Our policy

As a marketing communications provider for leading chain stores in Europe and China, we are acutely aware of our social, economic and environmental responsibilities and those of our clients. Our sustainable development policy is part of our DNA. In total coherence with our values and ethics, it structures our business and plays an integral role in all our services.

At Altavia, we demonstrate our commitment through concrete actions on a daily basis. As signatories of the UN Global Compact agreement, we work within a well-established, globally recognized framework that federates our business units and generates responsible progress that stretches far beyond the company.

 

10 Commitments for Sustainability

 

 

Paper use

To encourage responsible paper management and minimize waste, we consistently promote the use of recycled and/or certified paper in our commercial communications.

Double FSC® & PEFC Certification

All our business units in Europe are now FSC® and PEFC certified.  This guarantees that the paper they use comes from responsible forest exploitation, as certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).

 

TRANSPORT OPTIMIZATION

To reduce the environmental impact of our transport systems across all client projects, we propose three strategic actions:

  • Limit travelling distances through organized process flow
  • Use transport systems that generate minimum pollution
  • Encourage group freight to reduce CO2 emissions and costs

At the beginning of 2010, Altavia conducted a study of alternative transport solutions between France and Benelux (ie. rail and water), comparing costs and timings against road travel.  The results proved that group freight is the most efficient way to cut our carbon footprint.  

 

RESPONSIBLE COMMUNICATIONS

For Altavia, eco-responsible commercial communications are the only way forward. We are constantly on the lookout for innovative cross-channel solutions that respect the socio-economic and environmental demands of the world today.

Ecopublishing®

Launched in 2011, Altavia’s Ecopublishing® intiative is the first step in a global movement to generalize ecological publishing.

By following a strict set of criteria, we are able to detect, create and promote progressive publishing solutions that reduce the environmental impact of our commercial communications from conception to finalization.

In addition to these specifications, Altavia offers to support its clients on environmental issues through a targeted range of services ranging from assistance in defining a strategy for eco responsible production of campaigns to training sessions for managers.

Carboscan®

Carboscan® is a tool developed by Altavia to evaluate the carbon footprint of printed communications.  By calculating CO2 emissions generated at each stage of production, it helps promote responsible choices, from selecting paper weights and formats to choosing printing locations and transportation methods. Carboscan is now being implemented across all our European Business Units.

> Understand Carboscan

 

SUPPLIER PARTNERSHIPS

To help our suppliers and clients reduce waste and save costs, we build close working relationships based on mutual trust, shared growth and best practices in sustainable development.

Suppliers’ Sustainability Pact

Altavia favors eco-responsible suppliers. In 2010 we created a Chart for Sustainable Development and aim to have all our suppliers as signatories by the end of 2011.

Altavia’s Certified Partners

We run an annual survey to identify the level of our suppliers’ environmental commitment and have been able to incite certain partners to obtain FSC and PEFC certifications

 

DAILY ACTIONS

At Altavia, sustainability starts with corporate citizenship. From sorting waste to choosing responsible suppliers, our in-house green practices help reduce our carbon footprint everyday.

Daily Eco-Gestures

We actively encourage recycling and have been able to reduce our internal paper order by almost half in two years. We have also streamlined our IT systems and implemented video and web conferencing solutions - making energy-saving part of our day-to-day activity. By raising awareness amongst collaborators, our action plan benefits our working environment as well as client products.

 

Community involvement

Altavia’s sustainable actions stretch beyond business to local communities and wider society. We do everything we can to leverage our position and improve the lives of those around us. We support a diverse range of socio-economic, humanitarian and cultural organizations with three key missions:

  • Solidarity: We support responsible projects that create links between people and help fight against poverty and exclusion.
  • Enterprise: We help, advise and facilitate business projects that revitalize the local economy and boost employment. 
  • Access to Education & Culture: We encourage and partner projects that bring education and culture to the widest population.

 

Digital solutions

With the explosion of digital and multi-channel communications, retail consumers are increasingly selecting and combining commercial information from different (print and digital) sources to suit their personal preferences. 

At Altavia, we combine state-of-the-art consumer and market intelligence with a strong cross-channel approach to ensure that our clients optimize each one and choose the right balance to suit their target group.

Beyond our consultancy services, we also invest heavily in R&D, which delivers far-reaching electronic publishing solutions for innovative and sustainable retail-tainment.

Electronic Webzines with SpinFlip®

A powerful multimedia alternative to paper offering substantial added value: Altavia’s webzines are beautiful to look at, a pleasure to browse through - and customized to each consumer.

Actipaper®: the AUGMENTED PAPER solution

At the point of convergence between print and web, Actipaper’s revolutionary technology allows consumers to click on a printed document and access complementary information on the internet.

> Find out more about Actipaper

 

QUALITY SERVICE

The quality of our service is based on the quality of our client relationships. By practicing the art of active listening, constantly renewing our commercial creativity and exceeding client expectations, we build strong, constructive working relationships that last.

ISO 9001 Certification for Quality

Following a comprehensive quality control programme, Altavia’s business units are in constant progress in all aspects of their operations – and a number have already been awarded ISO 9001 certification.

 

HUMAN CAPITAL

Altavia’s strengths are founded on two pillars:  its people and its clients. Each member of our team contributes to our identity and our success.

In 2009, we formalized our human resources development program.  An ongoing collaborative exercise, it expresses Altavia’s “art and style” - underlining our fundamental values and the obligations of each manager and team member.  

Brought to life by our managers and human resource personnel in each Business Unit, Altavia’s "Art and Style" is shared, appropriated and constantly evolving.

 

FINANCIAL SOLIDITY

 

We commit to a sustainable economy by taking into account in all our decisions, the economic, environmental and human issues, respecting ethics and focusing on performance, equity and fair competition.

Our corporate governance ensures the continuity of the group Altavia.

Our finances are handled daily by our staff in accordance with financial rules and best practices of each country.

In 2011, for the thirteenth consecutive year, Altavia published its annual report. As an unlisted company, Altavia deliberately chose to publish it every year: beyond the constraints this can bring, we think it is a way to express our identity and founding values, which include progress, sharing, integrity and transparency.

 

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