Anthony Bailleul has been a Sustainability Engineer at Gattefossé since 2020. The group engaged Carbone 4 Conseil in 2022 to help them develop their decarbonization plan. Since then, Gattefossé has established a new industrial hub in the United States, requiring an update to their action plan. Anthony therefore decided to take the “Decarbonization Action Plan” training course in November 2025 with the goal of becoming fully self-sufficient in updating their action plan following this change in scale.

Can you tell us about your professional background before the training?

I’m a chemical engineer by training, and I began my career in green chemistry. I wanted to work on bio-based molecules, but I had trouble identifying exactly how they were better for the environment compared to petroleum-based molecules. So I decided to join Gattefossé in 2020 as a sustainability engineer focused on measuring the environmental impact of chemicals, to strengthen my skills in this area.

I started from scratch: I learned what a carbon footprint was as I went along. I taught myself the basics before taking a more specialized course offered by Académie Carbone 4. Today, I work on carbon footprints and LCAs—both for some of our products and for the group as a whole.

What was the situation at Gattefossé regarding environmental issues when you arrived?

CSR was just beginning to take shape at that time, and I helped develop the company’s CSR strategy by contributing my expertise in impact analysis. I set about measuring our carbon footprint, which was a pressing priority given our clients’ requests to complete the CDP.

I would like to point out that Gattefossé has always been a pioneer in integrating environmental concerns into its operations, even if this wasn’t formally defined as such. René-Maurice Gattefossé is one of the founding fathers of modern aromatherapy, and in the company’s early days, he revitalized the lavender industry—which was struggling economically—by promoting local sourcing in a responsible manner. Today, the company is still owned by the Gattefossé family, and it’s fair to say that the “spirit of responsibility” has always been at the heart of its operations; it simply wasn’t highlighted in the same way as it is today.

Furthermore, it is important to note that Gattefossé often goes beyond regulatory requirements: when it comes to carbon emissions, we have no regulatory obligations, and yet the company allocates resources to make progress on this issue.

How did you find out about our training program?

In 2022–2023, we engaged Carbone 4 Conseil to provide guidance. The project lasted several months and was divided into three phases: a review of our carbon footprint (which I had calculated myself and which was validated by the Carbone 4 team), the implementation of an action plan through three in-person workshops, and finally, assistance with preparing an SBTI report.

A few months later, I came across the “Decarbonization Action Plan” training program in a newsletter. I watched the introductory webinar and decided to sign up because it was a perfect fit for my needs. I was also very happy to see Bastien again as the “Decarbonization Action Plan” trainer—he had already guided us throughout the consulting project!

What were your professional challenges at that time?

The decarbonization plan proposed by Carbone 4 following the consulting engagement was very well-developed, but it applied only to our main industrial site in Lyon. Since that consulting engagement, we have developed a new industrial hub in Texas, so it was essential to revise our action plan to ensure consistency in light of this change in scale.

What made you decide to sign up?

I think Carbone 4 offers the best consulting services. To do a thorough job, you need serious experts. I already knew Bastien, and seeing that he was a trainer for the Decarbonization Action Plan reassured me about the quality of the training.

To me, training is about passing on knowledge. When working with a consulting firm, it’s actually the consultant who sets up all the tools and outlines the steps to follow. I wanted to develop my own skills and gain access to the tools needed to replicate the exercise we did with the consulting firm, in order to strengthen our action plan by incorporating this change in scale.

What aspects of the training made the biggest impression on you?

I had no doubt about Bastien’s skills, and I found the other trainers to be just as good. The materials and content are of very high quality; you can tell that Carbone 4’s expertise has been woven into the training. Everything is well presented and well structured. The in-person session allowed us to do “live” exercises, which fostered greater interactivity—it was very interesting.

What skills or knowledge did you gain from the training?

The training gave me all the tools I need to independently develop our improved decarbonization plan, identifying various actions and quantifying them. I now have a better understanding of how to justify to management which options or investments are best for reducing both our costs and our carbon footprint, and I have all the necessary tools at my disposal, tailored to our specific needs, that will allow me to improve our decarbonization plan, which I hope will be of high quality.

Furthermore, I have come to understand the importance of procurement in our decarbonization strategy. It accounts for a large portion of our Scope 3 emissions, so it is essential that we take action in this area to reduce our carbon footprint. We work with various types of suppliers—from small local plant suppliers to international organizations—so the quality of the data they provide us, which we rely on, varies. That’s why we’ve launched a project that involves collaborating with our suppliers on their agricultural practices to help them calculate their carbon footprints and LCAs. We take a proactive approach to this: it’s important to us to have accurate data and not to rely solely on generic data. Ultimately, everyone wins: we get more accurate data, and suppliers can use it to their advantage with their other clients.

Who would you recommend this training course to, and why?

To anyone interested in working on carbon reduction and decarbonizing their business—which could be of interest to a lot of people! This is a real investment; you have to commit the necessary resources because it’s rigorous work. It’s an area that shouldn’t be overlooked if you want to see results.

Any advice for those who are still hesitant to take the plunge?

Put your trust in Carbone 4, a company with a long track record of success that is now a leading expert in this field. And trust the testimonials from people who have taken these courses. I was really happy to take this high-quality course!

Any final thoughts?

Let's keep working toward a carbon-free future!