VINCI Concessions began work in 2024 to define a common set of specifications for performing inventories of fauna and flora. The specifications will then be rolled out across the network and used to develop a geographic information system (GIS) platform and a land use classification indicator. The indicator will show the type of land cover (soil sealing type, grassland, wooded area, forest, etc.), their respective surface areas, and the management practices being used.
Increase the number of fauna/flora inventory data in the public domain
Since 2012, VINCI Construction has been centralising and analysing fauna and flora data to expand the national natural heritage databases of the Inventaire National du Patrimoine Naturel (INPN). The inventories carried out at VINCI Airports sites will enrich this knowledge. Almost 200 taxons were counted at Nantes Atlantique airport in 2024. For the 10th year in a row in 2024, London Gatwick airport received The Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark Award, which recognises its exemplary management of biodiversity over the 91 hectares of land surrounding the airport. Through many inventories carried out in this area over the years, London Gatwick airport has identified 3,120 species. More than 260 volunteers have participated actively in its conservation efforts. Following the example of VINCI Construction and VINCI Airports, VINCI will strive to share data from other businesses and increase by 20% the volume of inventory data it contributes to the public domain.
Continue research work
In addition to VINCI Construction’s partnership with Patrimoine Naturel (a collaborative research and education entity focused on natural heritage, also known as PatriNat), VINCI supports research projects that promote biodiversity by working closely with the scientific community. In 2023, VINCI renewed its partnership with the schools AgroParisTech, extending the collaboration that created the lab recherche environnement research programme in 2008. The research programme focuses on improving the health, comfort and well-being of users by continuing to reduce urban heat island effects and impacts on the water cycle.
Despite offering cities valuable tools to adapt to climate change and reduce their environmental impact, ecosystem services appear to be under-optimised. Given that observation, AgroParisTech researchers focused on the following topics in 2024:
The research team has also introduced subjects that it will continue to study in 2025: biodiversity in the soil (brown network) and the implementation and management of green spaces (urban and peri-urban).
Actions to reduce the pressure of the Group’s activities on biodiversity
To reduce the pressures of VINCI’s activities on biodiversity in relation to the five direct drivers of biodiversity loss identified by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES, see paragraph 2.6.1, “Identification of material impacts, risks and opportunities”, page 228), a range of actions adapted to issues are rolled out at entities.
Land use and fragmentation factor
Develop land recycling to avoid new soil sealing
Land recycling refers to developing property on obsolete land that has been restored and repurposed because it no longer serves its previous purpose or the buildings on it have fallen into disrepair. The notion of recycling applies when activity has stopped or is planned to discontinue in the near future. Examples of land to be redeveloped include abandoned industrial facilities, dilapidated housing, polluted land, and obsolete office complexes or shopping areas. VINCI Immobilier has set a target to generate more than 50% of revenue through land recycling and achieve the “no net land take” target (excluding Urbat and operations in Poland) by 2030. Its commitment is opening up promising opportunities for the Group in the areas of soil remediation, resource conservation and avoiding land take.
In 2024, VINCI Immobilier generated 41% of its revenue from land recycling operations, despite the difficult economic environment (see paragraph 2.6.3, “Performance monitoring”, page 234).
Furthermore, VINCI’s Environment Division and Leonard, the Group’s innovation and foresight platform, are jointly leading a foresight programme, launched in 2022, focused on land recycling. A working group has been set up with experts from Group divisions to consider the different ways in which VINCI could advance in this area. The discussions underscored that the Group has all the expertise needed to implement land recycling in an operational and integrated manner to support regions.
“No net land take” target for property development
Since 2022, VINCI Immobilier has measured soil sealing before and after each project and declined to pursue any project in which the extent of land take exceeds the floor area built.
In addition to the land take calculation, VINCI Immobilier is accelerating biodiversity assessments in its operations. It now assesses biodiversity issues on all land by systematically using the Biodi-Bat mapping tool. This aid in operational decision-making is essential for implementing VINCI Immobilier’s environmental strategy and ensures that a consistent approach is taken for all projects.
In 2023, the approach was enhanced with notifications sent to the commitment committee whenever a project exceeds certain soil sealing thresholds.
VINCI Immobilier also participates in several working groups to share best practices related to the “no net land take” strategy. The Biodiversity Impulsion Group (BIG) programme by the Observatoire de l’Immobilier Durable (OID) enables the sharing of knowledge and feedback with property development companies. Experts participating in the think tank La Fabrique de la Cité, initiated by the VINCI Group, explore issues such as no net land take and the city of the future.
