COP 21, the climate conference held in Paris in 2015, set the goal of limiting global warming to below 2°C. Which, at the moment, is apparently not a foregone conclusion! The fact remains that we need to change our lifestyles as a matter of urgency, and we understand that commitments need to be made everywhere and all the time, in both the personal and professional spheres. With this in mind, professional associations* in the events sector drew up a set of guidelines in 2007, an eco-responsible charterThis was followed by an eco-guide in the form of practical information sheets on how to organise a sustainable event. Since then, other tools have been developed on the same theme, including a dedicated internet portal: www.eco-evenement.org.
Ten years later, today, Dan-Antoine Blanc-Shapira, one of the initiators in 2004 of an eco-event approach within the MICE sector, regrets that lack of enthusiasm from French companies: "Anglo-Saxon companies are more aware of sustainable development than their French counterparts, who find it hard to change their habits. It's more a question of a lack of will than a question of means."says Dan-Antoine Blanc-Shapira, founder of the events agency Sensation!
Carole Gleizer, director of La 4D, an agency with ANAÉ Quality certification, felt the same way: "The phenomenon has dried up over the last two years. Those who continue to integrate this dimension into their events are generally from the institutional world, such as the regions and the State, or are companies that are already sensitive to this cause."This is the case, in particular, for two of its customers: the AG2R La Mondiale mutual insurance company and the Biocoop shop network. "For the first, we organised the "Parcours de la forme", an event that toured several French towns and cities, using spaces made from wooden pallets hired for the occasion. For the second, Biocoop, our sustainable positioning enabled us to win the tender for their 2018 national conference."
The proof is in the pudding".that it's not that difficult to organise an eco-responsible MICE event. All it takes is a bit of work upstream, with the aim of limiting the environmental and social impact as much as possible."says Adeline Labelle, editorial director of the Evènements 3.0 portal and strategy director of Green Evènements, a consultancy specialising in sustainable development strategies for the events sector.
Controlled impact
So banishing the notions of waste and uncontrolled impact on the environment, and becoming aware of the repercussions not only on nature, but also on people and the local economy, are all part of the Group's strategy. the foundations of an eco-responsible MICE operation. For Thibaut Vigin, Customer Manager at Les Echos Solutions (Les Echos group), this attitude is natural and far from a constraint. "CSR (Editor's note: corporate social responsibility) is part of our DNA. We are the organisers of the Handicap, Emploi et Achats Responsables (Disability, Employment and Responsible Purchasing) trade fair, and we are committed to sustainable practices in-house: waste sorting, recycling, use of low-energy LED light bulbs, etc. These small gestures are part of our daily routine and our approach to MICE!".
When it comes to institutions, let's start with the French capital. Committed to a responsible approachThe City of Paris is encouraging event organisers to follow the recommendations set out in its Charter for Eco-responsible Events. Its advice includes giving preference to public transport, using an Autolib or Vélib, using returnable or biodegradable crockery and using facilities that can be deconstructed rather than demolished.
Paris does not, however, have a monopoly on good environmental behaviour, and many other French institutions have long been heavily involved in the field of ecology and sustainable development. This is the case of Nantes, which has been proclaimed European Green Capital 2013 by the European Commission, and in November 2017 became the first French city to be listed in the Global Destination Sustainability Index. Its congress centre Nantes has won a string of certifications and awards since 2003, and was one of 49 French companies selected for a year by Ademe (the French environment and energy management agency) to experiment with ways of reducing energy and materials consumption. Nantes' expertise in sustainable development has even attracted world-class events such as Climate Chance, Assises des déchets, Velo-City and the tenth edition of Ecocity, the world summit on sustainable cities.
In the Aube region of Champagne, the concept of sustainable development is a strategic focus for innovation. The department is a forerunner in the introduction of an environmental labelling scheme for hotels. What's more, its convention centre is the first in France to be ISO 20 121 certified, with a responsible management system for event activities. And it continues to expand its environmental and social policy. In 2017, for example, it embarked on a process of Green PassportThe Slow Tourism Label, awarded by the UN, is designed to guide tourists towards sustainable services and holidays. At the same time, the Convention Bureau inaugurated the Slow Tourisme Lab, the first incubator for innovative sustainable development businesses. "We wanted to preserve the richness of our cultural and natural heritage. This explains the strength of our commitment"says Cécile Lupo, Head of Tourism and Conventions.
For his part, Jean-François Kerroc'h, Director of Destination Rennes, a public company bringing together the tourist office, the convention bureau, the Couvent des Jacobins convention centre and Rennes Métropole's economic development agency, said a different approach to sustainable development. "Our positioning is both a managerial commitment, i.e. a responsible approach internally, to which are added external actions, particularly with regard to welcoming our customers... For us, quality rhymes with eco-responsibility and is part of our CSR strategy."To achieve this, Destination Rennes and all the players in the area have committed to a voluntary ISO 26 000 standardisation process for social responsibility, with environmentally-friendly transport, local and often organic catering, a conference centre in the heart of the city, the possibility of carrying out a carbon audit, etc. These "green" assets have enabled Rennes to win the bid to host the World Organic Agriculture Congress in 2020.
Eco-citizenship model
These numerous regional initiatives, both public and private, are stimulating demand and creating emulators. Bernard Maret, owner of the Inter-Hotel Alteora at the Futuroscope in Poitiers, is keenly aware of the importance of ecology and well-being in the workplace, and has turned his establishment towards sustainable development and CSR. Everything is done to ensure that the hotel is a model of eco-citizenship ! These include waste sorting and recycling, particularly of food products, which are collected by the Nextalim network, insect breeding, menus designed to generate as little waste as possible, light dishes inspired by the cuisine of the French pope of light, chef Michel Guérard, and water management directly inspired by the recommendations of Pierre Rabhi, initiator of the Colibris movement. In addition, customer transfers are systematically carried out in electric vehicles, and a happiness at work index and training plan have been put in place for employees.
These efforts have enabled the hotel to achieve AFAQ 26 000 - Exemplary level - and ISO 14 001 certification, and then to obtain the international Clef Verte label. "As committed environmentalists, we want to raise awareness among all our customers, including companies visiting us for seminars. As a result, nothing is placed on the tables in our meeting rooms. It's up to everyone who comes in to take only what they think they need, paper, pen... and of course no plastic water bottles!"
Other hotels have made eco-responsibility their hobbyhorse. These include the Lucien Barrière group's Les Salines & Spa Resort in Carnac, which has been awarded international Green Globe certification, and the Hilton Paris Opéra, which in 2015 became the first hotel in continental Europe to partner the Clean the World programme. supply hygiene products to the most disadvantaged. "Our used soaps are repackaged for redistribution via various organisations such as Samu Social. This is part of our eco-responsibility policy and our global programme of waste treatment solutions, from soap to mattresses and food."says Andréa Hermann, Development Director. For its corporate clientele, the hotel offers the Meet with purpose package - launched by Hilton worldwide in 2015 - including a meeting, organic menu and one hour of wellness coaching or 15 minutes of digital acupuncture.
Groups can also find this 'relaxing bubble' aspect in the Pierre & Vacances group's five Center Parcs, all of which have ISO 14 001 certification and all of which are located in the heart of nature, in unspoilt sites where you can only get around on foot or by bike. So our team-buildings are resolutely green. "The Domaine Le Bois aux Daims, in the Vienne, has been voted best ecotourism destination 2017 by the international themed entertainment association"says Coralline Bordas, MICE Sales Manager. At this centre, overnight stays are in wooden lodges or perched cabins, with against a backdrop of 240 hectares of woodland inhabited by around sixty species of animal.
Clearly, the range of eco-responsible services on offer is broad enough to meet companies' budgetary constraints. Even so, costs are still a psychological barrier. However, the idea that an event that respects both the environment and people is more expensive than a traditional operation is not necessarily true. At first glance, estimates may seem higher, but the equipment on offer - stands and furniture - can be recycled or reused for other events. Organisers therefore need to take a long-term view of the costs involved.
Recycled decor
Serge Coiffard, set designer, is inspired by the concept of the circular economy, which stipulates that an industry's waste should be recycled as a raw material. "If you design or manufacture for such a short time, why not use recycled and recyclable objects and materials?" In his workshop in Seine-et-Marne, the artist diverts pallets from their original use to create stands, platforms and decorative elements... "I rent them out and take them out of their normal cycle of use for the duration of an ephemeral event, then return them to their original destination."Also a player in the circular economy, the Artstock association is the first European platform dedicated to recycling sets from the performing arts. They collect used costumes and stage elements, which they then put back into the circuit as they are or transformed, giving them a second life at low prices.
Emmanuelle Coratti, CSR Director of the GL Events Group and a member of the sustainable development committee of Unimev (the French events industry association), is reassuring: "We shouldn't think that a 100 % environmental approach is expensive, but rather that it's a commitment to continuous improvement and the gradual integration of new habits: it's a reflection on all the stages in the life cycle of an event."
This policy of change requires internal support and the involvement of everyone. In the specifications, the various stages of the event must be designed to be "eco-responsible". In making their choices, companies can draw on a range of suppliers such as AMAT, which offers a selection of materials and products for the eco-design of stands and events. Encouraging short supply chains and local service providers is a responsible act. The 36 Traiteurs de France throughout France always offer their customers a locavore option. "We have been working for around ten years on sustainable development and the circular economy: sorting waste, combating wasteful consumption with donations to associations that recycle vegetable waste. This involves exchanges with the entire food industry and prescribers, including convention centres."explains Claire Pennarun, Vice-President in charge of Quality and CSR.
Eating locally is not necessarily more expensive than conventional food, and does not always mean eating organic, which is still expensive. What's more, as Emmanuelle Coratti points out, "Customers are looking for local purchases and contact with craftsmen and producers." This direct relationship with the fieldAlternacom, the eco-responsible events agency of the SOS Group, offers it to companies. "We give meaning to an event by taking account of its social and environmental impact throughout the design and implementation process."explains Noémie Dullin, director of this group, which is Europe's leading player in the social economy.
Solidarity actions
One of Alternacom's proposals is to organise solidarity action days where all participants get involved. The idea is to get employees together around a unifying project in partnership with an association or foundation. For example, for BNP Paribas Real Estate, Alternacom organised an afternoon in Paris in June 2017 on the theme of the circular economy with the associations Phénix and Déchets d'Art. In a cooking workshop, employees prepared dishes from collected foodstuffs, which were then distributed to people in difficulty, while another group for their part made sustainable flowers and wooden tables from recycled materials. Another case in point was Alternacom's support for property operator Icade in its Journées d'actions Solidaires (Days of Solidarity Action) in France, with 80 employees volunteering to support six associations (Samu Social, Abbé Rozier educational farm, EHPAD, UNICEF, Banque Alimentaire, Cravate Solidaire).
These actions are often requested by CAC40 companies. "They want something concrete, to be directly involved in a project and to be in touch with people. Once the operation is over, many of them continue to take part in a charitywhether as an individual or through a company"says Noémie Dullin. Still within the SOS group, the Planète Urgence association offers another way of uniting teams around strong values. This can take the form of solidarity leave, sponsorship or participation in the €1 = 1 tree planted operation. In 2016, Connexing, a supplier of telephone equipment, enabled 20,000 trees to be planted through the sale of 20,000 eco-recycled telephones. Used wisely, eco-responsibility can be an excellent lever for communication and a good tool for uniting teams. But it's important not to limit yourself to "green washing", i.e. to simply project an image without any concrete action behind it. If you do, the feedback is immediately negative. Which is not the aim of the game.
*Lévénement, Association des agences de communication événementielle, (formerly Anaé), CSPE (Chambre Syndicale des Prestataires de l'Événement), FFMEE (Fédération Française des Métiers de l'Exposition et de l'Événement), France Congrès (Association des Maires des Villes de Congrès), FSCF (Foires, Salons & Congrès de France), Synpase (Syndicat national des prestataires de l'audiovisuel scénique et événementiel) and Traiteurs de France.
Also in this dossier: Interview Sandra Carretteevent manager and coordinator of the Pioneers Forum at ESCAET
