l'enjeu majeur De l'événementiel - GL events

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22.Cover story in perfect correlation with the idea behind the Lab: we are committed to real research into new solutions…” In retrospect, the Lab’GL events has been well-received. People from outside the group have appreciated the fact that an event organisation professional communicates on this, a subject that is now a priority for everyone – citizens, consumers, public collectivities and businesses. Internally, this initiative has, amongst other things, played a part in creating a sustainable development mission (see the following text). Since the Pollutec trade show, the Lab’GL events has continued to progress. Last March, for example, it was present at the INDUSTRIE trade show at Eurexpo. Interview with Henri de Rohan-Chabot and Emmanuelle Coratti 2006: 4th national meeting on sustainable development. The first approach for the eco-design for a stand for GL events. now, particularly in terms of the environment: eco-design approach for our services, ecoorganisation of events, optimisation test operations for transport, waste recycling on our sites, and so on. We have identified a wealth of experiences that seem to us interesting and that today need to be duplicated, increased and structured. This is the aim of our mission. And the timing is perfect: it is something our clients are asking for, and the legislation will impose these types of approach more and more. In addition, GL events occupies a special place in the event organisation sector. As an integrated player on the market, we are responsible for acting on the entire life cycle of an event. This is a heavy responsibility, but also a wonderful opportunity. Pedagogy A laboratory designed to find new solutions Since 2008, GL events has launched its “Lab”. This pedagogical and fun area is a place in which it is possible to become familiar with the company’s creations in the field of eco-design. > December 2008: Reed Expositions France, organiser of the Pollutec trade show, made available to GL events an area in which to inventory the company’s relationship with eco-design. The result of this invitation was the creation of Lab’GL events: an innovative, 100% sustainable development stand. “The Lab was an obvious choice of name for us because it expresses the idea that, in this field, we really are constantly conducting research. It reflects our global approach. In addition to the concept of research, this name also expresses the idea of a multifunction team,” explains Catherine Machado, a temporary venues designer at GL events. Using key words such as dematerialisation, selection, modularity or optimisation, GL events thus set up, in the context of the Buy & Care trade show, this pedagogical and fun area measuring 60 m² to explain the principles of eco-design in the event organisation field. In other words, how to work on the life span of a product before, during and after an event. Imagined as a laboratory of ideas and trends, this area reviewed all the questions that need to be asked and the choices that need to be made in terms of venue, materials, service providers, lighting, transport, recycling, waste and so on. All whilst continuing to fight against multiple preconceived ideas, stresses Catherine Machado: “Something that has been eco-designed is not necessarily or solely green in colour. There is a wide range of materials which, at first sight, are not ecodesign-compatible but which are so fully in terms of their manufacturing criteria.” This is only the beginning Although with this Lab GL events put into context its various creations in terms of eco-design, the aim was nevertheless to do so with realism. “We are not high performance in every domain, but we really are trying to improve. Recognising our limitations and the challenges we must face is The GL events sustainable development mission “We have the opportunity to act at every stage in the life cycle of an event” For GL events, sustainable development is a concept of primary importance. For many years, reconciling the temporary nature of events with the requirements of environmental, social and societal responsibility has been at the very heart of the group’s concerns. In 2009, GL events went further still along this avenue, creating a Sustainable development mission, coordinated by Henri de Rohan-Chabot and Emmanuelle Coratti. > How does the GL events group approach the question of sustainable development? Emmanuelle Coratti & Henri de Rohan-Chabot – There have been a wide range of initiatives in practice within the group for several years What are the priorities around which GL events intends to develop its SER actions? EC & HRC – Our SER approach covers three fields of action. At the environmental level, our aim is to integrate environmental concerns into all our professions so as to anticipate changes in regulations, satisfy the expectations of the market and strengthen our position as a reference player. At the social level, our aim is to guarantee the integrity of the people who work in and for the company, encourage the professional development of our employees and develop within the group a responsible and united community spirit. Finally, at the societal level, for us, it is important that we play a part in dynamising, promoting and enhancing the life of the places in which we work, in close links with the local collectivities and proximity key players, both in France and abroad. These three fields of action are in the process of being transposed into a plan of action, for all our professions. As an example, we are going to be starting up several long-term projects: training in ecoevents, recycling the most “sensitive” products, optimising our transport options and eco-driving, waste management, energy optimisation of our event venues, reflections on how to integrate handicapped people, and much more. How is this mission organised within the group and with the other parties involved? EC & HRC – The logic behind sustainable development is by its very nature the logic of networks and collaboration. It requires adherence to the values of the project, sharing and exchanging experiences, a strong desire, and the involvement of the various teams. We are setting up a network of highly motivated correspondents in the various professions and entities within the group. We also hope to associate our clients and suppliers in our approach. And, of course, it is important that we work with our competitors on this subject which goes way beyond the logic of competition. In this way, we will be actively participating in the work of our professional sector. GL events magazine - Octobre/October 2009
Cover story.23 Patronage Charles Hedrich: An adventurer supported by GL events As part of the company’s patronage operations, GL events is providing support for the sportsman and adventurer, Charles Hedrich, in his latest challenge. Charles Hedrich hails from Lyon and has set himself the challenge of going around the world, via the North and South Poles, using only renewable energy sources.. > Hedrich is a fan of unusual sports events and has just done a world’s first: since 6 June, he and his colleague, Arnaud Tortel, have become the first men to ever travel from the North Pole to Greenland using only pulkas and kayaks. The original plan for this 51-year-old Lyonnais, father of three boys and a former officer in the Merchant Navy, was to travel from the North Pole to the South Pole using only renewable energy sources such as wind, water and solar energy. He set out from the North Pole in early April and planned to reach the South Pole in early January 2010. “This has never been done before, it will be a world’s first,” he says. But the weather conditions made it impossible for him to cross Greenland. “Global warming is such that we came across an open ice floe, as far as the eye could see. This was totally unexpected, including for the ice specialists who were monitoring our progress…”, says Charles Hedrich. With his iron will, this highly unusual sportsman decided that he would not let this stop him. He will take up his expedition again in April 2010, starting from where he stopped last time and still without using the slightest amount of fossil fuel. “Doing this trip in two stages is, of course, less exhilarating for me, but I’m trying to look at it as just a stopover…”. This is a man who is used to seeing challenges through to their conclusion. Since devoting himself to extreme sports in 2002 following the sale of the company that he succeeded in floating on the stock market in 1997, he has been incredibly active. After the Paris-Dakar motorcycle race in 2003 (6 th place in the 400 m 3 category), he sailed solo around the world, with no stop-overs and no assistance, in 2005. Then, on 17 May 2006, he climbed Mount Everest and its 8,848 metres using the Tibetan route. More recently, in January 2007, Charles Hedrich beat the world record for rowing across the Atlantic, in 36 days and 6 hours, before doing a 550 km solo autonomous hike, at the end of 2008, in Antarctica. With the support of his various partners, including GL events, who were one of the first and who have invited him to share his experiences at the renewable energy sources trade show, Charles Hedrich shows no sign of stopping now. For further information: www.charleshedrich.com. Interview with Nicole Notat CEO of Vigeo “Sustainable development is not synonymous with restrictions, but rather with opportunities” Nicole Notat is the former secretary general of one of France’s most important trade unions, the CFDT. Today, she is the CEO of Vigeo, a corporate responsibility rating agency, which audits the largest French and European companies in terms of their Social and Environmental Responsibility (SER). This privileged observation point provides her with a unique overview of the sustainable development situation in France. Interview. > When and how did the world of business really encounter the question of sustainable development? Nicole Notat – For me, the trigger was in 2002, in Johannesburg, during the World Summit on Sustainable Development. At this summit, the environment, social inequality and economic development were all at the forefront of public opinion. And it was at the same event that Kofi Annan, the then Secretary General of the United Nations, started to put pressure on businesses and that businesses started to feel concerned about such matters. Especially those that are most exposed, who understood that if the question of sustainable development was ignored, they were the ones who would be shot down by public opinion or the media. Out of conviction, or out of necessity, the world of business thus started to move. It was all the more inclined to do so as regulatory pressure gained momentum at the start of the 2000s, for example with the “loi NRE” (new economic regulations law), which has obliged all companies listed on the Stock Exchange to publish information concerning their SER policy. You just mentioned “SER”. What exactly do these three letters stand for? NN – In the face of the challenge that sustainable development represents for the planet and our future generations, it is now necessary to invent and build a new economy and a new type of growth. Collectivities, companies, citizens, consumers, everyone is involved and every individual should commit to the concept. For companies, this commitment takes the concrete form of what is known as Social and Environmental Responsibility (SER). At Vigeo, we still insist on the fact that companies must not consider this process as a restriction, but rather as an opportunity. Similarly, we also insist on the fact that SER should not be seen as a “good deed”, but instead as a boost for global performance. Do you feel that progress is being made in this respect? NN – Absolutely! In the early 2000s, a company’s approach to SER was often limited to nothing more than a “Values charter”. With the company’s values thus displayed in black and white, everyone assumed that the corresponding actions would follow. Of course, we all know that things do not happen as easily as that. Since then, a new level has been attained by many companies, who have integrated sustainable development into the very heart of their strategy, their production processes and their organisation. The fact that the employees themselves have also adhered to the importance of sustainable development has also played a part in this evolution. To conclude, what message would you like to send to company directors who have a vague desire to commit themselves to an SER approach? NN – To start with, and at the risk of repeating myself, all company directors should bear in mind that committing to this approach will provide opportunities in terms of development, performance, reputation or attractiveness with regard to the various publics concerned. That said, they should also be aware that sustainable development is not a magic potion. In other words, things will not all come together harmoniously overnight. There will necessarily be trade-offs to make, certain types of rigidity to overcome, projects that will need to be staggered over time, and so on. Finally, although the directors’ commitment is decisive for the success of the approach, implementing real “SER management”, which can, in particular, involve the creation of specially designated missions, and appropriating teams (at all levels of the hierarchy) are also essential conditions for success. Respect the Earth Charles Hedrich aims to be honest in his approach. He is, above all, an extreme sportsman. For him, environmental concerns come in second place. But rowing across the Atlantic in 2008 was a sort of trigger: “When you see all the plastic bags in the sea, when you realise that there are less and less fish, you have to have some kind of reaction. I want to keep on doing my own thing and not become over-zealous, but, through my sporting activities, I have the opportunity to raise people’s awareness of what is really happening to our planet today.” With his association, “Respectons la Terre”, Charles Hedrich has thus decided to use adventure sports as a means of approaching issues of a more general nature, such as the use of natural or renewable energy sources, preserving plant and animal biodiversity, and so on. For further information: www.respectonslaterre.org Octobre/October 2009 - GL events magazine
Page 1 and 2: N°5 Octobre/October 2009 imagine i
Page 3 and 4: Editor ial Editorial .3 ALLER PLUS
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Page 13 and 14: Dossier.13 Développement durable :
Page 15 and 16: ecyclage Avec des idées, tout est
Page 17 and 18: entretien avec Henri de RohAn-Chabo
Page 19 and 20: entretien avec Nicole NoTAT Dossier
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