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• Success Story

Success Story

Focus on Kristen King, former EnviM student.

Today, Kristen King  is a sustainability professional with nearly a decade of experience in corporate sustainability. Her objective is to empower companies and institutions to pursue strategic and sustainable business operations. Kristen takes a holistic view, integrating business, environmental, and social components within organizations to develop impactful sustainability practices that connect these elements. Her educational experiences in the United States, China, and France have strengthened her ability to understand and engage with individuals from diverse cultural, political, and economic backgrounds, ensuring the successful implementation of programs across global organizations.

Could you tell us about your career journey since leaving EnvIM ?

My career journey has been shaped by my passion for sustainability and environmental management. While completing my thesis for EnvIM, I joined FMC Corporation, an American chemical company, as a Sustainability Analyst, where I conducted a scope 3 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory and led the publication of the company’s annual sustainability report. In this role, I gained invaluable experience in applying the skills I developed in my studies to real-world sustainability issues.

Following my completion of EnvIM, I took on the newly created role of Corporate Social Responsibility Data Manager at Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), global retail and pharmaceutical wholesale business, where I was able to positively influence external Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings and rankings, e.g., successful engagement resulted in WBA being named to the Dow Jones North America Sustainability Index for the first time in 2020. I particularly enjoyed the cross-functional collaboration in setting science-based GHG emission reduction targets for WBA’s global operations, as it allowed me to combine my analytical skills with my passion for creating positive environmental outcomes.

Over time, I was offered the opportunity to return to manufacturing at Ardagh Metal Packaging (AMP), leading global supplier of metal beverage cans, as Director of Sustainability reporting to the Chief Sustainability Officer. I was excited to leverage the additional skills I acquired while at WBA in developing and implementing projects around GHG emission reductions and circularity, e.g., launching an industry wide initiative focused on global aluminium can recycling, which resulted in the including having the opportunity to present and engage global leaders on circularity at COP28 in Dubai, UAE.

Most recently, in my current role as Director of Sustainability at James Hardie Building Products, the world’s #1 producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions, I am responsible for leading the North America ESG strategy development and deployment. As my career continues to evolve, I’ve learned the importance of continuous learning and staying adaptable. The sustainability field is complex and ever changing, and it’s crucial to remain up to date on emerging trends, technologies and regulations to make the greatest positive impact.

What skills that you acquired in EnvIM MS have helped you in your career ?

During my time in EnvIM MS program, I acquired a wide range of skills that have been crucial in addressing global environmental challenges throughout my career. I developed and strengthened my ability to formulate sustainability strategies and policies by studying environmental laws, regulations and international standards. I also learned to advocate for sustainable practices and integrate environmental considerations into business and governmental policies.

Through case studies and practical applications, I strengthened my project management skills including budgeting, scheduling and stakeholder engagement, essential for leading and contributing to sustainability projects. I improved my ability to effectively communicate complex environmental data to diverse audiences, from technical reports to public presentations, ensuring clarity and transparency in environmental decision-making.

Further, the program provided opportunities to work on interdisciplinary teams, enhancing my leadership, teamwork and conflict resolution skills, all of which are vital in the sustainability field. These skills, along with the hands-on experience and knowledge gained during my studies, have equipped me to contribute meaningfully to the development of sustainable practices across a number of organizations and industries.

How would you describe your current role ?

As the Director of Sustainability, my role involves overseeing and leading the development and implementation of sustainability initiatives across James Hardie’s North America business. I work closely across business departments and various functions to integrate sustainable practices into our operations, ensuring that environmental impact is minimized while aligning with the company’s goals and values.

One of my key responsibilities is to set long-term sustainability goals and create strategies that promote environmental stewardship, energy efficiency, waste reduction and responsible resource management. I also oversee the measurement and reporting of sustainability metrics, ensuring we maintain transparency and accountability aligned with external frameworks.

Additionally, I collaborate with external stakeholders, such as regulatory bodies, industry groups and local communities, to stay ahead of emerging trends and comply with environmental and reporting regulations. Educating and engaging employees about sustainability practices is another important aspect of my role, as creating a culture of sustainability within the organization is vital for success.

I also stay involved in innovation, exploring new technologies and practices that can further our sustainability efforts, whether that’s through adopting renewable energy solutions, enhancing supply chain sustainability, or creating circular economy initiatives. The role is both dynamic and rewarding, as it allows me to drive meaningful change while working toward a more sustainable future for the company and the planet.

Do you have advice for current EnvIM students ?

My advice for the current, and future, EnvIM students would be to embrace a multidisciplinary approach to learning and stay curious. The field of environmental sustainability is complex, and solutions require collaboration across various sectors and expertise. While the theoretical knowledge is essential, don’t overlook current environmental challenges. This field continues to evolve rapidly. Stay updated on global environmental / sustainability trends and real-world case studies.

This will make your academic work more relevant and impactful. Take advantage of networking opportunities, whether through professors, lecturers, or industry events. Building a strong professional network early on can open doors for internships, collaborations and job opportunities after graduation. One of the most important skills you can develop is the ability to communicate complex issues and solutions to both technical and non-technical audiences. Whether this is through writing reports, presenting findings, or engaging stakeholders, strong and clear communication will be crucial in your future career.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help, the program can be intense and it’s okay to reach out to professors, peers or alumni when you’re feeling overwhelmed. The collaborative nature of the program means you’re not alone, and everyone is willing to help you succeed. Lastly, stay passionate about sustainability and the impact you can have. Like any field it can have its challenges, but the work is also incredibly rewarding.

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• The Post-Master EnvIM students defended their thesis

The Post-Master EnvIM students defended their thesis

The thesis topics illustrate the wide range of issues, challenges, and possible levers for implementing an environmentally responsible strategy for enterprises in various sectors.

The oral presentations enabled us to delve deeper into topical issues relating to environmental questions, and to measure the quality of the work carried out by MS students on these subjects.

To what extent can project managers respond to the current challenges of the circular economy and what strategies and tools should they adopt to anticipate future regulatory requirements and align their projects with the ambitions of the extended circular economy on the territorial scale ?

– Pathway to Net Zero for Insurance Companies : a Study on Insurance-Associated Emissions of Home Insurance in France. Crédit Agricole Assurances

– Highways of progress and paths of conflict : between development, controversy and unequal environmental and social impacts. Setec international

– What business model would make investing in rooftop PV and #battery storage profitable for residential clients ? EDF US Innovation Lab

– Adopting SAI framework to enhance sustainability outcomes for water and biodiversity within the private sector. Danone

– Raw material assessment of Rexel France : quantification, risks and opportunities with wood and copper. Rexel

– The voluntary sector and the challenge of hashtagdecarbonization. Urbanomy

– Deploying Industrial and Commercial Packaging Reuse. RE(SET)

– Recycling of soft PVC- based products : stakes, technologies and applications, Decathlon France Water Sport Center

– Sustainable Architecture in the Luxury Industry : Integrating Sustainability, Supplier Partnerships, and Consumer Behavior for Long-Term Growth, LVMH Céline

– Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Characterization of Hydrocarbon and Hazardous Gas Emissions in the Marcellus Shale : Insights for Mitigation and Prevention. FracTracker Alliance

– How can financial actors effectively build pragmatic and ambitious biodiversity strategies ? BL évolution

– How is sustainability integrated into the innovation process within the private sector for consumer goods ? Quantis

– Prospective Study on the Decarbonisation of the French Primary Steel Industry. Réseau Action Climat

– Key Factors Influencing the Success of Waste Management in the Middle East : Regulatory, Cultural, and Environmental Perspectives with Lessons from Global Practices. SUEZ SA

CONGRATULATIONS to Alexandre SCHAMBERGER Zhao Liu Eva Tavares Lucie Lambreth Cordélia Pelletier de Chambure Aurélie Brunstein Elie Matar Mateo Delaveau Victoire Dumont Martin Bernard Xingci (Chichi) Chen Dylan Gordon Nour El Korek Tanguy Larcher Haocheng Yang Clémentine Pelissier

See you for the graduation ceremony !

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• APPLICATION FOR THE POST-MASTER ENVIM

APPLICATION FOR THE POST-MASTER ENVIM

APPLICATION FOR THE POST-MASTER ENVIM

It is time to apply to EnvIM an international “Mastère Spécialisé” offered by Mines Paris-PSL.

This 12-month program dedicated to International Environmental Management is a full time 5-month academic period in Paris with conference, lectures, projects, with a stay in Italy, and visits around Paris, followed by an internship in a company.

Students will understand the complex environmental and social challenges companies and project managers are facing today, from local and global scales.

By mean of real life case studies they will know how to build a practical set of solutions as future manager. From climate strategy to biodiversity, for companies and their supply chains, they will be able to design innovative pathways toward ambitious targets, using state of the art assessment tools for decision making and collaborative approaches.

The deadline to apply is June 17th, the program is starting in January 2025.

To know more about our program join us online via Zoom June 7th at 1:00 pm

To participate, send us an email to : communication@isige.mines-paristech.fr with your name and surname.

More info here : https://lnkd.in/gNK-ZSYG

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• EnvIM Urban Workshop in Turin

EnvIM Urban Workshop in Turin

How to imagine a sustainable urban future for a fairly deprived area ? What are the social, spatial and environmental implications of a new ecology-oriented strategy for the transformations of a specific district ? How a car-oriented city can become the hub of a new ecological modern paradigm ?

These were the main questions the ENVIM students had to deal with during their urban workshop in Turin.

During one week, they explored the district of Aurora, a former industrial area closed to the city center, which has undergone major urban crises over the last 40 years.

With the support of researchers from the Politecnico di Torino – Aurora Lab, Politecnico di Milano, ISIGE Mines Paris-PSL and the kind contribution of the Circoscrizione 7 that hosted them, the students were asked to work for the 2030-2050 urban agenda of the district.

3 groups were tackling various facets of the ecological transformation of the district :

☑ inclusive urbanism
☑ healthy urbanism
☑ net-zero urbanism

Within a week, and in a charrette-mode of functioning, they all developed an empirical, evidence-based and thematised diagnosis of the district, before suggesting a new strategic concept and a plan of actions that should sustain this strategy.

Last Friday, they presented their work and suggestions in front of the City of Turin, a local NGO : Fondazione Communità di Porta Palazzo and other urban researchers working on the district, sparking intense and promising discussions.

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• Methanization to recover local organic waste

Methanization to recover local organic waste

The example of Equimeth in COMMUNE DE MORET-LOING-ET-ORVANNE

Agriculture, wood supply chain, food production system… generate various organic wastes and they can be integrated into local bioenergy production.

One of the technologies for waste recycling is the development of methanizer.

– The students of EnvIM advanced master (module AgroEcology) had the opportunity to visit the Equimeth methanization plant located in Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne.

This unit is involved in the recycling of 25.000 tonnes of organic waste per year by producing solid and liquid biological fertilizers. Waste (mainly unused crops, vegetation and food products) is sourced from local producers at about 20km away.

Many thanks to the Equimeth team : it was a very interesting visit which helped our students to understand the role of such facility in the local bioeconomy.

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• Assessing biodiversity in the forest of Fontainebleau

Assessing biodiversity in the forest of Fontainebleau

The management of natural areas, ecological habitats and species is based on different methodologies that share a common starting point : the naturalistic inventory.

In the famous forest of Fontainebleau, a UNESCO and Natura 2000 site, we organized a field session with our Envim advanced master’students.

Indeed, it was an opportunity to share knowledge and know-how on the methodology for observing and identifying species and characterizing natural habitats.

Moreover, it was also the occasion to talk about how plants can indicate environmental variables according to their ecology : for example, the presence and abundance of Pteridium aquilinum (common bracken / eagle fern) is an indicator of an acidic soil in this area.

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• Green Project Management

Green Project Management

The students of EnvIM program ISIGE Mines Paris-PSL are working this month on “Green Project Management of Renewable Energy by PV and storage” – a project dedicated to energy transition in developping countries (Vietnam and Madagascar).

This project is an opportunity to understand the project manager position within various international contexts and legal frameworks :

– How to answer a call for tender ?
– How to build a business model for green renewable energy solutions taking into account non financial criterias (environmental and social and Governance) and the risks of the operation ?

The students visited the roof top PV power plant designed and operated by GreenYellow France, on top of the Semmaris building in Rungis, with Solène Nouvellon, Perla Tannous

Thanks to our partners Sébastien Prioux, Jean-Baptiste Béoutis, Aimilios Orfanos and Simon Camal

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• Récompenses !

Récompenses !

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• Cérémonie de remise des diplômes

Cérémonie de remise des diplômes

Vendredi 1er mars s’est déroulé la cérémonie de remise des diplômes des 16 Mastères Spécialisés proposés par Mines Paris-PSL, promotions 2022-2023.

Les étudiants des trois Promotions de l’ISIGE Mines Paris-PSL, spécialisé en environnement et développement durable, ont reçu leur diplôme des mains de Vincent Lafleche, directeur général de l’École des Mines Paris-PSL, sous les chaleureux applaudissements de leurs pairs, familles et amis.

Nous adressons toutes nos félicitations aux étudiants de la Promo 32 du Mastère Spécialisé Expert en Environnement et Développement Durable parcours Ingénierie et Gestion de l’Environnement (IGE).

Félicitations également aux étudiants de la Promo 15 du Mastère Spécialisé Expert en Environnement et Développement Durable parcours exécutive Management Global de la RSE et du Développement Durable (RSEDD) – École des Mines Paris / Cegos France.

Et bravo aux étudiants de la Promo 16 du Mastère spécialisé International Environmental Management EnvIM option Asia / option World et option Europe.

Toute l’équipe de l’ISIGE Mines Paris-PSL vous souhaite beaucoup de succès pour la suite !

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• EnvIM Functional Economy Project

EnvIM Functional Economy Project

In line with the new EU green deal framework for circular economy, is a new tendency for companies for alternative business models, to shift from the offer of products to the offer of services, adjusting to “product as a service” model for their clients.

This transfers value out of the object, but still fulfilling the client’s needs, in the objective of reducing their consumption of #esources, reduce and reuse wastes, and improving the quality and lifespan of products at the same time.

In January, three visits were organized for the EnvIM students to discover these innovations and operating activities in various sectors :

– France Plastique Recyclage PAPREC GROUP
– Recyc Matelas Europe
– Refactory – Renault

France Plastique Recyclage gives plastic bottles a second life, over a billion plastic bottles are recycled every year. In this ultra-modern facility on the banks of the Seine, 45,000 tonnes of used plastic bottles begin a #newlife every year. Whether they contained mineral water or soft drinks, all emerge from selective sorting.

Once collected, blue PET bottles are sorted again to remove labels, caps and avoid classification errors. Next the material is shredded and cleaned, being ready for extrusion melted and passed through screens to eliminate any impurities.

The obtained granulates are then purified for seven hours in a vacuum at 200°C. This mandatory stage is standardised to ensure the material is suitable for food use, and sell back to manufacturers to produce new bottles.

RECYC MATELAS EUROPE is the French leader in mattress recycling. By sorting and dismantling old used mattresses, to produce final material recovery, they transform bulky waste into a valuable resource. By optimising the recycling rate, almost 30,000 tonnes of mattresses are recycled every year.

Since 2013, having at hearth a mission for integration, the group is committed to combating exclusion by giving priority to hiring people who are far from employment. This ambition is embodied in a personalised support programme, covering both professional subjects and skills useful for integration.

Refactory Renault
The Refactory Renault is Europe’s first circular economy factory dedicated to mobility, encouraging initiatives, developing innovations to better repair, re-trofit to less carbon-intensive energies vehicles, re-energy and improved the life cycle of batteries of electric vehicles.