Solvay and Veolia Achieve 94% Water Reuse at Santo André Plant, Advancing Industrial Water Circularity in Brazil

Solvay and Veolia Achieve 94% Water Reuse at Santo André Plant, Advancing Industrial Water Circularity in Brazil

(IN BRIEF) Solvay (Rhodia) and Veolia have achieved a 94% water reuse rate at Solvay’s Santo André plant in Brazil, saving the equivalent of 133 Olympic swimming pools of fresh water each year. Using Veolia’s ZeeWeed™ MBR membrane technology, the companies transformed the existing wastewater facility into a closed-loop recycling system, significantly reducing freshwater use in a drought-prone region. The project, operating under a 10-year contract, reflects years of strategic investment and aligns with Solvay’s commitment to sustainable water management. Executives from both companies highlighted the collaboration as a benchmark for circular economy practices and ecological transformation in industry. The historic Santo André plant, a century-old hub for innovation, continues to lead with sustainable polymer production, including Emana®, Amni®, and Rhodianyl®.

(PRESS RELEASE) BRUSSELS, 10-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Solvay, operating as Rhodia in Brazil, together with Veolia, has achieved a major breakthrough in industrial water sustainability. The Santo André plant in São Paulo state now reuses 94% of all the water it consumes, saving the equivalent of 133 Olympic-sized swimming pools of fresh water every year. This milestone strengthens the plant’s resilience in a region frequently affected by droughts and positions it as a model for near-complete water independence.

The project represents the culmination of several years of strategic investments and continuous optimization in Solvay’s operations. Through a long-term partnership, Veolia applied its advanced water treatment expertise to upgrade the plant’s existing wastewater facilities. Rather than constructing new infrastructure, Veolia enhanced the system by integrating its ZeeWeed™ MBR membrane technology, which transforms wastewater into high-quality, reusable water. This closed-loop design continuously recycles water for Solvay’s industrial processes, dramatically reducing freshwater withdrawal.

The initiative has been in full operation for over a year under a 10-year collaboration agreement between Solvay and Veolia. It exemplifies how industrial sites can secure operational continuity while advancing sustainability and efficiency.

“The significant improvement in water recovery now allows us to use it reliably across more applications,” said Ronia Oisiovici, Rhodia’s Sustainability & R&I Manager. “This represents a fundamental shift toward circularity and aligns perfectly with Solvay’s global commitment to reduce freshwater consumption in water-stressed regions.”

Mauro Cruz, Executive Vice President and Head of Veolia’s Water Technologies activities in Latin America, added: “This project embodies the strength of Veolia’s GreenUp strategy—integrating high-performance engineering and sustainable operations. By placing ecology at the core of industrial processes, we prove that performance and sustainability are mutually reinforcing goals.”

The Santo André facility has been a cornerstone of Solvay’s textile innovation in Brazil since 1929. Originally pioneering “artificial silk” and synthetic fibers, it now produces advanced sustainable polymers such as Emana®, Amni®, and Rhodianyl®, which play a key role in the global textile and engineering plastics sectors.

Through this landmark achievement, Solvay and Veolia demonstrate how industrial partnerships can drive ecological transformation and create practical pathways toward water security and circular economy practices in manufacturing.

Media contacts:

Solvay

Peter Boelaert
External Communication Director
+32 479 30 91 59

Laetitia Van Minnenbruggen
Media Relations Manager
+32 484 65 30 47

Veolia

Manon Painchaud
Global Media Relations
Water Tech
Tel.+1 418 573 2735

Diego Fuentes
Head of Marketing & Communications
Water Tech LATAM
Tel.+55 (11) 971 36 57 52

About Solvay

Solvay, a pioneering chemical company with a legacy rooted in founder Ernest Solvay’s pivotal innovations in the soda ash process, is dedicated to delivering essential solutions globally through its workforce of over 9,000 employees. Since 1863, Solvay harnesses the power of chemistry to create innovative, sustainable solutions that answer the world’s most essential needs such as purifying the air we breathe and the water we drink, preserving our food supplies, protecting our health and well-being, creating eco-friendly clothing, making the tires of our cars more sustainable and cleaning and protecting our homes. Solvay’s unwavering commitment drives the transition to a carbon-neutral future by 2050, underscoring its dedication to sustainability and a fair and just transition. As a world-leading company with €4.7 billion in net sales in 2024, Solvay is listed on Euronext Brussels and Paris (SOLB). For more information about Solvay, please visit solvay.com or follow Solvay on LinkedIn.

About Veolia

Veolia group aims to become the benchmark company for ecological transformation. Present on five continents with 215,000 employees, the Group designs and deploys useful, practical solutions for the management of water, waste and energy that are contributing to a radical turnaround of the current situation. Through its three complementary activities, Veolia helps to develop access to resources, to preserve available resources and to renew them. In 2024, the Veolia group provided 111 million inhabitants with drinking water and 98 million with sanitation, produced 42 million megawatt hours of energy and treated 65 million tonnes of waste. Veolia Environment (Paris Euronext: VIE) achieved consolidated revenue of 44.7 billion euros in 2024. www.veolia.com

As the world leader in water technologies and services, Veolia relies on its 17,500 water technology experts to deliver innovative solutions that drive both performance and sustainability, without compromise. With over 4,400 technology patents and serving more than 14,000 customers worldwide, Veolia’s water technology activities generated 4.97 billion euros in revenue in 2024. These solutions are central to Veolia’s GreenUp strategic plan, accelerating the ecological transformation of cities and industries while safeguarding resources for the future. www.watertechnologies.com

SOURCE: Solvay