ESG initiatives

The GreenTech+ division puts its ESG initiatives into practice at the Hyvolution trade show

ESG is a central theme of our activities and of our company. The Hyvolution trade show limits its environmental  impact  by  implementing  dedicated action plans with  concrete results.

We set out to reduce our carbon footprint, limit the use of expendables to maximize our circular economy, and to develop diversity and the local benefit from our events. Here are the ESG actions implemented : 

RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATION

  • Printing of all communications documents (brochures, flyers, maps, programmes, invitation cards, press documents, etc.) on recycled paper
  • Paperless communication tools wherever possible, like visitor badges, replaced by a QR code; like the trade show’s floor plan and programme (printed versions are not abandoned but we print a lot fewer and incite people to use the app.)
  • Collection of the roll-ups by Ecopack Solutions, and re-use of these roll-ups to create Boomerang packaging.
  • Use of recyclable materials for the small signs at the exhibition
  • GreenTech+ lanyards made of RPET (100% recycled polyester)

ECO-DESIGN

  • Integration of recyclable or reusable materials (wood, card, etc.) in the design of stands and communal areas
  • Reuse and rental of furniture for the event : roughly 90% of the furniture is reused in the scope of our other events
  • Use of recyclable carpet in the exhibition aisles and reusable carpet tiles in certain areas of the exhibition,  
  • Discontinuation of aisle carpets

ESG INITIATIVES PARIS EXPO PORTE DE VERSAILLES

Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is one of the city’s iconic event venues. It is fully integrated into the Viparis business tourism consortium and thus endorses a progressive CSR policy.

“Making better events means:

  • Providing outstanding, innovative venues for present and future events
  • Privileging value creation with our local ecosystems, clients, and partners

Their corporate social responsibility initiative has come a long way since its 2018 version and now revolves around three key features based on sustainable development objectives: Better for the Environment, Better Heritage, and Better @Heart.

As event venue operators, they have a concrete as well as a cultural heritage to protect. Day after day, one event is taking shape while another winds down. They want to do more than just provide venues: they want to allow visitors to dream, to offer them service, to involve their partners, to respect nature and its resources, and to mobilize their staff. To do so, they implement concrete actions to address all the different environmental, social, and societal issues.

In order to deploy these actions and the whole of their sustainable development (SD) strategy at individual venue level, in 2016 they set up a community of SD ambassadors. They occupy various jobs in the company and are chosen for their keenness to spread knowledge of their sustainable development commitments. Their involvement and application are guarantors of adherence to their strategy.

 

Decreasing waste and wastage

     

    Within Viparis they optimize the progressive deployment of waste sorting. They offer this service to their clients to enable them to anchor their events in innovative, responsible venues.

     

    In 2022, in collaboration with a cleaning & waste management contractor, a new waste sorting centre was introduced at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles to tackle their clients’ new issues and requirements. 

    They move forward with partners who are committed like them and they set themselves the challenge of finding solutions for decreasing waste production.

    A licensed operator at the venue carries out charity actions with unsold food when the occasion arises. A value recovery solution involving anaerobic digestion of the licensee’s residual bio-waste has been implemented in collaboration with an actor of the Social and Solidarity Economy.

    Vegetable waste produced at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is composted on site.

     

    Greensourcing their electricity and diminishing their carbon footprint

    At 9 of their 12 venues, including Porte de Versailles, 100% of the electricity is green-source certified (Origine Verte). That means CO2 emissions due to their electricity consumption are only 1/5 to 1/7 of those from the usual French electrical mix. Since 2023, Origine Verte certificates have concerned producers who are 100% French.

    To reinforce their energy frugality, they combat wasteful consumption by the use of automated protocols and they commit funds to energy renovation, notably lamp upgrades, regular after-hours patrols, no HVAC during set-up and dismantling phases, free cooling, thermal comfort meetings for understanding of temperature setpoints, etc. Since 2022, their pavilions 2 and 3 have a boiler running on 100% RME (emitting 60% less CO2 than diesel oil).

    Viparis technical teams can provide clients with assistance and expertise in the implementation of energy frugality plans.

    The construction or renovation of their buildings adheres to an environmental certification policy. Thus pavilion 6 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles is HQE certified and pavilion 7 is BREEAM Bespoke certified (internationally recognized accreditations).

     

    Their actions for preserving and economizing water

    • Their toilet facilities are fitted with water-saving tap aerators.

    • A rainwater recovery tank is installed at Porte de Versailles pavilion 6.

     

    Responsible purchasing

    Responsible Purchasing is an integral part of their Better Events 2030 policy:

    • they run external CSR appraisal campaigns on their service providers
    • in contracts with their referenced caterers, they include a duty of continual improvement toward an organic offering, featuring logistical short circuits and close attention to the use of eco-designed containers. Their caterers are all ISO 20121 certified.
    • they also favour partners who are committed to a social and societal approach by including worker insertion clauses in their contracts. All their contracts and tender operations include CSR clauses and appendices.

     

    Management of green assets

    Viparis practises differential management: each item in their assets is subject to specific treatment across the 300,000 square metres of green space at their venues.

    Their green assets are managed in compliance with their Viparis Biodiversity Charter, which implements a no-chemicals policy. Introduction of open land: in the scope of Porte de Versailles projects, special attention is paid to the integration of open land and the development of planted areas—biodiversity charter process, preference for climate-suitable species.

    Also on the biodiversity front, they have installed beehives and bird houses at some of their sites, Paris Expo Porte de Versailles has 3 bird houses, 2 bat boxes, and 2 beehives on the roof of pavilion 6.

     

    Disabled access:

    • 67 disability-friendly parking spaces
    • Venue accessible at ground level for the pavilions
    • Virtual visits are available on the Viparis website to anticipate circulation at the event
    • Lifts and disabled toilet facilities in all the pavilions
    • Hosting staff trained in the reception of disabled people as well as in fire safety and assistance

     

    Their commitment

    Viparis participates in new initiatives with new objectives and commits to various environmental ambitions. They are currently signatories of the following:

    The Diversity charter (2009): this charter of commitment focuses on a volunteer approach to actions in favour of diversity in a company.

    The Paris Action Climate charter (2015): as an actor in the city of Paris, Viparis commits alongside the city to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and evolving toward sustainability.

    The Women in the Property Sector charter (2021): advances equal treatment, notably in the property sector.

    The Zero-carbon Events agreement (2021): stakeholders in the events world join forces to achieve zero net carbon emissions by 2050. An action plan is at the drafting stage.

    The Paris Climate & Biodiversity Action Pact (2022): better promoting the regional anchoring of economic actors by committing to local actions in relation with the ecological transition (acting for the climate and biodiversity).

     

    Sources : https://www.viparis.com/en/about-us/csr-commitments