Sustainability

Environment

Interventions on environmental externalities

1. Promotion of energy efficiency

Implementation of measures for lighting flows regulation according to the infrastructure needs and the complementary use of LED technology (Ascendi is a pioneer in Portugal on installing LED technology in motorway Interchanges);

2. Monitoring and minimizing environmental impact

• Monitoring of infrastructures under construction or built
• Conduct environmental impact studies (EIS) in all built infrastructures

Climate Resilience Plan

In collaboration with the Institute for Environment and Development of the University of Aveiro, Ascendi developed the Climate Resilience Plan (CRP), designed to anticipate the impacts of climate change on our road infrastructures by identifying risks and proposing adaptive solutions.

The CRP highlights the main climate challenges affecting road concessions:

• Heavy precipitation and flooding
• High winds
• Rising temperatures and heatwaves
• Wildfires

To address these risks, Ascendi has defined nine priority adaptation and mitigation measures aimed at enhancing infrastructure resilience and sustainability.
Discover Ascendi’s strategy for responding to climate risks, available here:

Ascendi’s Climate Resilience Plan (PDF · 6.4 MB) (opens in a new window)

With the implementation of the CRP, Ascendi strengthens its position as a benchmark in the sustainable management of mobility infrastructures, taking an active role in promoting climate resilience and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Resource consumption and waste management

Waste is managed in compliance with the national legislation in force and based on the assumption that all waste is sent for recovery, thus reducing the negative impact it may have on the environment. In 2025, Ascendi produced 772 tonnes of waste, of which 93% was non-hazardous and 89% was recovered.

Waste management by subcontractors is important to Ascendi, which is why it invests in awareness-raising and training as a means of ensuring that the procedures adopted are in line with its standards. Subcontractors generated a total of 120 597 tonnes of waste in 2025, of which almost 100% was non-hazardous and almost 100% was recovered.

Waste Recovery

Ascendi’s objective is to increase the reuse of waste that can be recovered within its infrastructures, by incorporating milled waste in the new bituminous mixes to be applied in future repaving, thus promoting the circularity of the materials.

Water Resources

Ascendi, as a company committed to sustainability, recognizes the importance of efficient water resource management. Given that water is a precious and increasingly scarce resource, we carry out our activities with a focus on promoting the rational and sustainable use of this essential resource while addressing the risks related to its scarcity. In 2025, the total water consumption amounted to 13,464.94 m³. Specifically, water consumption at Ascendi’s headquarters reached 3,406.09 m³ during that year, with 1,046 m³ coming from rainwater harvesting.

Other initiatives:

• Monitoring of sensitive areas;
• Installation of tailing ponds, with macrophyte beds, constituting a “naturalised” system that is very efficient in capturing pollutants transported in dissolved state or in fine particles, which is a pioneering system in Portugal;
• Installation of water flow controllers and aerators in the taps of Ascendi facilities;
• Reuse of rainwater and grey water for non-potable purposes;
• Provision of a vehicle cleaning protocol without using water;
• Promotion of dry cleaning of buildings;
• Optimization of irrigation of green spaces to the strictly necessary, using humidity sensors.

Noise Pollution

In infrastructure management, noise is a very sensitive environmental issue, which is why regular monitoring is carried out at locations considered sensitive recipients, those that are the subject of complaints and, every five years, those proposed in the general monitoring plans.
Based on the monitoring results, whenever technically feasible and with the approval of the owners, acoustic barriers are implemented to minimize or eliminate noise.
In 2025, 7 fewer noise-related complaints were received than in the previous year.

Acoustic Barriers - 106,4 KM in 2025

Other initiatives:

• Noise monitoring in sensitive areas;
• Use of permeable sound-absorbing paving wherever feasible;
• Installation of Noise Barriers.

Biodiversity Conservation

To work on its commitment to Biodiversity, Ascendi has in place the Biodiversity Action Plan (PAB) based on basic principles of monitoring, analysis, communication, reporting and action in conservation. This plan maps biological constraints, mitigates the main impacts of the operation, promotes ecological restoration, compensates with a series of offsets and, in a Nature Positive approach, develops additional conservation actions.

It consists of three pillars:

• 1st Pillar - Information Collection, Systematic Monitoring;
• 2º Pilar - Communication, Collaboration and Awareness;
• Implementation of “naturalized” wildlife corridors to decrease the barrier effect of the infrastructures;
• 3º Pilar - Biodiversity Conservation: implementation of corrective actions, to preserve biodiversity and ecosystems (Mitigating Vehicle Collisions with Animals; Reduce fragmentation, Ecological Restoration; and Control of invasive species, Forest management).

Other initiatives:

• Ascendi renewed its commitment to the Act4nature Portugal;
• Support the MIDAS Association;
• Sustainable walk with Verde Organisation;
• Birdwatching tours on the Costa de Prata;
• “Biodiversity on the Road” Program - 4th season;
• Our Biodiversity Challenge - Biodiversity Education Initiative.

3. INTEGRATION of the roads in the landscape

Development of Landscape Integration Projects for areas surrounding road infrastructures.

Selection of native species so that the infrastructures can be quickly and harmoniously integrated into their surroundings.

Planting of tree curtains that serve as a protective visual barrier for the houses nearest the motorways.

Strategic Energy Plan

Following the geopolitical crisis currently being faced in Europe, with serious consequences for the energy sector and the possibility of eventual future disruptions, always bearing in mind the guarantee of security of energy supply, Resolution No. 82/2022 was adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Portuguese Government, whereby various quantitative guidelines are defined for reducing energy consumption, water efficiency, and mobility. These measures complement others already adopted in public policy instruments, such as the National Energy and Climate Plan (PNEC 2030) and the Long Term Strategy for Building Renovation (ELPRE).

Emission management

CO2 emissions in 2025 were of 930 420 tCO2e (located-based) and 929 986 tCO2e.

Of the total emissions, 0.3% were of scope 1, 0.1% were of scope 2 and 99,6% of scope 3.

Energy consumption

Ascendi’s energy consumption in 2025 was 19 353 MWh (a decrease of 3% on the previous year), with 43% coming from renewable sources.

Percentage of electricity from renewable sources

Biodiversity

Biodiversity on the road

Life on earth depends on the ecological balance that results from the relationships between all living organisms.
Biodiversity is essential for the health and well-being of the planet.

Biodiversity at Ascendi

At Ascendi we want to turn our infrastructures into opportunities, while preserving the balance of nature.
In five episodes, presented by Pedro Moreira, Ascendi’s biologist, and his guests, we address the importance of biodiversity in promoting the defence and preservation of the richness and variety of the natural world, and demonstrate how small gestures can be decisive in protecting it.

This initiative is part of Ascendi’s commitment to the sustainable use of resources, the ecological transition and the protection and enhancement of biodiversity throughout its network.
Join us! We’ll give you tips for protecting biodiversity.
Biodiversity matters to all of us.

Nature will thank you!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR BIODIVERSITY POLICY (PDF · 99 kB) (opens in a new window)

Social

Social Responsibility

Ascendi’s activity is guided by a socially responsible model, interactive with the surroundings, namely seeking to improve the well-being of communities close to its areas of influence and of its employees, the development of scientific and technical knowledge in its area of activity and the promotion of universally recognized values in developed societies.

Among the current assumed initiatives we highlight:

• Social Support
  - Direct and regular support to local charities and promote volunteer and fund-raising projects together with the Ascendi employees.
  - Establishment of protocols with third-parties which benefit employees, and campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles and disease prevention, blood donation campaigns, etc.
• Promotion of Technical and Scientific Knowledge
  Partnerships with Universities and other Higher Education Institutions for the development of I&D projects that are relevant in Ascendi’s area of activity, for the development of curricular and vocational internship programs and scholarships
• Promotion of Cultural Development
  - Financial support to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Porto (Fundação de Serralves) and funding of archaeological activities, as part of our construction activity
• Promotion of Social Integration
  Participation in the activities of the Committee on Equal Opportunities, the Forum for Gender Equality and promotion of labour integration of disabled workers;
• Sustainability Promotion - TreeTop Walk
  For the 4th consecutive year, Ascendi supported the foundation of Serralves, as a Patron of the Park, contributing to its conservation, including the TreeTopWalk, and to the promotion of sustainability within the scope of the initiatives developed there. This patronage is an example of Ascendi´s true concern for the promotion of an ethical and responsible relationship with the environment, culture, biodiversity and sustainable social practices.

Human Resources

Ascendi believes people are its biggest asset.
That is why its human resources policy is focused on the personal and professional development of our staff through a continued investment in coherent vocational training programs, in promoting safety at work and in the development of social activities

Each employees’ commitment is crucial for the whole organization.

Ascendi strives to clarify and align expectations so that everyone may feel involved and with a sense of belonging.

Among the developed activities we highlight:

• Annual Training Plans, oriented to the individual and/or collective development of professional and personal skills;
• Proactive promotion of Safety in the Workplace;
• Promotion of a healthy lifestyle and isease prevention;
• Sporting and cultural team activities, as a means of fostering internal cohesion.