Grand Pavois La Rochelle, an eco-responsible event

For several years now, the Grand Pavois La Rochelle has been actively committed to social and environmental responsibility.
As a leading boat show, we are committed to reducing the event’s environmental impact and promoting more sustainable boating, by supporting innovations and raising awareness of responsible practices among our visitors, exhibitors and partners.
Discover our commitments and the concrete actions we have taken to preserve the environment and promote an ecological transition in the maritime sector, while remaining a major economic and social player in the region.

Our commitment to sustainable boating

The importance of ecological transition in the boating industry

Boating faces major environmental challenges, including water pollution, CO₂ emissions and the use of non-recyclable materials. The sector’s ecological transition is essential to preserve marine ecosystems and guarantee sustainable development. Technological innovations, alternative energies, eco-design of boats and good practices by yachtsmen are all levers for reducing the environmental footprint of boating. By committing to this approach, the marine industry can become a key player in the protection of oceans and biodiversity.

For a more sustainable boating

To support innovation in eco-responsible boating, Grand Pavois La Rochelle is devoting an area entirely dedicated to Eco-navigation, which is growing in size with each passing edition. On land and afloat, new solutions aimed at decarbonizing the maritime sector are presented: boats with electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion, biosourced resins and plant fibers…
At the same time, the emphasis is on raising awareness, to encourage responsible practices among the general public. Thanks to a dedicated communication campaign, a program of events featuring numerous highlights (conferences, testimonials, film screenings, workshops, etc.) and the presence at the show of local & committed associations, the aim is clearly to give everyone the keys to “making things change.”

Actions taken to reduce our impact

As part of its global ambition to preserve the environment, its biodiversity and the protection of the oceans, the Grand Pavois La Rochelle international afloat boat show is committed each year to an eco-responsible approach, through a wide range of actions.

Sensibilisation au Grand Pavois La Rochelle

Reasonable installation and energy consumption

Rental of demountable tents and structures, shared and reused for many other events.
Use of timeless signage elements and flags, reused over several editions.
LED and low-energy lighting systems.
Experimentation with alternative energy solutions to power certain installations.
Elimination of the majority of large halls to avoid the installation of ventilation and heating systems…
Preference for small, independent, autonomous outdoor structures.

Waste management and recycling

We are implementing a waste management plan to ensure efficient sorting and recycling of as many waste streams as possible, for the duration of the show:

Various collection points with selective sorting bins during the event.
Sorting zones set up for exhibitors and technical teams during set-up and dismantling.
Rigorous collection and re-sorting process organized by a dedicated team.
Restriction on the use of plastic water bottles and provision of water fountains in common areas.
Recycling and upcycling of signage elements that cannot be re-used by several local associations.

We strive to improve the proportion of waste recycled with each new edition, but awareness of the need to reduce waste remains essential – remember, the best waste is the waste that doesn’t exist!

Restauration responsable - Grand Pavois La Rochelle

Responsible catering

By selecting local restaurateurs and committed local service providers, Grand Pavois La Rochelle has chosen to offer responsible catering during the event, for visitors and staff alike:

Local and seasonal products.
Vegetarian/vegan menus on the menu of each catering outlet.
Reusable tableware to reduce single-use containers.

Each restaurant owner is also encouraged to manage quantities carefully to avoid food waste, and is supported in managing bio-waste.
Regional products such as oysters, pineau des Charentes, etc., are also featured on several stands, confirming the event’s regional roots.

Mobilité empreinte carbone Grand Pavois La Rochelle

Mobility and reducing our carbon footprint

We encourage alternative solutions to limit CO₂ emissions linked to everyone’s travel during the event:

Deployment of bicycle parking facilities, with over 500 spaces available at the show entrances.
Setting up free bus links (electric, hybrid or GNV or bioGNV) for visitors and exhibitors, from dedicated parking lots.
Specific transport offers deployed exclusively on the occasion of the show to encourage the use of public transport such as regional buses and trains.
Use of soft modes of transport by the organizing teams during the set-up and dismantling phases.

By using the Port des Minimes in La Rochelle, and in particular its wet dock, to exhibit nearly 300 boats, Grand Pavois La Rochelle enables many boats to arrive by sea, thus limiting their carbon footprint.

Communication responsable Grand Pavois La Rochelle

A more responsible communication

We are also adopting an eco-responsible approach to limit our impact on communications:

Digitization of the majority of show passes.
Provision of an interactive map of the show, replacing the paper version.
Design of print materials, in particular the official show catalog, in collaboration with our local partner Imprim’Vert*.
Systematic recycling of all paper issued for the event, and optimization of the process.
Sustainable design of signage elements, using eco-responsible materials for reuse over several editions.

*The aim of the Imprim’Vert label is to reduce the environmental impact of our printing activities.

To further reduce the impact of the event, Grand Pavois La Rochelle has chosen to work with socially and environmentally committed service providers, most of whom are local. This limits the carbon impact of the event and promotes the local economy.