Our approach to circular economy is based on responsible waste management.

This approach is based on the following four principles, listed in decreasing order of priority:

• reducing waste at source by designing products and processes that generate as little waste as possible, as well as minimizing the quantity of waste produced by TotalEnergies’ operations;
• reusing products for a similar purpose in order to prevent them from becoming waste;
• recycling residual waste;
• reusing non-recycled products wherever possible. 

In 2017, TotalEnergies set a goal of recovering 50% of its waste by 2020. This target was achieved and then exceeded. 

For example, in 2021, the active sites operated by the company’s subsidiaries generated 500 kt of waste, of which 61% was recovered.

At the beginning of 2022, TotalEnergies therefore strengthened its target by increasing it to 70% recovery by 2030.

This new target will require the development of partnerships to create new recycling routes, particularly in regions where it is currently difficult to recover waste (Africa, etc.).