Insee Première · September 2026 · n° 2124

Anti-Pollution Expenditures in Industry in 2024 The Amounts Invested by Industrial Establishments to Reduce Environmental Impact Have Increased by 50% since 2021

In 2024, 54% of industrial establishments with 20 or more employees incurred expenditures to reduce the environmental impact of their activities, amounting to a total of 3.5 billion euros.

Investment accounted for the largest share of these expenditures (3.1 billion euros) and increased by more than 10% for the third consecutive year. Between 2021 and 2024, its value rose by 50%. The rise was particularly marked among establishments in the chemical sector. Other expenditures related to studies in preparation for investments and to regulatory or monitoring studies.

In 2024, renewable energy accounted for a quarter of investment expenditure, following strong growth over the past two years (+43% after +25%). Biomass accounted for half of this investment, while solar energy accounted for a third. Investment in heat pumps accounted for one tenth of the total but doubled within a year. A further quarter of total investment was devoted to energy efficiency.