- emissions analysis and measurement,
- consultancy and design relating to the environment and sustainable development; High Environmental Quality (HQE) construction. The aim of this network is to enhance members' individual and collective competitiveness by promoting dialogue between local stakeholders.
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