To launch the start of 2024, the members of the Business Club met to continue the work begun the previous year. This time, the event took place in Monaco, on the premises of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, at the Monte-Carlo Bay Resort hotel.
The first part of the meeting was dedicated to learning about the health consequences of plastics and additives, with a presentation by Générations Futures on PFAS. PFAS are a large family of chemical compounds with non-stick, waterproofing, heat-resistant, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties. They are also found in food packaging. These chemical compounds are known as “Forever chemicals” because they are not very degradable and persist in the environment. Their persistence is one of the reasons why many questions are being asked about their impact on the environment and human health. This presentation was followed by a discussion with Valérie Guillard, Patrick Navard and Hervé Raps on the issues, risks and opportunities for companies arising from advances in research into the impact of plastics and additives on health.
To find out more: read this report from Générations Futures on Packaging’s Chemicals : https://www.generations-futures.fr/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/executive-summary-final-by-itself.pdf
In the afternoon, the aim was to continue discussions on our pilot projects. This included sharing progress on the “Towards a 0 single-use plastic hotel” project with La Badira (member of Leading Hotels of the World), the distribution of the toolkit, and a step back 1 year after the end of the InterContinental Marseille – Hotel Dieu project. The participants were delighted to discover the latest developments of these projects.
Then, with a view to setting up a pilot project within Carrefour Monaco, the various local stakeholders involved were brought together:
– The Société Monégasque d’Assainissement to understand the challenges of waste management in Monaco.
– MaConsigne, a solution provider for the shop’s takeaways and delicatessen department.
– Carrefour, to present a communication plan implemented in another shop and understand the challenges of mass retailing.
– The Department of Urban Development, the Department of the Environment, and the Monegasque Mission for Energy Transition to gather their expertise and help in setting up the project.
Finally, Nestlé presented the work carried out by the brand in terms of deplasticizing packaging and the challenges they can face in implementing and finding solutions.
The second day was dedicated to reflecting on the strategic vision of the Business Club in the coming years.
Today, 71% of the members of our Business Club are very satisfied with its governance and 100% of them are very satisfied with the concrete work carried out, such as the pilot projects!
But four years after the creation and launch of the Club, it is essential to ensure that the direction of the Club for the next 3 to 5 years is in line with the members’ desire to carry out new projects, while continuing to improve the activities already in place.
The day provided an opportunity to:
– Share key information and progress on the strategic review currently underway.
– Engage in meaningful discussions to align our resources with our ambitious goals.
– Cultivate a sense of shared ownership and commitment to shaping the future of our club.
The energy and enthusiasm shown by participants underlined our collective commitment to ensuring that our Business Club remains at the forefront of the fight against plastic pollution in the years to come.
