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  Our companies are working according to the sustainable development.

• Less chemical treatments as possible.
• Use of modern equipment for less environmental impact..
• Use of recycled paper and materials.

Sustainable development, gardening and landscaping

   Differentiated management of living spaces 
   Water, a rare resource saving and safeguarding 
   The soil as a living organism to feed and protect 
   Reduction synthesis product (fertilisers, pesticides) , zero GMO with alternative techniques 
   The increase in plant and animal biodiversity 
   The energy conservation and renewable energy 
    Reducing noise and air pollution due to machinery 
    Waste recycling in particular the manufacture of compost 
    Expertise of the gardeners and public information 
    Eco -labeling

Project Ecophyto 2018

Third world agricultural nation in the world , France is a champion of consumption of pesticides. With the Netherlands and Belgium , it forms the trio of the most demanding European countries reported pesticides per hectare cultivated. 
The government plan Ecophyto decided in 2008 to reduce the use of pesticide in 2018. But sales increased by 2.6% between 2008 and 2011. Only the most dangerous substances have decreased because the European Union has withdrawn from the market 53 of them. 
The result is so daunting and the goal is considered so unrealizable that the agriculture minister, Stéphane Le Foll, has hesitated before continuing this project. 
Analysis Ecophyto 2018 project shows that its success depends on the willingness of farmers , manufacturers and industrialists. Only very few tools are mandatory or coercive . For example, aerial spraying of pesticides, officially prohibited by law continue to have multiple exemptions. 
In a highly structured French agriculture, can a farmer reduce pesticides due to pressure from the cooperative which it depends to sell his product? Can he risk the non-sale of his apples or corn to the coopérative? 
The cooperative imposes its criteria , requires big preformances while providing advice and sometimes pesticides that can be used. It writes very precise specifications to meet the requirements of supermarkets and even food processing factory in which it has itself often interests . The term " cooperative " is indeed an international dimension groups with diversified interests . 
No regulation prohibits that " a legal person even prescribe or at least recommend phytosanitary treatment  and sell the products to achieve them ," says the parlement in its report. " In the majority of the departments, agricultural cooperatives play two roles that synergy appears unhealthy. " 
Reports denounce conflicts of interest in the experts group  who advise the government on the toxicity of the phytosanitory product. As the chambers of agriculture, which include many leaders of major companies at their head, they continue to play a central role by boosting or not changing the practices of their members. The Ecophyto plan relies on them to the creation of a network of reference farms . 
It is through them that still pass the teaching of farmers  who will receive a certificate , the Certiphyto , mandatory from 1 October 2014. Herbicide distributors , fungicides and insecticides must also obtain approval. 
The Ministry of Environment which represent only 7.8% of users outside the agricultural world - gardeners, golf course managers , Réseau Ferré de France ... left hand to the ministry of agriculture bet on pedagogy. The administration has launched a contributory platform on internet, " Produce otherwise " with farmers and agronomists touting the diversification of varieties , spacing plantations, much less harmful phytosanitory products for the the environment ...

IN DESPITE OF ALL THIS BIO OCCUPES ONLY 3,5 % OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS

The funds committed for Ecophyto amounted to about 140 million euros per year, largely funded by the levy on diffuse pollution collected by water agencies . 
In 2011, the number of farms involved in the biological system increased by 12.3 % with 3.5% of the agricultural area . The Grenelle Environment has set a target of 6% in 2012 and 20% in 2020. In Europe, 17.2% of the Austrian lands already are converted to organic, 8.6% Italian and 5.9% German . 
In France , there is an environmental policy intent and a reluctance to implementation stage. 
A market of 1.9 billion euros in 2011 
With more than five kilograms on average active phytosanitory products spilled per hectare cultivated, the pesticide market represented a turnover of 1.9 billion euros in France in 2011. Trade herbicides - 40% of sales - is by far the first place to the fungicides and insecticides. 
Large grain farms , oilseed producers and vinyards farmer are the primary users of pesticides 
The intention is not to discredit Ecophyto 2018 supposed to take a decisive turn but to have a lucid and critical opinion about administrative intentions of a government plan which are sometimes in little relation to the realities observed in the fields .

History

Over time , gardeners are scarce and herbicides replace the hoe in the aisles , until, in the years 1980 to 1990 , we begin to ask the question of the harmfulness of chemical products on the human health and the environment . But this awareness is slow, hampered by the interests involved ( including financial ) , until recent years when the doubt is no longer permitted 
With the rise of environmental concerns from the 70s, France votes protection of natural areas , followed by a law on sensitive areas. 
Natural reserves are created in places where, experimenting with other forms of management of nature,  we reinvent a new management (forgotten with industrial operations) and innovative techniques. 
Green spaces between urban and extra urban play their role with green areas and biological networks of little roads for soft traffic on foot or by bike. 
They include the recently forgotten since the 19th century technical factors : rainfall infiltration , water retention in wetlands ( to clean up the city and prevent disease ) . Soil sealing in the city is a real problem ( flood) water discharge into drains and sewers to rivers with increased flows during storms ) . 
In the new peri- urban areas , extensions of the city are developing new ways of designing green spaces that use from both the agriculture , forestry and " natural areas " their specific modes of management and define the caracteristics of these new so-called " natural" spaces.

Differentiated management , reasonable ... Environmental management ?

The difficulty is major for changing old habits and the conception of " clean " attached to how we maintain the parks or even flowers that are green spaces. 
 

Differentiated management

It consists of different levels of management  depending on different places or green spacesand on the architecture of these. We have to accept the difference between the beautiful flowerbeds of the mayor and less maintenance for less prestigious areas. 
It saves money and allows to manage larger areas with a smaller staff. We can not discuss its ecological contribution , we define the height and frequency of cutting lawns, meadows, etc. . ways to prune shrubs ... 
 

Sustainable development in business

Environment : 
Innovative ways to limit environmental impacts involving all company employees in a business 'sustainable development' cultural approach 
Reduction and even sometimes elimination of the use of phytosanitary products, offering customers alternatives. 
Diverse ares management : creation of pasture, introduction of apiaries as an indicator of biodiversity. 
Introduction of animals in parks and gardens to reduce the use of machinery and preserve biodiversity : sheep , bees, horses ... 
Recycling, with the creation of platforms for green waste composting and reuse of products composted organic amendments on site. Systematic sorting of waste from the workshop 
Natural resource management : recovery of rainwater for watering  and providing to customers plants adapted to the climate.

Social : 
Development of  the skills of employees 
Participative management : Employees involvement in the life of the company . 
Observation of health and safety rules. Promotion of improved working conditions. 
Development of safety training and rescue workers. 
Employment of stable permanent staff, skilled and trained to meet the changing demand of the customers. 

Economic : 
Expand the business by maintaining a positive result 
Buy eco-friendly products : eco- certified wood, develop non- noisy tools, electrically powered . 

In everyday life: 
Simple ways to reduce emissions : 
 

• Turn off the engines of vehicles and tools when not in use
• Gradual renewal of the vehicle fleet , equipment and tools engine with newer equipment, more efficient and less polluting .
• Acquisition of portable electrical equipment (hedges , chainsaw  ... ) : no CO2 emissions and virtually no noise.
• And, of course , the small daily actions of each: lights off when not needed , valves closed , recycling ( paper, glass , batteries, ink cartridges ... )
• For gardens, adopt the following solutions: 
  Turf : Install varieties resistant to trampling, drought , disease requiring less both water and mowing .
• Plants:  choose less water demanding and resistant to diseases plants.
• Low maintenance : 
   

Flooring minerals on aboveground canvas to limit the growth of weeds , for eliminating the use of chemical herbicides .

Another advantage associated with the tarp minerals keeps humidity around plants , reducing evaporation, thus improving the efficiency of irrigation. It is permeable to rainwater and irrigation . 
Two types of fabric above ground: 
woven polypropylene 
biodegradable polypropylene 
- Watering: 
Although the choice of species favors resistance to drought , watering may be necessary. 
The best solution is to install an automatic sprinkler for grassed areas and drip hedges and flower beds. 
Using a programmer allows water use during the most favorable hours (night in the summer to reduce evaporation ) . 
Drip irrigation allows water to get to the foot of the plant, in controlled quantities . It is also the only authorised by the decree of 2008 Water restriction system. 
- Phytosanitary treatments: 
It is sometimes necessary to use treatments to maintain a healthy garden. 
The advice of a professional helps to choose the most suitable product , the dose to implement, the application period. 
 

Sales of environmentally friendly products , some usable in organic farming . 
It is also possible to use auxiliary ( ladybugs, lacewings ... ) more and more easily available commercially. 
For treatment , respect of prescribed doses , use "organic" products as possible, and above all process only if it is really necessary.