Viviez

Viviez – Example of multistakeholder collaboration

Viviez, a town with a rich industrial heritage, is a good example of a collaborative multistakeholder project that addresses the legacy of contamination from historical refining activities.

From 1855 until 1987, Umicore’s predecessor companies operated a zinc smelter and refinery in Viviez. This facility was a cornerstone of the local economy and was key for the zinc industry. After ceasing these activities, Umicore addressed the environmental impacts of its historical operations with a large-scale remediation program that ran from 2011 until the end of 2016 to restore the local environment.

Viviez’s industrial legacy is valued and actively managed. The mayor’s proactive approach led to the launch of a voluntary multi-stakeholder remediation program in 2017 to address soil contamination in the private gardens around the Viviez site. 

The program partnered organizations such as Inéris (the National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks), BRGM (the French Geological Survey), the French government, DREAL (the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning, and Housing), and Umicore. A dedicated expert panel defined the appropriate measures.

As part this program, Umicore excavated contaminated soil and replaced it with clean soil. The project was completed in October 2024. Today, a pedagogical trail, funded by Umicore, explains and highlights the town’s industrial history as a way to promote tourism.

This model serves as a promising example emphasizing the importance of working together to tackle shared challenges and responsibilities of a long mining legacy.