Summary of the 62nd AIUFFASS Congress

The 62nd A.I.U.F.F.A.S.S. congress was held at the Lyon Fourvière Hotel last 18th – 20th May 2017. AIUFFASS is the representative body for the European Synthetic & Artificial Filament industry, and also the Silk Industry. The association represents, promotes and serves the interests of the European industrial users of those raw materials.

The plenary session was focused on the theme "Building a forward-thinking management approach to Sustainability”. The speeches of the plenary session served to “give food for thought” to about fifty European industrial attendees through conferences led by Jean-Marc Jancovici, Isabelle Susini and Eric Boël.

To illustrate in a pragmatic way the possible answers that the industrialists could provide, two testimonies completed this first speech.

The theme of Jean-Marc Jancovici’ speech was “New visions to address the climate change challenge”. As well as Engineer of the Polytechnic school and of the National School of Telecommunications of Paris, Jean-Marc Jancovici is also an engineer consultant in energy climate. He teaches at the “École des Mines Paris Tech” and is the founding partner of "Carbone 4", a consultancy firm in the field of energy transition and adaptation to climate change. He is also the author of numerous works, CEO and founder of the “Shift Project” as well as member of the scientific committee within the Ministry of Ecology.

As an expert on environmental issues, his "shocking" speech warned the industrialists to face the emergency of the climatic situation and consequently, advised them about efforts required to achieve the stabilization of the situation.

« To have a good chance to stay within the 2°C of global warming, we have to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by one third. This major problem of our century is also the biggest challenge. The scale of which the industrial humanity has never had to face». From this statement, he asked many questions: what scenario do we face if we do not make a radical change? Where do we start to reduce gas emissions?

Jean-Marc Jancovici’ speech

Welcome dinner at Lyon Fourviere Hotel

Isabelle Susini’ speech

Presentation of PATAGONIA & 1% for the planet

First of all Isabelle Susini, spoke about the theme: "How does sustainability become a key asset in establishing differentiation strategies?”.

With a three-year experience at the cosmetic brand “Yves Rocher”, and then 13 years at PATAGONIA as CSR manager, she is currently managing the branch of "1 % FOR THE PLANET" in France, a network of companies which are committed in giving back 1 % of their annual turnover to environmental organizations.

She shared her experience within the brand PATAGONIA, established by Yvon Chouinard. After the latter realized the damage caused by the cotton culture, PATAGONIA was one of the first companies to set up a 100% cotton organic suplly chain. His founder is still committed to reducing his environmental footprint and, in 1993, he has also set up a polar in recycled polyester.

Yvon Chouinard, along with Graig Matthews, is also co-founder of "1 % for the planet", the single international network gathering companies involved in environmental philanthropy. This network comprises ambassadors such as Yann Arthus Bertrand, Tristan Lecomte, Samuel Lebihan and Vandana Shiva. No less than 110 companies are members in France, among which Caudalie, House of the World, Really or still Organic Garden. Funds are given back to environmental organizations, such as WWF and the Nicolas Hulot foundation, whose “1 minute for the 1%” video was shared at the end of the Isabelle Susini’ speech:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bnWmEL6FFo

As a conclusion, the philanthropy constitutes a simple way to reduce its environmental impact while developing its turnover.

Eric Boël closed the morning session by raising the issue: "Sustainability, Sustainable Management & Sustainable Performance". Manager of the weaving company “Les Tissages de Charlieu”, which he took over in 1997, Eric BOËL is also the founder of ALTERTEX, a network of companies committed to an eco-friendly, ethical and united textile. President of UNITEX, he is in favor of a liberating style of leadership or the organizational form of the company based on the initiative-freeing. Eric Boël defends the idea that the human being is at the heart of business development. Then, “the company is a key player of sustainability, by its reconciling of economic performance, job creation in working conditions allowing the human development, while participating in the protection of our planet”.

Éric Boël’ speech

As a company involved in sustainability, Tissages de Charlieu comprises 70 employees among which 12 employees are people with disabilities; 25 % of its raw material supply are organic and recycled, and 25 % of its turnover is given back to the staff. According to Eric Boël, “today, the contractors have low sensitivity to sustainability, so that, we need to lobby them to use a real sustainable approach allowing to add value to a supply chain and a local and responsible production”.

In conclusion of these speech, sustainability is now a central concern. The younger generation seems to be more and more concerned by environmental issues and companies have to take advantage of this significant willingness to change. That energy challenge can give rise to a new dynamic in our sector.

This congress was also the opportunity to honor the presidency change of the Silk Section of A.I.U.F.F.A.S.S.: Mr Xavier Lepingle (new President of the silk section) takes over from Mr Philippe de Montgrand (former President from May 2009 to May 2017).

The meeting of the silk section has draft a road map with 3 main stakes for the future of silk: quality of the raw silk, securing the raw material supply and sustainability.

The meeting of the Man-Made Filament users section has also point out the clear interest of A.I.U.F.F.A.S.S. in traceability and the common interest of CIRFS – the European Man-Made Fibres Association - to promote compulsory “Made in” labelling at European level.

Lyon was a pleasant and convivial setting for the A.I.U.F.F.A.S.S. congress in the course of which some attendees were able to discover the city from a cultural heritage perspective.

General Assembly

Silk Workshop, Partners programme