The carbon footprint is a non-financial indicator for business leaders

🎬 Interview with Benoit Desveaux, co-founder of the Hopscotch Group

Could you please introduce yourself and describe your business?

My name is Benoit Desveaux, and I am one of the founders of the Hopscotch Group, a shareholder-led communications firm. We have built this firm by integrating all aspects of public relations, event management, and digital services. Our mission is to build and preserve our clients’ relational capital.

Since when, and why, have you been interested in carbon footprints?

We became aware ofthe importance of carbon footprints about fifteen years ago, when we began to considerthe environmental impact of our line of work. Since we are event organizers—in addition to being a consulting firm—events are, by their very nature,major consumers of energy and natural resources.

How do your clients react when you suggest that they conduct a carbon assessment of their business?

To be perfectly honest, there aren’t many requests for this. However, in calls for proposals and when agencies are being evaluated,the eco-design approach— taking environmental and social issues into account in the events we propose—is becoming increasingly important.

How does a carbon footprint assessment contribute to a company’s “CSR” strategy?

A carbon footprint assessment is essential for evaluating a CSR strategy. It would actually be helpful if these assessments were comparable so that we could directly compare two corporate strategies, even though they were not designed that way. In any case, companies are affected by this issue because France has committed, through itsnational low-carbon strategy, to reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gas emissions by2050.

Why did you choose the GCI platform?

Today, every carbon footprint assessment is conducted by a consultant. However, companies will soon be required to provide a carbon footprint assessment for their organization and their products and services. So, mathematically speaking, there aren’t enough consultants in France to carry out this task. To handle all these carbon assessments that will need to be done,the process had tobe scaled up. That’s exactly what GCI, an expert in carbon assessments, is offering—and it’s absolutely fantastic—by drawing on TK’Blue’s extensive experience.

What advice do you give entrepreneurs to convince them to conduct a carbon assessment of their business?

I tell all business leaders that it is essential to pay close attention to the greenhouse gas inventory. This is one of thenon-financial indicators that are increasingly in demand by shareholders, internal stakeholders, and all other stakeholders.

On a related note, see the link between CSR and the Sustainable Development Goals