The Tour de France does not own its venue, so it has a strong vested interest in its conservation!
In order to preserve these fragile landscapes, the Tour de France has to cut down on sources of pollution such as waste and transportation.
Protecting nature requires making the public understand just how delicate these environments are, together with outreach efforts on the part of the experts who manage and take care of them.
Protecting the environment and safeguarding biodiversity are major concerns for the organization in its endeavour to preserve the venue where our competition takes place.
The Biotope consultant firm has been supporting the design of the Tour since 2010 by assessing the impact of the race on the Natura 2000 European network of special nature protection areas.
The 86 areas featuring on the course of the 2023 edition are carefully studied to determine what measures should be taken to keep them pristine: no handing out goodies, no sound broadcasts, material support, no flyovers, etc.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
NEW IN 2023
- Distribution of ecocups to people accredited to The Tour de France
CARAVAN
- 90% of plastic packagings eliminated from goodies (excluding foods and industrial products). 100% of E.Leclerc's food packagings are recyclable (made of paper).
- Manufacturers are encouraged to produce more useful products made out of more environmentally friendly materials sourced from France or the rest of Europe.
HOSPITALITY
- Elimination of the goodies' plastic wrappings, straws since 2018, guest wristbands made of plastic (48,000 in 2019), single-use plastic champagne glasses replaced with reusable glasses in 2020, etc.
- Coffee and soda cups made of compostable (at home) and biodegradable cardboard
- 100% in-season, 100% French foods
New in 2023: introduction of compost
- 9 coordinators assist host local authorities, Tour support staff, riders and members of the public in sorting waste before and during the event. A specific "It's my Tour, I'm sorting" charter and training sessions have been developed for the occasion; Eco-responsibility training for Tour support staff
For riders:
- 119 waste collection zones for riders (4 to 8 in each stage depending on its length) are marked out and cleaned up by the organisers
- Rules to combat bad behaviour (fines and time penalties)
For local authorities and the public at large:
- 100,000 rubbish bags made from recycled materials are handed out in stage towns and cities;
- 1 hybrid environmental vehicle raises awareness among the public about good practices on the course.
New environmentally friendly mobile sanitary resources deployed in technical zones and living areas, at the start, on the course and at the finish:
- 4 vacuum-bonded caravans with reduced water consumption (70 cL versus 7 to 10 L per passage)
- 3 "dry" caravans (1 more than in 2020) - No water consumption or power consumption (solar panels); waste reclamation possible.
- 20 chemical toilets (including some for people with disabilities) → 1.5 m³ of water saved per toilet and day
- "Blue disinfectant" product free of biocides, biodegradable and with negligible ecotoxicity (SDS data)
- Toilet paper made from recycled paper
- Estimated water savings for the entire 2021 TDF = 80 m³ per day, amounting to a total of about 2,250 m³.
A vacuum tanker is deployed to collect waste water (showers) and black water (WCs) from team buses, which used to have to visit a pump-out station.
The Tour de France, France Télévisions and the National Museum of Natural History are continuing their partnership and together launching the eleventh edition of the « Tour de France of Biodiversity ». The aim of this operation is to promote to the public to promote among members of the public the protected natural areas crossed by the riders in which environmental stakeholders work to preserve the natural heritage of France.
This year, Alexandre Paster, commentator on the Tour de France on France Télévisions, is taking part in the project as an ambassador. « The « Tour de France of biodiversity » not only plunges us into the heart of our country’s natural wealth, it also encourages us to take action. By raising public awareness of the beauty and fragility of our environment, this program encourages each and every one of us to become involved in preserving biodiversity for present and future generations ».
This charter goes hand in hand with a charter of good behaviour edited by the Museum and promoted by the Tour de France.
All together, cyclists, the public and organisers to make the race a huge success!
1.- Following the rules concerning protected natural areas
2.- Admiring wild animals and plants without disturbing them
3.- Refraining from parking in natural areas
4.- Throwing paper and litter away in the designated places
5.- Lighting no fires at all
6.- Using public transportation whenever possible
7.- Keeping our roads clean and free of paint
8.- Keeping a close eye on pets
9.- Finding out more about the natural areas crossed by the race
10.- Encouraging a sporting spirit and the riders!
"On top of the sporting dimension, discovering and taking in the landscapes of France is part of what makes the Tour the Tour: France Télévisions surveys have found that many TV viewers watch the Tour both for the race and for the landscapes. The Ministry of Ecological Transition therefore invites you to go a step further by sharing nuggets of knowledge about the landscapes crossed in every stage, so that seeing becomes knowing and contemplation becomes comprehension. Go to the Objectifs Paysages website to find out more about the landscapes and the public policies involved in their protection, management and enhancement.
The 2023 Tour de France takes you to 9 of the 58 regional natural parks in the country. A mosaic of French landscapes, they are patches of nature, but also home to people: they come to life through their rich culture, economy and heritage. Cycling has a natural place in these landscapes because of their tourist activities, but also because it is increasingly becoming one of the means of soft mobility promoted by regional natural parks.
