Sustainable tourist signs

Project details

  • Main leader : Pic Bois
  • Type of initiative : Individual initiative (company, etc.)
  • Périmètre : Ain
  • Localisation : ZI la Bruyere - 01300 Brégnier-Cordon
  • Date de début : janvier 2008

Economy circular topics

  • Extending useful service life
  • Eco-design
  • Responsible consumption
  • Functional service economy
  • Industrial and regional ecology
  • Recycling
  • Sustainable procurement
Description

Pic Bois takes into account environmental issues both in its offering and in the way its various workshops operate. This is reflected in the application of circular economy principles, a preference for proximity and commitment to sustainable forest management.

The company offers an eco-designed range, Furca, which uses local wood to reduce the transport of raw materials. The wood is untreated, naturally resistant (chestnut, acacia, larch) and requires little energy to produce. The amount of steel used is very small and the assembly is carried out according to a patent based on “wood volume memory”. In addition, the company limits the production of waste during manufacture and improves recyclability of the product at the end of its service life.

Pic Bois is also working on a range of furniture, intended for private individuals. It can be taken apart and put together again, like a set of building bricks, to extend the furniture’s service life by making it upgradable. The furniture is made from recycled materials.

As part of a move to save resources and fuel, three out of four workshops use the wood waste they produce for heating. This is made easier by the increasing use of untreated wood. Two of the sites also have photovoltaic facilities.

The company is ISO 14001 certified and has obtained the PEFC label indicating traceability of the origin of the wood used. 

Qualitative benefits

  • Innovation
  • Image boosting
  • Competitive advantage
  • Get customers to include environmental considerations in their order
  • Regarding PEFC, there is an incentive effect on suppliers: they must also commit themselves if they want to be able to work with a certified company

Stages of the initiative

1990: the company was set up based on a wood engraving process

2000s: tourism becomes more professional in France with skiing and leisure parks, etc. leading to strong growth for Pic Bois, with new workshops opening

2008: Pic Bois offers a furniture line meeting low environmental impact and affordability requirements

ISO 140001 obtained

2016: Pic Bois wins the Entreprise & Environnement Award, from the French Ministry of the environment and ADEME, in the sustainable development integration category.

    The various initiatives moving towards environmental protection are made easier because they are consistent with the function of the products: the equipment is often intended help people discover sensitive natural areas, landscapes and heritage sites, and also helps to promote them. It makes sense to talk about nature in ways that are respectful of it.

    Consideration of environmental issues and the application of circular economy principles are sometimes hampered by the experimental aspect of the initiatives. This is because there is not always a model to draw on.

    It is also about getting other people, such as suppliers or insurers, to commit.

    A balance needs to be struck between respecting the imperatives of any company, such as keeping to deadlines, and implementing eco-responsible actions.

    However, these initiatives are not perceived as constraints but as the opportunity to bring together ecology, economies and technical efficiency, as well as to stand out from the crowd.

    Areas of activity

    • Crafts
    • Tourism

    Resources

    • Materials
    • Biodiversity
    • Wood
    • Material efficiency
    Implementation

    Technical resources

    •  4 workshops in France
    • Various marking techniques

    Human resources

    Pic Bois employs a total of about 70 people

    Activities: graphic design, technical studies, manufacturing and installation of equipment.

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    Author of the page

    Laurence Traventhal

    Moderator

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