Blog
|Europe

Regulatory agility isn’t just a compliance issue — it’s about staying competitive

Abigail Johnson
by Abigail Johnson, Corporate Development Director | SUEZ recycling and recovery UK
Why strategic co-design matters in waste management.

For large organisations in the UK, regulatory change isn’t something that looms in the distance, it’s a daily operational reality. It can impact compliance, cost, and reputation overnight. And in a world where sustainability expectations are rising fast, being caught off guard is simply not an option.

At SUEZ, we work closely with our customers and partners to ensure that doesn’t happen. We combine legislative foresight, sector benchmarking with collaborative strategy design, so our customer’s waste and resource management approach is not only compliant, but it’s built to give them a competitive edge and business resilience.

Why regulatory agility is a competitive edge

If you're operating across multiple sites or sectors, you’ll know how complex and fast-moving environmental regulation can be. Our approach goes beyond reactive compliance. We co-design strategies with our partners that are future-proof, data-driven, and aligned with the evolving legislative landscape — helping you stay ahead, not just keep up.

Data-driven risk mitigation

Every engagement starts with mapping your value chain to identify risks — from legislative threats to supply chain vulnerabilities. We then build mitigation strategies tailored to your operational profile, supported by accurate, real-time data. The result is a living strategy that evolves with your market, protecting your operations and strengthening your ESG credentials.

Embedded in the policy landscape

One of the things I’m most proud of at SUEZ is how deeply our leadership team is embedded in the UK’s environmental policy-making ecosystem. In 2025, two of our UK Board members were appointed to government advisory bodies - a reflection of our commitment to shaping the future of sustainability.

This involvement gives our customers early visibility into upcoming regulations, allowing them to prepare ahead of the curve and gain a strategic advantage  

Horizon scanning and strategic workshops

We don’t just help our partners react, we help them plan. Our account teams lead sector-specific horizon-scanning workshops, mapping out the next decade of policy, market, and technology shifts. Using our proprietary industry Databook, we benchmark performance against sector leaders and identify priority actions that deliver measurable impact.

Supporting sustainability performance and certification

For organisations aiming to improve their Ecovadis rating or meet other ESG benchmarks, we offer structured mentoring based on our own Gold-level experience. We help align procurement, operations, and reporting to meet top-tier standards, enhancing both compliance and marketability.

Let’s talk

Regulatory agility isn’t just about staying compliant — it’s about staying competitive. At SUEZ, we believe in building partnerships that turn environmental challenges into strategic opportunities. If you're looking for a waste and resource management partner who can help you navigate complex changes with confidence, we’d love to talk.