Author: lgi

Today, one million elderly people live below the poverty line in France — two-thirds of them are women. The association Mamies Gâteaux, founded in Strasbourg by Vincent Gabbardo, gives seniors a central role by inviting them to roll up their sleeves and bake.

The concept: pay elderly people to bake artisanal treats in a warm, inclusive, intergenerational space.

✨ Local, seasonal recipes

✨ A lively, solidarity-based third place

✨ An ethical, zero-waste approach

By combining pastry-making, social bonds, and transmission, Mamies Gâteaux reminds us that there’s always something to share… even at 80.

👏 Kudos to Mamies Gâteaux for this intergenerational initiative that blends taste, dignity, and civic commitment!

Discover Mamies Gâteaux

The latest European hospitality barometer, published by EXTENDAM and partners, reveals a 4% increase in RevPAR, driven mainly by higher average daily rates.

In France, April saw particularly strong results, with occupancy rates up 3 points in the regions and 4 points in Île-de-France, thanks to a favorable calendar and a rebound in tourism.

🔍 A promising signal for the sector, despite lingering global uncertainties.

Find the full analysis in Nathalie Foulon’s article in the latest issue of Industrie Hôtelière

Despite the rejection of a moratorium on renewable energy, the solar industry remains cautious. Falling feed-in tariffs, increasingly complex procedures and regulatory uncertainty… Stakeholders are sounding the alarm about a growing backlash that’s stalling small projects and complicating citizen-led initiatives.

🎙️ Marion Richard, Head of National Outreach at Énergie Partagée: “We’re seeing a rising backlash against renewables, with growing complexity in support mechanisms for small-scale installations”.

A fragile dynamic to be strengthened — to ensure the energy transition remains a collective societal goal, supported by citizens.

Read Elsa Souchay’s article on Reporterre

The citizen energy model is gaining ground: according to Erwan Boumard, Director of Énergie Partagée, 75% of the wind power projects supported by the cooperative are now co-developed with private operators. A virtuous dynamic that boosts both local ownership and public acceptance.

🔋 Énergie Partagée now supports 238 MW of projects in development, including 170 MW of wind power, and is expanding into renewable heat, such as shallow geothermal energy with Aser.

💬 Erwan Boumard said: “We’ve launched a program to help turn citizen cooperative volunteers into salaried service providers, to manage parks and lead local outreach”.

A movement combining local cooperation, energy transition, and professional structuring of the sector 👏

Read the full article by Jean-Philippe Pié on Green Univers

In its latest issue, Le Revenu Placements explores the dynamism of private equity — a market that attracted 170,000 savers in 2024, with total assets of €7.8 billion.

🧭 The article also highlights new formats that make this type of investment more accessible, such as evergreen funds with no fixed end date.

🎯 One of the key players to watch: EXTENDAM, offering this type of innovative vehicle for investing in European hospitality. Available through retirement savings plans or life insurance — blending long-term returns and real-economy impact.

Read the article by Jean-Jacques Manceau in Le Revenu Placements

The award raises awareness on  Architects and Designers strategies to deal with contemporary global challenges and bring into light project which could inspire next generations 👏

A well-deserved recognition for highlighting architectural boldness and creativity in service of sustainable transitions.

See project and full results

The citizen solar park in Mallemort, inaugurated alongside the Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, CVE (Changeons Notre Vision de l’Energie), and Énergie Partagée, represents a new generation of energy projects: sustainable, local, and cooperatively governed.

➡️ Installed on a former landfill site, the park will produce the annual electricity needs of 3,600 residents (excluding heating and hot water).
➡️ A project built with the community: public consultations, educational workshops, and citizen investment via the cooperative Sur le toit des Alpilles.
➡️ An inspiring model, certified by the Énergie Partagée label, demonstrating how local production and public interest can go hand in hand.

📢 Sylvain Gombert, Investment Manager at Énergie Partagée, explained:

“Thanks to this approach, the Mallemort solar park received the Énergie Partagée label, the only quality label in the renewable energy sector“.

📌 On Thursday, July 3, in the morning, the solar park will be inaugurated with a visit from three 5th-grade classes, accompanied by the CPIE of Pays d’Aix. This awareness-raising campaign is part of a long-term educational and territorial initiative.

Read the article on Tecsol Blogs

87% of French people want to better manage the carbon impact of their mobility. That’s where Moovance comes —a mobile app that automatically calculates your CO₂ emissions for every trip… and rewards you for making low-impact choices.

🎯 A simple yet powerful idea, driven by Janik Added, Anas MBASSO, and Rodrigue Langronier: empowering individuals to take climate action—without guilt. Just by raising awareness. And having fun along the way.

With Moovance:

✨ Every kilometer traveled earns Moove points, which can be converted into donations, vouchers, or eco-friendly discounts.

✨ Over one million users, one million kilometers detected every day, and already €2 million redistributed.

✨ A tool that’s as useful for individuals as it is for companies—enabling audits, engagement, carpooling, and carbon footprint reduction.

In 2025, Moovance is going global and collaborating with local authorities to inspire new habits and spread an everyday ecology that’s joyful and accessible to all.

Read the full interview

110 million pairs of glasses are sitting unused in drawers across France. Ophélie Vanbremeersch decided to give them a second life with Les Lunettes de Zac, an initiative born from a simple question she asked herself as a teenager: what happens to our old glasses?

Founded in 2020, the start-up collects, sorts, and refurbishes unused glasses, relying on a network of 1,500 collection points across the country. In 2024 alone, 60,000 pairs per month were recovered, restored, and put back into circulation.

✨ What makes the project unique:

– Strong social impact through a partnership with Groupe VITAMINE T, a social inclusion company

– Local production with measurable environmental benefits

– An innovative circular economy model tested in post offices and second-hand retail corners

Les Lunettes de Zac brings together inclusion, circular economy, and long-term vision. A project built with patience, purpose… and resilience.

📖 Read Ophélie’s full interview

Standing like a new beacon on the Parisian skyline, Racine ushers the former headquarters of the ONF (National Forestry Office) into a new era. Designed by Maud Caubet’s agency, the tower features an innovative elevation, which shelters an agricultural greenhouse and is an outstanding example of material efficiency. The project skillfully integrates existing structures with the right materials in the right places to optimize performance and minimize carbon footprint.

Soon to be completed, the building is a true demonstration of how architecture can address the environmental challenges of our time.

Maud Caubet emphasizes, “Racine Tower is more than just a renovation. It is a symbol of how we can combine architectural tradition with sustainable innovations to build the cities of tomorrow“.

Discover Racine in the June issue of Matières magazine