Our commitments to nature

The Caisse des Dépôts Group has taken a further step in its commitment to ecological transformation. After introducing a biodiversity policy in 2022, followed by a water policy in 2024, the Group has decided to consolidate all these commitments within a broader, comprehensive “nature” policy.

Environmental issues are interconnected, therefore protecting biodiversity and preserving water resources go hand in hand.

This “systemic” approach illustrates our determination to rethink our activities by better accounting for existing natural balances, in line with national and international nature conservation targets.

The nature policy is based on the European standards set out under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and will be regularly updated as part of a continuous improvement approach. 

Preserving biodiversity

PRINCIPLE 1

Measure our negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems and assess the risks associated with biodiversity loss

  • Measure the biodiversity footprint of our activities across the entire value chain by the end of 2025(1).
  • Assess the dependence of our activities on the proper functioning of nature (climate regulation by oceans, air purification by forests, pollination, access to drinking water, etc.) by 2026.
  • Assess the risks that biodiversity loss could have on the sustainability of our business model between now and 2030, as part of a continuous improvement approach.

PRINCIPLE 2

Reduce our negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems

  • Adopt a "net-zero land take" approach by 2030, in line with local authority planning policies (this concerns real estate operating activities).
  • For operations carried out in sensitive areas not subject to the “avoid, reduce, offset” approach, follow the recommendations of the (regulatory) environmental assessment.
  • Reduce the impact on wildlife present at operating sites.
  • Ensure that the agricultural, forestry and marine raw materials we use come from responsible sources, through dialogue with suppliers, to avoid the overexploitation of natural resources.
  • Engage in dialogue with the partners concerned to reduce the use of single-use plastics and chemical substances that are hazardous to the environment, in particular so-called "forever chemicals" such as PFAS.
  • Adopt pesticide-free management of green spaces, to protect soil health, biodiversity and human well-being across all sites and activities.

PRINCIPLE 3

Step up our “pro nature” approach by increasing our positive impacts over the long term

  • Participate in the launch of collective demonstrator projects with a net positive impact.
  • Contribute to positive biodiversity initiatives as part of the "Nature 2050" philanthropy programme and other partnership initiatives.

PRINCIPLE 4

Support change by contributing to research, forming partnerships and raising awareness among employees and the general public

  • Raise awareness of biodiversity issues and encourage employee training in this area.
  • Actively participate in external initiatives (e.g., France's Sustainable Real Estate Observatory (OID)).

Preserve water resources

PRINCIPLE 1

Understand our water-related impacts and risks

  • Assess our dependence on water resources and water-related ecosystem services by the end of 2025.
  • Measure water pollution caused by our operating activities and/or generated by counterparties to which the Group has provided financing or in which it has invested, by 2027.
  • Map sites and properties in "high" or "extremely high" water stress zones by the end of 2026.
  • Measure the exposure of our different portfolios to drought and/or water stress risk by 2027.

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PRINCIPLE 2

Promote water efficiency

  • Integrate issues concerning responsible water use and pressure on water resources in the regions concerned into our investment criteria by the end of 2025.
  • Implement financing tools that contribute to national and international water-related quantitative targets.
  • Help users reduce their water consumption.
  • Define a pathway for reducing water consumption in our internal operations.
  • Gradually integrate water-related selection criteria, particularly regarding pollution reduction (with a priority on plastics), into contract renewals managed by the Purchasing departments. The Purchasing departments engage in dialogue with the suppliers most concerned by pollution issues with the aim of helping them reduce the use of pollutants and raise their awareness of the impact of their activities, particularly in wetlands.

PRINCIPLE 3

Preserve quality of water and water infrastructure quality   

  • Implement financing tools that contribute to national and international water-related quantitative targets.
  • Contribute to national and European initiatives aimed at preserving aquatic environments and wetlands (e.g., financing the Nature 2050 programme).

(1) LBP AM uses its internal tool to measure, prior to investment decisions, the impact of the asset concerned; Société Forestière uses the PBL sector-based tool and Compagnie des Alpes uses a project-level impact measurement tool, committing to measure the footprint of its activities and value chain by 2027.