Preservation of coasts and oceans
The ocean is essential to the planet’s climate stability. That is why Heppner has partnered at both local and Group level with a number of organisations that are committed to preserving our oceans.
“Surfrider is delighted with this partnership with Heppner, a Group that has consistently put CSR at the forefront. Its support will enable us to continue our awareness-raising, mobilisation, citizen science and advocacy actions.
While essential to life on Earth, oceans face many threats related with human activities. Surfrider Foundation Europe takes action every day to protect this common heritage of mankind and drive real change to the heart of our societies. As part of this dynamic, we are joining forces with Heppner to raise awareness among its employees and further support the company in its commitment to the environment and biodiversity.”
Heppner x Surfrider Foundation Europe: a partnership signed for 3 years
Just a few months ahead of the Third United Nations Conference on the Oceans, Heppner has signed a 3-year partnership agreement to provide long-term support for Surfrider Foundation Europe’s actions. The Group will provide financial support each year to contribute to the Foundation’s ocean protection and coastal preservation initiatives. Thematic programmes on climate change or water quality, with litter collection activities and “zero waste” workshops, will also raise awareness of these issues among all of the Group’s employees.

Focus: What is Surfrider Foundation Europe?
Founded in the 1990s by ocean enthusiasts, Surfrider Foundation Europe is a non-profit organisation that today mobilises a community of over 230,000 sympathisers, 16,000 members/donors and 1,300 volunteers in 12 European countries. The NGO works to protect and draw public attention to the oceans and preserve the coastline and its users.
Its actions are articulated around three main themes:
– The fight against marine litter, in particular, plastic waste and single-use plastic items.
– Coastal planning to counter the challenges and threats posed by climate change, for example, sea transport.
– Water quality and user health, threatened by different types of pollution (bacteriological, biological and chemical).
Anchor biodiversity actions in local areas
> Rungis branch x Faune ALFORT: as winners of the 2024 QWL challenge, the branch’s teams were able to vote for the local NGO that would put into action the project closest to their hearts. An encounter and a donation ceremony highlighted the work of this NGO, which rescues local wild animals in distress with the goal of reintroducing them into their natural environment after they are healed.

> Commitment to marine biodiversity in the South-East
Five branches in the South-East support the Fondation de la Mer. This support is funding a study on Risso’s dolphin and a mission to protect sea turtle egg-laying sites in the Mediterranean.
In addition, the Avignon, Montpellier and Toulon branches sponsor one pink flamingo per employee to finance the monitoring and observation of pink flamingo populations carried out by the Tour du Valat, a research institute that works for the conservation of Mediterranean wetlands.
Actions close to the branches
Local projects continue to promote biodiversity around our branches:
- 66 beehives in 2024 (vs. 33 in 2023), including 36 installed on our sites.
- Eco-grazing (Metz branch).
- Collaborative vegetable garden (Saint-Priest branch).
These projects serve to educate and coalesce our employees around a common cause.