Since its inception, the Groupe’s environmental policy, Net Zero Climate, and its Appendix, has incorporated the need to promote the circular economy to limit the use of natural resources, or raw materials that could be available in another form, thanks to the circular economy. [E5-1-12, E1-5-14, ESRS 2 MDR-P-65 (b)]
This principle applies to the Company’s operations as well as its business activities. For more than ten years, agencies have voluntarily committed to promoting media made from paper, plastics, fabrics and other recycled materials, whether for print editions or temporary events, working with suppliers to guarantee these raw materials from recycled materials. For example, production and event activities have included the use of the circular economy as a key principle to promote this type of sourcing in their various projects. CSR managers from these agencies are involved at a very early stage of projects in order to reduce waste as much as possible and find alternatives as needed. For temporary events, priority is given to materials from recycled products such as wood for decorations, or choosing carpets from recycled ones (see the example of Publicis Live through its Sustainability Guidelines, shared with suppliers involved in various events on the Groupe’s website). For production, priority is given to used decorative items and rented suits where possible. This encourages virtuous sectors and committed suppliers, and working with some of them on new solutions. [E5-1-16, E5-2-19, ESRS 2 MDR-A-68 (a),(b)&(c)]
The CSR for Business Guidelines policy applies to suppliers in the context of Groupe contracts as an appendix to the signed contract. It includes the objective of increasing the proportion of goods purchased that come from the circular economy, or that contain a growing proportion of materials from the circular economy. [E5-1-14] For example, in the category of laptops and monitors, which are essential for all employees, the proportion of materials from the circular economy is increasing—mainly computer cases, keyboards, and mice, as well as printers. [E5-2-20 (a), (b) & (d)]
Traceability still needs to be improved because supplier metrics are not yet consistent.
This explains why the Groupe has not yet generalized targets to be achieved. The prospects for increasing the use of the circular economy are discussed on a case-by-case basis with each supplier, depending on their level of maturity and their projects in this area, and the product ranges that will be purchased by the Groupe in order to encourage this supply from the circular economy.
Since its inception, the Groupe’s environmental policy, Net Zero Climate, has included a drastic reduction in waste, whether in the context of the Company’s operations, its business activities, or its relations with suppliers.
Total 2025: 2,875 metric tons and 133 TeqCO2:
Method for calculating physical waste: the Re:Sources teams are responsible locally for this measurement, depending on the organization of the building where the agencies are located. Over the years, several situations have made it possible to collect more precise data: waste sorting is carried out by the building manager, who identifies the volumes concerning our activities on the basis of a weekly or monthly volume; some agencies (with Re:Sources) have involved a third party guaranteeing waste selection and management in a specialized sector (for example, at the Groupe’s head office in Paris). Waste categories have been part of the CSR reporting in place for 15 years, with information collected from subsidiaries.
The issue of food waste has been monitored for a number of years now. In all agencies, employees must reduce waste day-to-day and support sharing initiatives to tackle food insecurity. For example, in the late afternoon, employees can go to the cafeteria to collect untouched food left over from meetings. The Groupe defends responsible, fair and sustainable food that is sourced locally whenever possible, mindful of animal welfare, as evidenced by several projects carried out with various clients (see www.publicisgroupe.com, CSR section).
