Everyone can take advantage of the benefits of carrying out their Bilan Carbone® and, if necessary, of the financial aid to finance it!

The Bilan Carbone© methodis the one used in France to produce the BEGES, comply with regulations and remain competitive.

The 2021 Finance Law extends the obligation to carry out a BEGES (Greenhouse Gas Emission Balance) to companies with more than 50 employees receiving funds from the European Recovery Plan.

This requirement, which until now has mainly concerned companies with more than 500 employees, aims to give a strong impetus to the decarbonization of companies, under penalty of sanctions, to reduce all GHG emissions at the national level in accordance with the National Low Carbon Strategy initiated by the government.

The extension of the target of committed companies thus becomes a powerful complementary tool in the French government's plan to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% by 2030. In the longer term, the announced ambition is to reach carbon neutrality in 2050, in accordance with the Paris Agreements.

Developed in 2004 by ADEME, Bilan Carbone© is aninternationally-recognized methodology for accurately accounting for GHG emissions linked to a company's or organization's activity.

On the basis of this assessment, companies can improve their control of their carbon footprint and implement their own low-carbon strategy.

An essential challenge in embarking on this sustainable trajectory is to identify the savings areas that are accessible and essential to maintaining its Carbon Competitiveness®.

The latter is becoming more and more essential in view of the growing demand from customers for "low-carbon" products and services, due to

• the accelerating rise in the price of carbon (x10 in 10 years),
• the multiplication of carbon tax mechanisms - I4CE has identified 68 to date
• the same requirement of their own customers.

It is in fact a collective awareness of the urgency to reduce its "Carbon Tax Base®".

These new obligations to calculate footprints come at a price: to raise awareness of the benefits they bring, many grants are available to companies to finance them.

National subsidies to finance your Bilan Carbone® assessment

Springboard for the Bilan Carbone® of SMEs

The Recovery Plan presented in September 2020 provides for nearly one third of its 100 billion to be spent on public subsidies to help organizations drive a green transition.

Through the Tremplin grant, ADEME finances the complete carbon footprint of French SMEs, including scopes 1, 2 and 3, concerning the direct and indirect emissions of companies.

This assistance is legally compliant, as the evaluation of the last scope was made mandatory in July 2022.

Since February 2021, the public aid "Tremplin pour la transition écologique" contributes to reimburse 80% of the financing of a BEGES, up to a limit of 5000€.

Concrete case: If you are an SME, the realization of a Bilan Carbone invoiced at 5000€ would cost you only 1000€, that is to say 4000€ of savings thanks to the public aid financed by the ADEME.

The cost of the Bilan Carbone®, made derisory by public funding, offers many advantages.

The evaluation of its dependence on fossil fuels, particularly oil, allows the company to orient its strategy to reduce its costs.

From a strategic point of view, it also allows to reinforce the Carbon Competitiveness® of a company which also improves its image by adopting a low-carbon trajectory and thus increases consumer and employee loyalty.

It should be noted that the Springboard for Ecological Transition grant does not only facilitate the completion of the Bilan Carbone®.

This assistance also covers most services aimed at improving the energy efficiency of company buildings, promoting the eco-design of products and services, decarbonizing vehicle fleets and heating or cooling systems, and even facilitates the obtaining of labels.

In concrete terms, the Springboard grant helps organizations carry out renovations to achieve the national objective of "having a BBC renovation or similar building stock by 2050". During these renovations, the BBC Rénovation label proposes low energy consumption objectives to be reached.

The ADEME also participates in the financing of the installation of LED lighting. Moreover, after analysis of the life cycle, a product can benefit from the European Ecolabel, financed at 80% up to 12000€. Finally, in the company's fleet of vehicles, the Springboard grant can help replace thermal vehicles with electric vehicles.

Thus, climate challenges - carbon neutrality in 2050 -, energy challenges - division by 2 of energy consumption in 2050 -, and social challenges - fight against precariousness, can be achieved.

Eligibility requirements

The criteria for receiving Springboard public assistance are quite broad, and the application process is easy.

Many actors are concerned by the ADEME subsidy, i.e. all SMEs, i.e. companies with less than 250 employees and an annual turnover of less than 50 million euros, and this for at least two consecutive years.  

Beware of certain conditions however: 

• some benefits are only reimbursed to industrial companies;
• To benefit from the Tremplin grant, and more specifically for the environmental display section, it is strongly recommended that you carry out a greenhouse gas emissions assessment beforehand.
• It is not possible to combine ADEME' s aid with another on services subsidized by ADEME; 
• Only uncommitted expenses are involved: quotes (unsigned!) will be requested for some services.

The goal of this funding assistance is to instill the most impactful changes possible. So go to the ADEME website to find out how to submit your application and benefit from the Springboard grant.

Diag Decarbon'Action for the Bilan Carbone© of SMEs and ETIs

Launched by ADEME and BpiFrance in collaboration with the Bilan Carbone Association, the Diag Décarbon'Action device is intended for SMEs and ETIs.

In accordance with the law, Diag Décarbon'Action allows companies not only to finance a complete Carbon Footprint, i.e. one that covers the 3 scopes, but also offers support in the first steps of the implementation of the action plan to reduce them; the device also supports the company in promoting its commitment to its employees, customers and partners.

In terms of numbers, Diag Décarbon'Action accompanies public and private organizations from 12 days to 8 months to promote a sustainable ecological transition.

The price list of the device is simple: 

• 10 000€ including 6000€ of subsidy for companies with less than 250 employees
• 10 000€ including 4000€ of subsidy for companies between 250 and 499 employees

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible, all you need to be is a company with less than 500 employees that has never carried out a carbon footprint®. 

The conditions are intended to be broad and the application process rather simple, to make the launch of an ambitious and impactful climate strategy accessible to all companies!

This accompaniment can only be done by a Diag Decarbon'Action approved expert, such as Global Climate Initiatives (GCI ) for example.

Being helped is good, being well accompanied is better!

The financing schemes set up by ADEME since February 2021 are therefore an opportunity for French companies to get moving and start their sustainable ecological transition.

This public aid will not only allow you to carry out your carbon footprint between 4000€ and 6000€ (depending on the size of your company), but also to communicate on your environmental commitment and your investments for the ecological transition.

But how do you choose the right person to help you calculate your Bilan Carbone®?

The Global Climate Initiatives platform

Global Climate Initiatives is the intelligent, 100% onlinereference platform for drawing up carbon footprints®and deploying action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more than ten years, GCI has been assisting entrepreneurs in their environmental transition process, from the annual establishment of their BEGES, as well as in their first steps towards eco-design.

GCI's online platform for calculating its complete, certified Bilan Carbone® offers the most competitive cost on the market and provides the most complete set of tools necessary to identify, calculate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in complete autonomy.

Remember that these two processes, calculating the Bilan Carbone® and implementing an action plan to reduce emissions, can be funded by the Tremplin and Diag Décarbon'Action grants.

F or more information on Global Climate Initiatives, visit our website and call us to take advantage of our service platform for your standalone GHG footprint calculation and mastery of your low-carbon pathway.