History

1853

Founding of the Compagnie Générale des Eaux
The Compagnie Générale des Eaux (CGE) was established by imperial decree on December 14, 1853.
Its founders had two objectives: to irrigate the countryside and supply towns with water. CGE was awarded its first public service concession for water distribution in Lyon. Seven years later, the city of Paris awarded the Company a 50-year concession for water distribution.

1867

Founding of the Grandjouan and Soulier companies
In Nantes, François Grandjouan won a contract to “rid the streets of sewage and waste and convert the latter to manure.”
During the same period (1870), the Soulier brothers went into business as master rag-pickers in Rouen and Chauny. The two companies joined CGE in 1980 and 1990, respectively.

1875

Founding of the Compagnie Générale Française de Tramways
Birth of the Compagnie Générale Française de Tramways (CGFT). The city model designed by Haussman revolutionized urban transportation and prompted the growth of a new means of locomotion: tramways (horse-drawn at the time), which were more convenient than the omnibus for getting around.
CGFT operated its first tramway (light rail) lines in Le Havre, Nancy and Marseille. The company became part of CGE in 1980.

1912

Founding of the Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Automobiles
Charles Blum founded the Compagnie Générale d'Entreprises Automobiles (CGEA), for the purpose of buying, selling, maintaining and operating a fleet of industrial vehicles fitted with the automotive front-end invented by Georges Latil.
In 1919, CGEA entered the Parisian household waste collection market. The company became part of CGE in 1980.

1935

Founding of the Chauffage Service company
Léon Dewailly established Chauffage Service, a company specializing in the operation of heating and climate-control installations.
In 1960, Chauffage Service merged with Compagnie Générale de Chauffe (CGC), which had been founded in 1944 and acquired by CGE in 1967.

1958

Heralding the multi-service contract
CGC was awarded virtually all the contracts for upkeep and maintenance of American military bases in France (within the framework of NATO).
The contracts covered various maintenance activities in addition to the heating services. This experience paved the way for the multi-service facilities management contracts proposed today by Veolia Energy.

1967

Pioneer incineration plants
The company began operating the first waste incinerators.

1975

Founding of SARP Industries
In 1975, CGE set up SARP Industries, a specialist in hazardous waste recycling. SARP Industries quickly emerged as Europe’s leading center for the treatment of toxic liquid wastes.

1980

Merging
CGE merged all of its entities specializing in the design, engineering and construction of water and wastewater treatment installations into the single company, Omnium de Traitement et de Valorisation (OTV). CGE acquired control of CGEA (later to become Connex and Onyx) and then of the Compagnie Générale de Chauffe (subsequently renamed Dalkia). These moves brought together the four businesses of Veolia Environnement.

1986

First waste drop-off centers
Groupe Montenay, founded in 1860, became part of the Compagnie Générale de Chauffe.
1986 saw the establishment of the first waste drop-off centers.
The Onyx trade name was born in 1989.

1999

Creation of Vivendi Environnement
Establishment of Vivendi Environnement encompassing the full range of environmental service activities: Vivendi Water, Onyx (environmental services), Dalkia (energy) and Connex (transport).

2000

A listing on the Paris Bourse
Vivendi Environnement obtained a listing on the Paris Bourse on July 20, 2000 with Vivendi Universal retaining a stake of over 70%. This was followed by a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in October 2001.
A partnership agreement covering energy services was signed between Veolia Environnement and French electric utility EDF.

2002/2003

Veolia Environnement
Vivendi Environnement effectively became an independent company as Vivendi Universal gradually divested to reduce its control to 20.4% by December 2002.
In 2003, the company changed its name to Veolia Environnement.

2005

A single name: Veolia
The Company’s four divisions–water, environmental services, energy and transport–were rebranded under the single name of Veolia.
Accompanied by a new logo, this rollout illustrates the Company’s determination to establish a consistent identity across its various divisions and heighten its visibility.