Turning convictions into opportunities: Why did I go to Croatia by land?

In our Criteo Life Blog, we mean to put in the foreground the amazing personalities who make Criteo so unique. By telling their inspiring stories, we share how individual contributions are always a great start to pave the way to greater things. A few years back, Olivier stayed true to what he believed in, refusing to join our Global Summit in Croatia by plane. Instead, he joined us by land. Of course, we wanted to know more! So here is a 3-minute read to learn about his commitment to preserving Planet Earth.  

Can you tell us a bit about yourself?  

Well, in a nutshell, I’m 44 years old. I have worked as a Developer for 6 years at Criteo. Like many others, I lived in a city center for a big part of my life and traveled all around the globe. Since I became more aware of environmental sustainability, I decided to step back and live closer to nature. I now live in the mountains close to Grenoble.  

How would you sum up your way of life in three words? 

Have fun, do sport, and stay simple.  

Are there any causes particularly close to your heart?  

Protecting the planet and its wildlife is by far number one. In second place, comes my will to fight inequalities. The two are connected if you think about it.   

When Criteo organized the Global Summit in Croatia you decided not to go by plane. Can you tell us more? 

During global gatherings, you get to share some quality time with colleagues across the world which is very valuable. But even though I enjoy such events, it felt futile for me to spend about a quarter of the carbon emissions target for a year - an estimated 400kg versus 2T maximum per person, based on the Paris Agreement. I wasn't aligned but, before giving up, I spoke up and explained my position, asking if alternatives were possible. I didn’t believe it would make a difference, to be honest... So, imagine my surprise when the organization team fully considered my request and offered to assist me in organizing a trip by train and boat! In the end, expressing my thoughts on the topic opened a dialogue. The team also shared with me the challenges of organizing such big events with alternative ways of traveling. In the end, I was even joined by colleagues who shared the same concerns and convictions. And so, we embarked on a journey we won’t forget! Perhaps this is the key to more sustainable traveling; understanding that traveling is as part of the journey as is the destination. 

Considering the journey as part of the whole traveling experience means shifting perspectives. Do you think it's doable? 

Of course! We put our own constraints where we want to. It's all about questioning what we hold for granted first. Slower travel doesn't have to be a constraint, it can be an opportunity for a memorable experience. What we did, traveling across Europe without taking the plane, should be no exception! However, I also acknowledge that sometimes it can be complicated to “take the time”. There is a middle ground to be found here. For this reason, I strongly support corporate initiatives like recommending more sustainable transport for business trips, even if it takes more time (it is a time that can be used for working), and giving extra days off for people who demonstrate they took longer, more sustainable transport for their holidays. I’m actively lobbying for Criteo to implement both!   

Do you no longer travel by plane now? Do you remember when that shift happened?  

I haven’t taken a plane for 6 years. One day, I took the time to look at numbers and realized how “easy” it was to reduce my carbon footprint with a simple choice. Now, I must be honest and say that I haven’t entirely said goodbye to plane trips. I will allow myself to fly on rare occasions. I love discovering remote places so much that it might be the reason for me to go against my principles. All the other efforts I make look easy to me in comparison! As for many other things like meat or manufactured goods consumption, it's about making conscious decisions for me. It's not because it is within reach that you have to reach for it. Now that I know what price pays the planet for every trip by plane, I ask myself if it is truly worth it; my principles versus the value it brings me. I know it may sound selfish to more “mature" ecologists, but I believe it’s also important to know yourself and your limits.   

Do you believe climate change is reversible? What is your motivation to live in a more eco-friendly way?  

I’m not very optimistic, to be honest. I believe that even if climate change were reversible, our generation and our children wouldn't see it reversed anyway. But it's about something bigger than this. We shouldn't do things only because we expect results. Being aligned and having peace of mind should be enough to act. No matter what, I will still do what I can to limit our negative impact on the planet because it is the right thing to do. I hope my daughter can and will continue to enjoy the beauty of the Planet in her lifetime!