In more than 20 countries, VINCI Concessions teams celebrate VINCI Environment Day
On 22 September, in more than 20 countries, VINCI Concessions employees gathered for the third VINCI Environment Day. This mobilization demonstrates the extent of the importance of the subject for our teams. And therefore, of course, to our stakeholders – in particular our customers, users and residents of the infrastructure we operate.
Because it is through action that we will move forward, our Environment Day symbolises the dynamic in which our group has been involved for several years now.
This year, in more than twenty countries, we have shared, evaluated and promoted dozens of initiatives deployed in the field and coming from the field. Some are relatively simple, such as the introduction of a fleet of bicycles to get around our sites, or the sale of bulk drinks to limit plastic waste. Others are more complex and technical to implement but have a greater impact, such as optimising taxiing and parking of aircraft, or intelligent lighting of motorways. But each of the actions taken is important. All of them need to be tested, and deployed if they contribute even a little to reducing our environmental impact.
Taken together, they are already making a difference with, since 2018, direct CO2 emissions reduced by almost 30% across our network, and a reduction in our consumption of plant protection products of 80%. These results put us on an ambitious and credible path to meet our objectives: zero phytosanitary products in 2025; zero waste to landfill in 2030; and zero net carbon emissions (scope 1&2) in 2050 and as early as 2030 for our airports in the European Union (or even as early as 2024 for Toulon-Hyères, for example).
To achieve this, in all our businesses and in all our regions, our teams are working to test, optimise and deploy concrete, sustainable solutions on a large scale. Improving energy efficiency, building photovoltaic farms, especially in countries where electricity is highly carbon intensive, electrifying our vehicle fleets, promoting biofuels and investing massively in hydrogen, these solutions reduce not only the impact of our business but also that of our stakeholders and the regions. Yes, we are mobilising and taking action on so-called scope 3 emissions. The modulation of our airport charges according to the CO2 emissions of aircraft is one example among others.
Because, as Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Airports, regularly reminds us, there will be no ecological transition if it means abandoning mobility. Mobility is the essential foundation of the economy of advanced countries - and a sine qua non for the development of emerging countries and their legitimate aspirations to improve their standard of living.
