Rossignol to reduce carbon footprint by 30%, waste by 40%

Fri, Jan  17, 2020 - By Groupe Rossignol

The mountain, the playground of the Rossignol Group since its origin, is more than ever exposed to climate change. The position of a major player (world leader in skis with the Rossignol brand) of the Rossignol Group in winter and mountain sports equipment gives it a very special responsibility in these issues of nature and mountain protection. In this sense, the iconic Winter Sports Group must be exemplary in respecting its environment in the broad sense.

The aims to contribute to the fight against global warming by reducing the Group's carbon footprint by 30% by 2030 and by aiming for carbon neutrality in 2050. The ambitions of this program go beyond reducing emissions from CO2 since the Rossignol Group also aims to reduce its waste by 40% by 2025, and is also committed to societal challenges and “living well together” in its ecosystem. These ambitious goals are now the strategic driver of the Rossignol Group to continue developing an environmentally-friendly sporting activity.

“Our RESPECT environmental progress program requires the Rossignol Group to do better wherever we can. We are now embarking on a structured approach aligned with European objectives for reducing carbon emissions ”, says Bruno CERCLEY, President of the Rossignol Group.

The Group has defined four main themes which include the action plans of all brands and sites, in line with the principles of the United Nations Global Compact, principles to which the Group has adhered since 2015.

The RESPECT program, environmental and societal commitments

The design of respectful products will be at the heart of the Rossignol Group's product policy, including the use of natural and labeled materials such as wood - FSC®, PEFC ™ - the material from which the new 2020-2021 Freeride ski range will be made. These commitments will ultimately make it possible to offer for sale a majority of eco-designed products, manufactured in ISO 14001 certified sites and benefiting from investments making it possible to massively reduce the production of waste. The life cycle analysis of flagship products is already underway to better assess the innovations necessary for their eco-design.

“We act upstream of the supply chain for materials with a carbon neutral impact, at the product design stage to anticipate their dismantling (eco-design) and downstream to organize efficient recycling supply chains. We mobilize all of our employees to adopt better individual and collective habits. And we are implementing indicators and measurement tools to monitor our actions, ”adds Bruno CERCLEY.

In addition, the Rossignol Group is embarking on a major planting program of 25,000 trees in 2020 in Tanzania, with the association Reforest’Action. This environmental action enables the Group to contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change.

Aware of the importance and the strength of collective initiatives, the Rossignol Group is joining the Fashion Pact launched following the G7 in France in 2019. This global coalition of fashion and textile companies, as well as suppliers and distributors, is committed to essential environmental objectives such as limiting global warming, restoring biodiversity and protecting the oceans. Continuously, the Rossignol Group announces at the start of 2020 that it is also a signatory to the United Nations Charter: Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action. These two signatures illustrate the company's commitment and in particular strengthen the bonds of trust and collaboration with its partners and suppliers.

Respect for the mountains for the Rossignol Group is one of the most demanding and imperative battles. In this sense, a collaboration is set up with associations which fight against global warming and its effects, and work locally for the respect of the mountain in winter as in summer. This is how the environmental association Protect Our Winters now counts the Rossignol Group among its supporters.

This commitment also applies to raising awareness among young people. The Rossignol Group will thus organize, in conjunction with the National Syndicate of French Ski Instructors, the collection of used skis from young people from ski clubs and from the ESF (as part of the “Ski Open Coq d'Or” event, in March 2020 at the Ménuires). Operations will also be carried out to make young skiers aware of mountain protection so that they can continue to practice their sport while preserving it. Mountain cleaning operations in spring