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Reducing the energy consumption of our fleet
Test/deploy alternative diesel engines and invest in cleaner vehicles
- 1 hydrogen truck
- 130 LNG or CNG trucks
- Electric tractors, vans and light vehicles
- Tests of electric trucks, electric car doors, electric concrete mixers
90% of the fleet Euro 6 or Euro 5eev
- Biofuels: 50 approved engines run on 100% French rapeseed
- 15% of our biofuel supply
Reducing the consumption of our buildings
Construction of positive energy buildings. Upgrading of existing buildings.
- Enhanced thermal insulation and airtightness,
- Biogas heating, heat pumps powered by solar collectors,
- 100 % LED lighting, etc.
- Installation of building management systems in our constructions of 10,000 m2 or more by 2027 .
- Deployment of geothermal energy on our most energy intensive sites, with a goal of 2 installations by 2028.
- Overall goal of reducing the impact of our storage facilities and buildings (more ambitious than the “French tertiary decree")
Reduction of CO2 emissions
On the road and using Use technical innovative solutions. Developing multimodal transport
- Eco driving : coaching and management of our drivers by monitors
- On board IT to analyse and deploy corrective action plans
- Automatic wear control of truck tyres
With rail road and river road solutions : 30 % of GCA's shipments are made by multimodal transport, saving 300,000 tonnes of CO² per year.
- 1 train equals 5 HGV
- 1 barge equals 125 HGV
Offsetting of CO² emissions
By generating green energy and charging on the move with solar power.
- 110 hectares of land dedicated to solar energy production on 11 GCA sites, with a capacity of 117 MWp, enough to power a city of 100,000 inhabitants.
The aim is to double this capacity by 2030.
- To charge our customers' vehicles in ports and warehouses that are not equipped with charging stations. A solution in the port of Le Havre to charge 10 vehicles per day
Efficient management of natural resources
Water recycling and selective sorting/recycling of waste.
- Designed for washing vehicles for automotive logistics.
- Management of waste water from tank cleaning with treatment plants.
- Selective sorting and recycling of waste for industrial sites and offices.
Promoting Biodiversity
Concrete actions for the benefit of flora and fauna.
- Planting communal gardens or beehives on our logistics sites,
- Maintaining 20,000 m² of green space with around forty sheep
- Limiting outdoor lighting
- 2,000 hectares of land farmed by GCA Agricole to grow Camargue rice and cereals.
Training and creating vocations
GCA invests in innovative tools to train young people and its employees.
- GCA Formation is Qualiopi certified.
A new initiative has also been launched in 2019, Transport by GCA Exeltour:
- A driving simulator, our transport equipment and our operational staff from local subsidiaries go directly to secondary schools and training centres to meet young people or people undergoing retraining. It's a way of immersing ourselves in the situations that drivers face every day and creating a real exchange with them through discovery workshops or challenges.
- The aim is to show that transport is a profession for the future, where innovation and digital technology go hand in hand with excellence and performance. It's a social ladder that allows everyone, whatever their professional situation, age or qualifications, to have an interesting and progressive working life. Transport is not just about driving, and it's for men and women alike.
- GCA's Exeltour is also used internally by our instructors to make drivers aware of certain driving situations. It is also used at subsidiary open days to give employees' families a glimpse of their daily working conditions.
Acting for the well-being of employees
In subsidiaries and at head office to create a pleasant working environment.
- At the Holding, for example, there is a dining room with a kitchen, a shaded terrace, a large gym for 20 people, Pilates or yoga classes, a petanque court, a table tennis table, a shared library, the occasional arrival of food trucks, etc.
- Festive events for staff: Christmas tree, Interfiliales, 90th anniversary of the Stade de France, various trips organised by CSE in France or abroad, etc.
Governance: a family-run business
GCA is made up of autonomous subsidiaries divided into divisions. The divisions are attached to the holding company (Charles André SA). The Executive Committee is chaired by Delphine André, granddaughter of the founder.
She explains:
" In a family business, you always have to think about passing the business on. We're in it for the long haul, with the idea of always preparing for the future rather than being subjected to it. I'm fortunate that my two sons joined the business a few years ago, and that they too quickly demonstrated their passion for the business.
The fourth generation is on its way, giving our customers and staff a perspective.
The eldest, Charles, runs the Transport and Distribution division, and Arthur, the youngest, the Automotive Logistics, Industrial Logistics and Caillot Transport divisions. They started out in a subsidiary, in the field, and have a thorough understanding of the business. They are effective and are now recognised by our employees, which is very important. It's a great gift, because it was important for me not only to build on the foundations laid by my father and grandfather, to create something that made sense, but also to pass the company on and put it in the right hands to guarantee its long-term future and development."