¹ú²úAV

¹ú²úAV is committed to demonstrating industry leadership through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, which is central to corporate strategy.

The group strives to fulfill commitments in all areas of social and environmental commitment.

To reduce the environmental footprint of its business activities, ¹ú²úAV is carrying out actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from company-controlled resources, as well as all emissions generated in the upstream and downstream value chain.

The first step to reducing the group’s greenhouse gas emissions is conducting a carbon assessment. Carbon accounting quantifies the impact a business has on the environment—both upstream and downstream.

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol is the most widely recognized global standard for measuring emissions. It categorizes emissions into three scopes:

1. emissions resulting directly from the reporting company’s operations
2. emissions resulting indirectly from the purchase and use of energy
3. all other indirect emissions that occur in the company’s value chain

Using the Greenly carbon accounting platform, ¹ú²úAV is in the process of measuring its greenhouse gas emissions. The findings of this carbon assessment will enable ¹ú²úAV to establish a decarbonization action plan by 2024.

Decarbonization is a cycle of continuous process improvement comprising four steps:

#1 Carbon footprint assessment

#2 Identification of greenhouse gas emitters

#3 Implementation of a decarbonization plan with measurable targets

#4 Regular review to check the effectiveness of each measure

Although carbon assessment is an ongoing effort, ¹ú²úAV is already working to reduce the group’s carbon footprint in these areas:

• Reorganizing the group’s supply chain
• Adopting sustainable procurement
• Applying ecodesign principles
• Powering operations sustainably

Because transporting components and assemblies across the world has an impact on the climate, ¹ú²úAV is working to make the group’s supply chain more sustainable.

Currently, the group runs manufacturing operations in Bordeaux-Cestas, France—its original manufacturing facility—and in Tolland, Connecticut, where it has recently taken over management of the Gerber manufacturing facility.

The group now internally manufactures Gerber-brand products that were previously subcontracted to a third party (representing 20% of all equipment sales), with a procurement policy focusing on local suppliers, the vast majority of which are based in North America.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions during shipping, ¹ú²úAV also consolidates customer orders and charts delivery routes with the least environmental impact, opting for maritime transport whenever possible.

LOCAL SOURCING FOR REDUCED IMPACT

Today, 95% of components used by ¹ú²úAV's Bordeaux-Cestas facility come from European suppliers.

REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION

The Bordeaux-Cestas manufacturing facility’s energy improvement plan aims to reduce consumption by 30%.

REDUCED POWER CONSUMPTION

The group’s Tolland facility has revised its utility contract to acquire 25% of electricity from renewable energy sources.

At ¹ú²úAV, working with suppliers that share our convictions is important. The Group's industrial activities depend on an international network of more than 750 industrial suppliers, mainly in the localities of group manufacturing facilities.

Local suppliers are already involved in sourcing decisions whenever possible, in an effort to improve the sustainability of equipment design and assembly. Today, 95% of our components for the Bordeaux-Cestas production facility come from European suppliers.

In 2011, the group set out its own responsible purchasing policy in a charter. In 2021, ¹ú²úAV signed the French National Procurement Council's Charter for responsible supplier relations.

In accordance with these charters, ¹ú²úAV, its suppliers and our suppliers’ suppliers undertake measures to ensure their practices conform to the standards.

Sustainability is integral to the development of ¹ú²úAV products. Each new generation of equipment is designed to deliver improved performance while reducing environmental impact. ¹ú²úAV’s R&D teams strive to improve sustainability by reducing the upstream carbon footprint or optimizing use-phase energy consumption.

To do so, ¹ú²úAV has gradually begun incorporating ecodesign principles into product development.

Ecodesign is a methodical approach to designing products and services that takes into account environmental considerations at the design and development phase, with the aim of reducing negative environmental impact throughout the lifecycle of the product.

The group's buildings account for the majority of its energy consumption, to run heating, air conditioning and lighting. To enable more efficient energy use, ¹ú²úAV is upgrading its industrial complexes, which represent 65% of buildings occupied by the group and 40% of its workforce.

In 2015, an energy improvement plan was devised for the Bordeaux-Cestas manufacturing facility in the aim of reducing energy consumption by 30% by 2030. 

This plan is broken down into several areas of focus:

BUILDING RENOVATION

To bring the entire site into line with the best standards in terms of thermal insulation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and energy-efficient lighting.

CENTRALIZED CONTROL

Via a building management system (BMS) for all heating, ventilation and air-conditioning installations to manage temperatures as accurately as possible.

REVISED REPLACEMENT POLICY

Extension of the useful life of PCs, laptops and screens through a revised replacement policy and awareness-raising campaigns aimed at promoting best practices for users.

Through the years, ¹ú²úAV has implemented a wide range of initiatives to lead the industry on environmental issues, including adoption of an environmental management system, more efficient energy and water consumption, reduction and sorting of waste, and a more environmentally responsible business travel policy.

1. Driving uncompromising ethical standards
2. Designing eco-responsible offers
3. Promoting an inclusive, diverse and vibrant work culture
4. Reducing the ecological footprint of our activities
5. Supporting future generations