Vittel is cited by experts as the reference

The reports of the companies listed on sustainable development are vocal on global climate, but very discreet warming on biodiversity. The is a complex, less publicized and much more difficult to measurable than the greenhouse gas emissions. Tax incentives, no economy the key also is not.

Yet some companies seized the problem. Two associations (edge and the Foundation for biodiversity research) have invited 21 players to express their actions in this area. The exercise resulted in a report and a symposium that helped draw the two portraits-robots of these commitments. "At present, only the big groups, the most visible to the eyes of the public, or those in direct link with the living world have become aware of their connection with biodiversity. "The most active are those which have developed biodiversity at the core of their strategy," explains Joel Houdet, author of the report.

Question of strategy

Cosmetics sector is positioned in leading-edge movement, to open markets and green its image. If the Weleda Switzerland is the reference with 100 of culture biological home, found in Yves Rocher or Alban Muller for example of large-scale actions. The latter picks France 60 of 100 botanical species he uses in his preparations. The industrial uses mainly cultures and he relocated sandalwood or rose wood when he takes them in nature. Several producers promote plant solvents (beet, oilseed rape) oil extracts. In the same vein, the designer of gardens filter Phytorestore doped the biodiversity of a site when it installs its sewage treatment based on a mosaic of plants. These wetlands provide habitat interesting wildlife.

Water-related businesses also seized the interest to preserve the environments of uptake. Vittel is cited by experts as the reference. The industrialist has acquired 300 hectares of its watershed, where it pays farmers to practise reasoned cultures. This policy foreshadows the monetization of services rendered by nature, a concept which took momentum in 2005, when the international initiative Millenium Ecosystem Assesment. Veolia claims a similar approach in the field capturing of Crémieux-Charmy.

Constraint question

The report distinguishes a second category of actors, who came to the protection of biodiversity more compelled by strategy. The more businesses operating intensive "land". The law on the protection of ecosystems leads them to limit the damage they cause on a landscape, a protected species, a unique biotope. This is the case of producers of aggregates, which derive their career materials, river beds, or coastal Fund. Planners of major infrastructure (road, rail, etc.) have the same problems. Nicolas Vuillier, Director GSM environment (cement group Italcementi), explains that the carriers are now seeking the sites where their impact will be the lowest. "We are making studies of impact since 1979, we know measure if a site is rich in biodiversity or not. We have also shown that our careers, by opening a medium or by creating a wetland, can increase the biodiversity of a site. "GSM advance the case of the site of Cayeux-sur-Mer, on the Picardy coast, home to the rich avifauna of Bay of Somme. Remains that these advances have not yet convinced environmentalists who are fighting to prevent the exploitation of the Gironde estuary. Certain exceptions, for Jean Boutin, President of the Conservatory of Provence ecosystem studies, business and the ecologists fail however to speak the same language: "They do not understand the concept of rare species, for example." Further, we should speak of natural heritage and biodiversity. The defence of the cultural heritage is passed in morals. Do you know a developer who would shave a Romanesque chapel "questioning Jean Boutin.