Preserving biodiversity

Beyond fighting climate change, Air Liquide is also extending its actions to consider the whole spectrum of its impact on the planet. In most of its activities, Air Liquide has limited impact on biodiversity. Seppic – an Air Liquide subsidiary – is fully aware of the impact that its activities could have on the environment, in particular on biodiversity, and is taking action.

Case study: Seppic

Seppic is an 80-year-old business providing specialty ingredients for the health and beauty sector. More than half of Seppic’s raw materials are from plant origins including seaweeds and botanicals used to produce active ingredients. Seppic is therefore conscious of its role in respecting ecosystems and biodiversity throughout its value chain (from its sourcing, operations, and manufacturing sites to product end-of-life). The analysis of these main impacts led to formalising a biodiversity programme on four pillars, collectively known as ’RICE’:

• Reduce the pressures on biodiversity generated by our sourcing activities;
• Integrate biodiversity into our industrial processes and facilities;
• Control the impacts of products throughout their lifecycle;
• Engage and empower our stakeholders in support of biodiversity.

For example, from its Pontrieux site in Brittany, which is a member of the Union for Ethical Biotrade (UEBT), along with the Lons site, seaweed is either harvested by hand on the foreshore or at sea by seaweed harvesters approved by the French government authorities. Similarly, in Madagascar, the precise amount of the Centella asiatica plant is ordered annually before the start of the harvest season to ensure the collection of reasonable quantities.

By 2025, 100% of Seppic’s new cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and nutraceutical ingredients manufactured in the Lons & Pontrieux sites will be sourced according to its Ethical Sourcing System⁽¹⁾.

_{⁽¹⁾Ethical Sourcing System: a set of policies and procedures that promote Ethical BioTrade practices.}