Costantini: sustainability shaped by Fit 4 Sustainability

Created more than 50 years ago in Luxembourg, the Costantini group, originally a player in civil engineering, has developed over the decades. Over the years, he has acquired a wide range of skills in the construction trades to support any project in the field of building and public works. It has also, through takeovers and equity investments, extended its know-how to inert material recycling, asbestos removal and deconstruction. It currently has some 850 employees in Luxembourg and France.

In the building and construction sector, sustainability and circularity are major issues. This sector alone accounts for 6% of GDP and 10% of employment in Luxembourg. It is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, since it is responsible, according to the 2025-2026 report of the United Nations Environment Programme, for 37% of global CO₂ emissions and more than a third of global energy consumption.

The CSRD Directive: a catalyst for action

The evolution of the European framework for sustainability reporting, in particular with the implementation of the European CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive), as well as the growing expectations of customers, financial partners and other stakeholders, have encouraged the Costantini Group to further structure its CSR approach.

"We had already put some actions in place, but they were a little scattered. It was essential that we structure our sustainability approach," explains Hélène Bourgeron, head of the QSE-CSR department at the Costantini Group. "The obligations of the CSRD Directive have also justified us strengthening the team dedicated to CSR issues. This is a real development opportunity for us."

It is in this context that the company became interested in the Fit 4 Sustainability programme, managed by Luxinnovation, after being informed of its existence by the consultant ImpaKT (now Sweco).

How the Fit 4 Sustainability program supports companies

This Fit 4 Sustainability programme has been designed to help Luxembourg companies assess and reduce their environmental impact. It is part of national efforts to achieve Luxembourg's climate objectives and support companies in their compliance with European sustainability regulations.

In concrete terms, Fit 4 Sustainability offers eligible companies the opportunity to carry out a strategic environmental diagnosis, conducted by a specialised external consultant recognised by Luxinnovation. This evaluation phase is co-financed by the Luxembourg State. At the end of this audit, the company has a clear roadmap, with quantified recommendations in terms of CO₂ reductions and return on investment for each action envisaged.

A diagnosis to unite the teams

The implementation of the diagnostic phase was done through exchanges and discussions between the consultant and the teams in order to find out how the company was addressing these sustainability themes. "We have established a real inventory of the actions already put in place and we have been able to calculate the potential levers for decarbonization, but also for circularity," explains Vanille Lassalle, sustainable development and CSR manager at Costantini.

The intention was also to find a way to unite the teams around a common vision, without distorting the company or its values. "We also wanted to make do with what already exists and not change everything," says Ms. Lassalle.

In some cases, it has been necessary to reappropriate the tools already in place, in particular the ERP system already configured, at the base, for the construction trades. Existing tools generate a multitude of data that is not necessarily useful, while other data is available but not exploited at all. "This diagnosis made it possible to realize that there was an appropriation of our tools according to the people who used them, with a different level of maturity. Not everyone encoded the data in the same way in the software and, in fact, did not use it in the same way," says Ms. Bourgeron.

While the inventory highlighted that there could be a certain discrepancy between the perception of reality and the nature of the data actually collected, it also revealed the interest of many employees in environmental issues. This made it possible to orient the priorities more naturally and to facilitate the implementation of the action plan.

From roadmap to concrete actions

At the end of this intensive phase, which lasted more than 6 months, a dozen recommendations were drawn up, combining simple and immediate actions and others requiring specific investments. Recommendations that have already been implemented include:

• The electrification of part of the group's light vehicle fleet, from 1% in 2023 to 30% in 2026;
• An investment in concrete dumper washing towers, accompanied by water treatment plants, for which Costantini also benefited from the Environmental Protection Investment Facility;
• The calculation of the carbon footprint, which is now part of a regular approach, accompanied by a calculation of the trajectory concerning greenhouse gas emissions;
• The acquisition of more efficient forklifts.

"This Fit 4 Sustainability programme took place in parallel with the creation of an internal working group established to structure the group's CSR approach," says Ms Bourgeron. "This has made it possible to strengthen the structuring of the approach undertaken. We continue to deploy and raise awareness among all employees on all these subjects."

At this stage, the Costantini Group's ESG roadmap is being finalised and measurable indicators are gradually being defined to monitor its implementation. The group plans to publish its first non-financial report in the autumn, as part of a voluntary transparency and progress approach. "All of this is part of a fairly long process," explains Ms. Bourgeron. "We don't want to be too ambitious at the beginning and then let the movement fall back. We prefer to see what really corresponds to the needs and realities of the difficulties encountered. Let's not forget that the construction sector has recently been affected by several successive crises, all of which are not yet behind us. Of course, you have to be ambitious, but also realistic."

Luxinnovation's role in supporting

At the various stages of the process, the Luxinnovation teams were invaluable in advising Costantini. "The support was very responsive, and it took shape from the beginning of the program for the preparation of the file and the selection of the partner," recalls Ms. Lassalle. "And above all, at the end of the programme, we were fully informed and advised on all the existing aid that could help us achieve these recommendations. Luxinnovation's specialists are very much in tune with reality and this is clearly a big 'plus' that can prevent us from missing out."

The multidisciplinary nature of the teams and their proximity to the field were also a valuable asset in the relationship. "Luxinnovation is a facilitator on all these themes," admits Ms Bourgeron. "The agency has shown us some offers and options that could be interesting for our company."

Fit 4 Sustainability: an opportunity for Luxembourg companies

The experience of the Costantini Group illustrates how a company can structure the sustainability of its operations through appropriate support.

Luxinnovation's Fit 4 Sustainability programme offers Luxembourg companies the tools, expertise and financial support to undertake this process in optimal conditions.