“The president wants to lead by example. On all floors, on all levels! "Warns a close friend of Emmanuel Macron. By announcing this Wednesday the launch of a major plan "eco-responsible public services", during an ecological defense council, the Head of State, anxious to convince that he can embody ecology, intends to pass the message to the highest level of the Republic. Translation: the Elysée will also make an effort in terms of ecological transition. The idea even goes back several months, precisely last fall, when a global action plan was adopted by the presidency's services for the 2019-2022 financial year, with three projects implemented "to change behavior and practices ”at the Palace.
Concretely, according to our information, several measures have even emerged recently, such as the provision of electric scooters for employees, but also a hydrogen service car, and the strengthening of the use of rooms videoconferencing to avoid travel.
Hybrid armored vehicle and general water bottle distribution
Regarding the presidential armored vehicle, it will soon be replaced by a hybrid model. On the garden side, the maintenance of shrubs, flower beds and weed treatment are now done without any pesticide.
On the kitchen side, "we will increase the share of organic and responsible products, that is to say in short circuits, to reach 50% of our public food market by the end of 2020," said an employee. As for disposable cups and plastic water bottles… They were quite simply banned on rue du faubourg Saint-Honoré (8th). "We consumed 220,000 bottles per year, the equivalent of 600 per day," admits the Elysée.
In compensation, each employee was offered between Christmas and New Year's Day a transparent gourd flanked by the logo of the presidency, and made in France. They will be able to supply themselves with still and sparkling water thanks to the fountains soon installed and connected to the running water network.
And the Elysée will not be the only institution concerned since, from July 2020, all new vehicles of ministers, state secretaries and prefects, and at least 50% of official vehicles acquired by the services of the State will need to be rechargeable electric or hybrid.