PDL is situated in an exceptional environment, on the beautiful shores of Léman lake with the Alps as a backdrop.
PDL began its operations on this site in 1921.
Being aware of the natural environment surrounding PDL, and committed to preserving this environment, we wanted to know what species of fauna and flora were nearby and carry out reports on these, in order to determine our impact on these species and put measures in
place to protect them.
This process motivated us to have a Biodiversity Audit® carried out in 2012, and we were the first cigarette paper company in the world to do so.
PDL decided to an implement an action plan to manage the natural spaces (75% of the land on-site) in an eco-friendlier way, and to stop any practices that had a negative impact on the environment, creating safe solutions to preserve biodiversity as well as brand image in the eyes of its clients and partners.
As an example, we carried out qualitative and quantitative inventories, of fauna and of flora, in order to identify and to categorise the species that were present on the site – those that were protected, endangered, rare, invasive, etc., and to establish a set of references we could use to assess the improvements resulting from our biodiversity policy.
The experts at ASTERS (the conservation authority for natural areas in Haute-Savoie), also highlighted the site’s exceptional environmental profile, identifying 144 different varieties of flower (including a population of extremely rare orchids) and 80 animal species.
In order to protect our very rich biodiversity, PDL decided to set up a programme for managing the various green spaces.
Annual follow-up visits from ASTERS mean that this programme will be regularly monitored, and each visit will either reassure us that our actions have been successful, or warn us that they need to be reviewed.
