Il parcourt la France pour rencontrer ceux qui agissent face aux enjeux climatiques

Mamad, founder of Impact Story, has spent three years promoting positive ecology. This year marks the fifth anniversary of the COC Vert community, a group of companies committed to ecological and energy transition, created by BPI France with ADEM's support. Mamad embarked on a Tour de France to meet these entrepreneurs and understand how they are transforming their business models. The journey began in Paris with FAGUO, a textile brand recognized for its low carbon footprint. Nicolas Rohr, co-founder of FAGUO, explained that for 16 years, he has been driven by the conviction that sustainable and responsible fashion is possible. The company aims to create collections that minimize environmental impact by significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Rohr identified high CO2 emissions during product manufacturing and use as a problem, prompting FAGUO to meticulously analyze and redesign products. Their "Dialogue" collection seeks to connect urban life with a desire for nature, reflected in their forest logo. Scanning this logo on each item reveals the product's carbon footprint and details about their initiatives, such as planted trees. FAGUO even offers a unique experience: sleeping in a "FAGUO Foresta House," a glass tipi in Normandy, surrounded by FAGUO trees. Customers receive two trees and a shovel upon arrival, encouraged to plant them as a ritual. FAGUO products, like their brushed cotton items, often incorporate a large proportion of recycled materials without compromising aesthetic appeal or comfort. The goal is to create desirable products that are also responsible. FAGUO integrates carbon footprint measurement into its core foundations, being the first fashion brand to conduct a provisional carbon assessment. This allowed them to reduce CO2 emissions by 25% for their first sneaker even before manufacturing, by optimizing glue, recycled materials, and shoe weight. Today, FAGUO has planted nearly 4 million trees across over 500 forests in France to offset remaining CO2 emissions. The tour then moved south by train and electric car to Grenoble, shifting from textiles to industrial furnaces, with the shared mission of decarbonization. Mamad met Laurent and Arthur Pédicier, who lead ECM Technologie, a company specializing in decarbonizing heavy industry. ECM Technologie manufactures industrial equipment for sectors like energy, semiconductors, and mobility. Their main Grenoble site employs 450 people, with about 60 in the factory. Manufacturing an industrial furnace, used to produce metal parts found in cars, planes, medical tools, and nuclear industry, takes 6 to 9 months, with a full year for a production-ready furnace. Each furnace can feature a unique, hand-painted "Super Dup" design, a nod to French pride. Five years ago, ECM Technologie made the risky decision to stop producing gas-fired furnaces, which temporarily reduced their revenue, and instead focused entirely on electric furnaces. This pioneering move has become a key selling point, as clients increasingly prioritize decarbonizing their processes and meeting consumer demand for eco-friendly production. Laurent Pédicier anticipated the eventual ban on gas furnaces. Their electric equipment reduces carbon footprints by 80-90% compared to traditional furnaces. This eco-responsibility has contributed significantly to their double-digit growth in recent years. While 95% of their production occurs in France, 80% is exported globally, from the US to Japan, a source of pride for the company. As a family business, ECM Technologie operates with a medium-to-long-term vision, drawing parallels with rugby values like responsibility and being an example in their territory, fostering a strong collective spirit. Next, the journey headed to Marseille, specifically the Parc des Aiguilles, to visit Barjane, a company that develops industrial and logistics buildings. Julie Barlatier Prioré, co-founder and co-director of Barjane, explained that they are a mission-driven, B Corp-certified company. They develop business parks, industrial and logistics buildings, manage their creations, and produce solar energy on parking lots and rooftops. An example is the large Decathlon logistics platform, built and managed by Barjane, which stores, delivers, repairs, and tests products, utilizing advanced robotics. Barjane distinguishes itself by integrating biodiversity from the project's conception. They realized their significant impact on the territory and biodiversity, leading them to collaborate with ecologists from the outset to protect, preserve, and recreate biodiversity on their sites. For instance, the Parc des Aiguilles, once an industrial wasteland, was depolluted and replanted with local species to bring back biodiversity. Since its creation, Barjane has supported over 4,000 jobs, fostering long-term economic development integrated with community, client, employee, and local resident needs. They have planted over 93,000 trees and shrubs and aim to offset all impermeable land with agricultural, forest, or natural land, managing 3.6 million square meters of such land. Barjane acts as an orchestrator, collaborating with various stakeholders to design, develop, and manage projects. Their strength lies in their team of committed individuals dedicated to continuous improvement. The final leg of the tour led east to meet Caroline Semin, who directs the family-owned Semin Group, a construction materials company focused on decarbonization and eco-design. Semin is a French industrial company specializing in building materials. They produce glues and coatings, as well as accessories for plasterboard, including bands, metal frames, and bio-sourced and eco-sourced insulation. Their main raw materials are plaster from the Parisian basin and calcium carbonate (marble powder) from southern France. Transforming this industrial family business involved combining heritage and innovation. They launched a new range of natural coatings made with over 99% natural raw materials, replacing synthetic resins derived from petroleum with plant-based ingredients like potato, wheat, corn, and clay. The recipe, passed down through generations, is a closely guarded secret. The building industry is a significant polluter, contributing 27% of France's CO2 emissions and 45% of its energy consumption. Semin Group's efforts to decarbonize this industry are impactful. Focusing on the energy renovation of thermal sieves (F or G classified housing) by 2032 could reduce the country's energy consumption by 10%, a colossal impact. Mamad concluded his road trip, expressing gratitude to all the entrepreneurs who welcomed him and are making maximum impact in their respective sectors.