With eco2VE, VINCI Energies business units are able to assess the environmental impact of their projects. This unified proprietary solution is designed to be a commercial asset, a tool for raising awareness of decarbonisation issues, and a vector for a shared culture.
Until 2023, the different brands from VINCI energies had separate carbon accounting tools with separate databases and assessment methods. For better productivity and communication, a common tool for all have been designed to serve the needs from all Business Units across all activities.
The tool is managed by a team of experts alongside Staële TRIVIDIC, Environment Coordinator at VINCI Energies. eco2VE is being developed in collaboration with environment officers from the different divisions and brands: “We have to calculate the carbon impact of our projects in a consistent way across the Group, regardless of which business sectors or geographic regions they are in,” she explains. The aim of eco2VE is to replace all the different existing carbon estimators .
Developed by Axians Austria and Kosovo in coordination with the VINCI Energies Information Systems department, this tool is focused specifically on life cycle analysis (LCA) and calculating the carbon impact of each project. From energy-intensive materials to polluting means of transport or high-emissions production processes, eco2VE highlights “hotspots” to enable targeted carbon reduction efforts.
The tool has been designed to be used directly in the project bidding phase. “It’s difficult for a business unit to know what part of a project as the most environment impact. With eco2VE, we can compare versions and show the customer how they could save CO2 with a given solution,” says Staële Trividic. “This is not a reporting tool – it’s a decision-support tool designed for operational personnel.”
Target: International database from our suppliers
In practical terms, eco2VE is an application in which the different components of a project are selected as the basis for a calculation of the Scope 1, 2 and 3 carbon impact. It does so by referring to certified databases (for example, ADEME and INIES data in France and internationally EDP Norway, Boavista and many others), and ideally, the environmental product declarations (EPDs) provided by each supplier. It currently contains around 85,000 items, which is still relatively modest compared with the huge number of materials and processes used by VINCI Energies, and therefore requires some flexibility.
To rigorously measure the real impact of their projects, users have to identify alternatives to data not yet present in the database as we depend on our supplier database availabilities . But the database continues to be populated internally and is gradually expanding. This is an ongoing task, requiring each brand to upload all the information they possess.
“In 10 years, we won’t believe we were ever without this tool”
In a future development planned, the calculator will automatically suggest low-carbon alternatives based on best practice identified during previous similar projects.
An awareness-raising tool
The rollout of eco2VE is being managed via a network of ambassadors trained to support the teams in each division. Expect webinars, workshops and training materials with a strong emphasis on local ownership.
Adrien Mazuy, Business Unit Manager at Tunzini Contracting, has trained all his business development managers and design engineers. “The tool is concise, practical and easy to use,” he says. “It facilitates communication around low carbon, greatly raising stakeholder awareness.”
Adrien Mazuy is less concerned with eco2VE’s technical precision than its ability to get everyone mobilised around decarbonisation issues: “We’re steering customers toward low-carbon solutions and educating operational decision makers. The discussion is directly driven by those face-to-face with the project owners, which is important.”
Using a single tool to raise our teams’ awareness about decarbonisation issues has had an interesting side effect. Adrien Mazuy recalls a project meeting where different VINCI entities spoke with one voice about eco2VE. This cohesion impressed the customer. Beyond a simple green communication message, eco2VE strengthens the Group’s common culture and presents a consistent image.
Real-world use case
According to Adrien Mazuy, the carbon calculator definitely scores highly with engaged order givers: “It gives us a head start over our competitors, completely separately from the issue of decarbonisation.” This approach has enabled his business unit to win contracts, including with organisations such as Thalès and Crédit Agricole, which have well-developed CSR policies.
With decision-makers who have yet to engage with the issue, he believes the tool facilitates a proactive approach – and Adrien Mazuy is happy to stir things up: “We regularly present low-carbon options to customers, even when they haven’t requested anything of the sort. But if we don’t educate people, who will?”
At Cegelec Belgium, teams trialled eco2VE in a construction project for the future control tower for airports in Wallonia. “It was a design-build scenario, so we used the tool right from the bid submission phase,” says the project engineer, Vincent Mathieu. “The aviation sector is a heavy greenhouse gas emitter. For the control tower, a solution with excellent energy performance seemed appropriate.” Their bid, optimised in terms of energy performance and CO2 impact, was deemed the best fit.
Teething problems
Like other users, Vincent Mathieu highlights the missing equipment in the database, which for the moment is probably resulting in approximations using alternative equipment.
But despite this, he is convinced that this is the way forward: “The approach is excellent. In 10 years, we won’t believe we were ever without this tool.” And for his part, Adrien Mazuy concludes that leading companies have a responsibility to drive change and help their ecosystems move toward more responsible practices.
11/14/2025
