At the same time, GEODIS is working on rolling out a roadmap integrated into its CSR policy and on strengthening the environmental and biodiversity criteria in its investment decisionmaking processes. The objective is to better integrate biodiversity issues into the design and management of its transport and logistics infrastructures. The action plan will also focus on raising awareness among employees, customers and partners and promoting best practices internally. 3.3 Air quality In 2013, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that outdoor air pollution is a certain cause of cancer for humans. Air pollutants, especially PM10 particles, are a major threat to public health. According to the WHO, pollution by PM10 particles is responsible for an average of 6% of premature deaths in France, half of which can be ascribed to emissions from road traffic (transportation of passengers and goods, private cars)(7). In order to improve air quality and protect people’s health by limiting pollution emitted by vehicles (carbon monoxide and particulate matter), many European countries have undertaken to set up Low Emission Zones (LEZs) in large cities (approximately 320 European cities in 2022). The operation of LEZs is generally based on a certificate that each vehicle must have, awarded according to its polluting emissions. Securing access to city centers has therefore become a major challenge for the freight transport sector. The expansion of LEZs is an incentive for logistics companies to accelerate the energy transition of their vehicle fleets (motorization complying with the latest norms on the market and use of alternative fuels). In this context, GEODIS is focused on limiting the impact of its activities on air quality and public health. The Group is developing a competitive low-carbon delivery service adapted to environmental challenges facing city centers (pollution, noise, traffic congestion, etc.). As an operator of last mile deliveries within cities, GEODIS is adapting to regulatory and societal changes by working on solutions that meet a dual challenge. The first of these relates to land: distribution centers must be strategically located, i.e., close enough to high-density areas to minimize the number and distance of trips and optimize the number of stops at customers’ premises. The second challenge is to reduce the environmental impact of urban logistics. To this end, particularly in the context of its innovation efforts, the Group is increasingly experimenting with the use of alternative vehicles, whether electric or running on compressed natural gas. By way of example, in 2022 GEODIS opened a new urban distribution platform located at the gates of Paris. This strategic location will make it possible to ensure supplies in the city center by being closer to the final delivery points. In addition, the supply of Parisian customers from this platform will be carried out with a reduced carbon footprint over the last mile through the use of electric and biogas-powered vehicles. 3.4 Circular economy The importance of the circular economy is growing steadily and will become central for all companies in the future, for two reasons: firstly, environmental (climate change, waste and pollution in general) and secondly, economic (the circular economy offers protection to companies from shortages of primary resources). The growth of the circular economy, regarded as one of the priorities of the European Green Deal, is creating new flows to enable the recovery, processing, repair and recycling of products. This transition creates new business opportunities for the Group: the circular model requires a different organization in which logistics plays an essential role between the various players (collectors, recyclers, etc.). In addition, these new flow loops require the creation of synergies with partners (pooling of processes, sharing of information) in order to ensure the sustainability of the model (pooling and consolidation of flows). GEODIS’s commitments in favor of the circular economy are on two levels: • customer flows: externally, the Group supports its customers by providing them with solutions for redefining their logistics flows and creating virtuous loops; (7) https://expertises.ademe.fr/air-mobilites/mobilite-transports/elements-contexte/impacts-transports-lenvironnement 44 2022 ACTIVITY AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 03 ENVIRONMENT
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