A sustainable

Even though we work with the same expertise and use the same standards, we think differently and use different methods and interpretations. One is not more correct than the other, but the differences affect the output. That is why it is important to collaborate and learn from each other.

Alberte Munk Hansen Specialist Sustainability Copenhagen

When we became part of Artelia Group in 2019, it was with a clear ambition of creating new opportunities for our employees as regards secondment and cooperation across country borders. But as was the case with so many other things, the pandemic put an end to all travel plans.

However, the idea of working abroad stayed with Alberte. She is an LCA specialist and works with sustainability, energy and indoor climate. The foundation was laid with some international assignments where she tested the cooperation with the French colleagues digitally. Both in Denmark and in France, there was an interest in expanding the cooperation and seeing how we could learn from each other and use each other’s qualifications across country borders. An agreement with Artelia’s headquarters in Paris was made via Alberte’s manager and his counterpart in Paris, and in autumn 2022, Alberte could say au revoir to the office in Copenhagen and head towards Paris.

I was received very well by the colleagues at the headquarters in Paris. I could really sense that they were excited to welcome a colleague from Denmark. I was introduced to colleagues at every floor in the office, and I also went to meet Artelia’s Management and CEO Benoît Clocheret, says Alberte.

Alberte’s team leader even helped her find an apartment close to the office in an otherwise overheated Parisian housing market.

New perspectives for working with sustainability

During her secondment, Alberte worked 50% on projects from her own Danish department and 50% on projects in the French department. Even though we in Denmark are very advanced within sustainability, it was still an eye-opener to experience how they work with sustainability, energy and indoor climate in France, where the department is approx. twice the size the Danish counterpart

Even though we work with the same expertise and use the same standards, we think differently and use different methods and interpretations. One is not more correct than the other, but the differences affect the output, says Alberte.

Alberte got the chance to try working with the new perspectives on her field, e.g. on an English project on development of a CO₂ benchmark across six Central European countries. Since the countries’ methods for LCA calculations vary, it is difficult to create a common benchmark. It is therefore necessary to scrutinise each country’s methods and assess what to emphasise. She continues to benefit from the experience she gained, as she is still working on the project and since it is very likely relevant to use some of the foreign methods on Danish projects.

Fewer cultural differences than expected Alberte experienced that the work environment and the tone in France reminded her very much of what she was used to, although the workday began and ended later than in Denmark. As in Denmark, there was high potential for socialising with colleagues during and after work, but where we often gather for cake or a beer at the end of the working week, in Paris people generally meet for a croissant for breakfast – or a glass of champagne after hours. When in France …

All in all, Alberte benefited a lot from her stay, both professionally and personally, and she did of course also find time to enjoy the charm and pulsating city life of Paris. She hopes that her experience can help provide the setting for other colleagues who want a similar experience, just as well as she imagines trying secondment again some other time.