In April 2023, Veolia brought together stakeholders from the “+1, the ecology turned into actions” collective. This was an opportunity to make public the method of this cooperative approach between stakeholders for promoting ecological transformation, and to discuss initial practical applications of +1 around the world and others on the way, including with the Cercle français de l’eau (French Water Circle).
A method available as open-source
“+1, the ecology turned into actions” is a method for cooperation between stakeholders, from five different categories (Employees, Customers, Shareholders, Society and Planet), with the aim of promoting decompartmentalized dialogue on ecological issues to stimulate cooperation and innovation. Veolia published the method as open-source and shared it at this event for all members of the +1 collective at La Recyclerie.
Watch this video for event highlights and speeches from:
- Florence Daumas, Chief Executive Officer, Cercle français de l’eau (French Water Circle)
- Martin Duval, Co-founder and Co-chairman, bluenove
- Timothée Duverger, Lecturer, Science Po Bordeaux
- Cristian Mocanu, Secretary General, Coficert
- Frédérique Lellouche, Director of Comité 21
- Olivier Carlat, Director of Social Development, Veolia
- Sophie Duval-Huwart, Head of Strategy, Veolia
- Fanny Demulier, Coordinator of the Purpose Steering Committee, Veolia
Two-year review of shared work and the systems for cooperation in place around the world
This meeting was also a chance for a first two-year review of this collective intelligence project. Three ecological transformation handbooks on local resilience, innovation and employment and social integration were publicly released. They are the result of the +1 collective work sessions in 2022.
Since the implementation of the +1 process, 12 collectives using the +1 method have been created in 8 geographical zones, with 250 stakeholders involved. This method is central to the creation of the Group’s next strategic program: 150 Group stakeholders have been consulted in France and on an international level.
It can be deployed on a regional or local-contract level, as in Nice in 2021 for the contract to modernize the city’s waste energy recovery plant and its next-generation waste sorting center. Here, Veolia and Nice Côte d’Azur Métropole designed an open, participatory form of governance: the “Environmental and Social High Committee,” which brings together representatives from civil society and contract stakeholders.
This method will also be implemented on behalf of a partner, the Cercle français de l’eau, to mobilize regional stakeholders on water issues: managing water and raising awareness among elected officials and water users.
As Florence Daumas, Chief Executive Officer of Cercle français de l’eau, explains:
To build society around ecological transformation or water management is really about creating dialogue and relationships between people. We would like to implement [the +1 method] with water users on a pilot site. And with them, to build solutions for long-term water management and find out whether this collaborative approach can re-establish dialogue at the local level. We’ll test it. We’ll experiment!
Find out more
- Open-source +1 tools
- “CSR, Climate: How to reinvent the dialogue with stakeholders for real ecological transformation.” (Novethic, article in French)