2 questions to … Laurent Germain, Chief executive of EGIS
Construction21 Communication
As the leader in engineering, project structuring, as well as in building and infrastructure exploitation, EGIS has been engaged for many years already in low carbon transition. This year, EGIS reasserts once again its engagement to low carbon by becoming a sponsor of the Green Solutions Awards. This competition rewards innovative and sustainable buildings, infrastructures, and districts. This is our interview with Laurent Germain, Chief executive of EGIS.
What are EGIS’ ambitions for sustainable development?
Laurent Germain: Sustainable development is at the very center of EGIS mission. Our activity is based on consulting, engineering, and infrastructure exploitation. We mainly work in the sectors of mobility, urban planning, waste management, and in the environmental sector. We have a direct impact on the environment through the offers and services that we develop.
This is why we have set ourselves very strong goals in sustainable development. We truly want to take part in our society’s decarbonization. EGIS has joined the United Nations Global Compact in 2011. It is our way to support human rights, labour laws, the environment, and to fight against corruption. We also signed the Syntec-Engineering Convention for Climate. Fighting climate change is a key element of our Horizon 2026 development plan: « Impact the Future ».
We have identified three levers of action that we can use to strengthen low carbon transition:
- Decreasing our own carbon footprint, as a company. Between 2016 and 2019, we managed to reduce our carbon emissions by 25%. We worked on our data storing system, on our vehicles but also on our plane trips.
- Helping our clients to reduce their emissions, by giving them low carbon and responsible offers and services.
- Developing our offers and services in carbon sequestration, reuse, and biodiversity. For instance, we have launched the start-up Cycle Up, along with the company Icade, specialised in re-employment of products and construction materials. We also created two start-ups to restore the environment in seas and lands: Seaboost and Landboost.
It is the first time that EGIS supports the Green Solutions Awards. Why did you make this decision?
Laurent Germain: An event as the Green Solutions Awards is an efficient way to promote buildings innovation and to contribute to a more sustainable world. By supporting the GSA, EGIS wants to encourage innovation. We are already very committed to this path. Every year, we spend 31 million euros on research and development. It’s always a great thing to value and encourage innovation with competitions like the Green Solutions Awards. It helps raising awareness but also develops new networks between leaders committed to sustainable development.
Supporting the Green Solutions Awards also helps us to highlight our actions and commitment as a company. EGIS is a leader in sustainable development. Our solutions are tested by independent experts before being sold on the market. It guarantees their quality and efficiency. We want, through the Green Solutions Awards, to give more visibility to our work, and to strengthen our network.
Construction21 – Editorial team
Interested inthe Green Solutions Awards? Discover all the related contents here!