Deep Thinking | Why Does Suez Remain Committed to the Chinese Market?

Reform is undertaken precisely to continuously enhance competitiveness. Many people hold the stereotypical view that foreign technologies are high-quality but expensive. Suez Environmental Technologies, to a certain extent, has broken this stereotype. A perfect example is its winning of the world’s largest sludge incineration project in 2023. Through internal reforms initiated earlier—including the establishment of a dedicated Sludge Business Unit—the company significantly streamlined internal processes and implemented multiple cost-reduction measures, thereby strengthening its external competitiveness. Reportedly, Suez submitted the lowest bid among all tendering parties—further dispelling outsiders’ long-held stereotypes about the company. With the continuous advancement of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Suez’s China team has collaborated with Chinese state-owned enterprises and central SOEs to construct numerous overseas water treatment projects. As the core provider of water treatment processes, Suez China has achieved ‘reverse internationalization’: it exports French-headquartered technologies—adapted through localized design and procurement—to overseas projects, preserving technological advantages while reducing costs. Among foreign-invested water companies operating in China, Suez China is likely the only one achieving this. Suez China has successfully deployed its technologies in water treatment projects across multiple countries—including Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Cameroon—and many more lie ahead. 05｜R&D | Scenario-Based Innovation In the author’s view, beyond its well-known book, what truly distinguishes Suez from other foreign water companies operating in China may be its localized R&D capability. Rather than merely adopting a ‘take-and-use’ approach, the Suez China team has built localized R&D capacity and systems aligned with China’s stage of development and customers’ practical needs—thereby enhancing its adaptability and integration within the Chinese market. (Suez Beijing Process Laboratory) Technologies developed by Suez Environmental Technologies include: ・Denifor V: A patented deep nitrogen-removal V-type filter, developed ten years ago by Suez China (Suez Environmental Technologies) to meet China’s growing demand for advanced nitrogen removal during wastewater treatment upgrades; now deployed in dozens of projects. ・Oxyblue: An ozone–biological filtration hybrid process developed to address China’s high demand for refractory COD removal; widely applied in industrial wastewater, industrial park effluent, and municipal wastewater tertiary treatment. ・DensaCarb: A high-density sedimentation process integrating activated carbon adsorption—effective for both phosphorus removal and COD adsorption. ・DensaCarb URC: A high-speed, activated coke-adsorption-enhanced high-density sedimentation process. ・DensaTwins: A high-density sedimentation process specifically engineered for deep fluoride removal—developed in response to China’s stringent fluoride-removal requirements. ・CarbMediazur: A granular activated carbon–sand filtration technology for advanced drinking water treatment. Zhang Jun, President of Suez Environmental Technologies, champions scenario-based innovation—starting from real-world customer needs and delivering customized technical solutions through R&D-driven innovation. Through such scenario-based innovation, Suez has secured numerous key project wins.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are a large class of synthetic chemicals comprising thousands of individual substances, each containing at least one fully fluorinated methyl (CF₃–) or methylene (–CF₂–) carbon atom (with no H, Cl, Br, or I atoms attached). Among them, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are representative examples of carboxylic-acid- and sulfonic-acid-type PFAS, respectively. PFAS are a group of non-natural, human-made organic compounds composed primarily of carbon and fluorine atoms. They possess both hydrophilic functional groups and hydrophobic alkyl side chains, as well as exceptional flame resistance, thermal stability, and chemical persistence—making them widely used across industries, including textiles, surfactants, food packaging, non-stick coatings, and firefighting foams. However, due to their extraordinary thermal and chemical stability, PFAS persist indefinitely in the environment and are virtually non-biodegradable.

Syensqo Completes Fluorosurfactant Phase Out

just now

Syensqo SA has ended production of the last fluorosurfactant, C604, at its Italian site ahead of its 2026 commitment. The company cites new non-fluorosurfactant polymerization technologies that maintain performance while reducing environmental impact across most product lines.

chemweek

2026-10-28

Syensqo Completes Fluorosurfactant Phase Out

Syensqo Completes Fluorosurfactant Phase Out

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