Sustainable technology struggling to make inroads into public procurement
On the occasion of a visit by David Lisnard, President of the Association des maires de France, Jean-François Létard, founder of OliKrom, expressed his concern at the gap between current regulations and the need for innovation. Based in Pessac, the Gironde-based SME is developing a photoluminescent paint capable of capturing light during the day and releasing it at night, without the need for a power supply. This luminous marking is already in use on certain bicycle paths on the university campus, but its large-scale deployment is still being held back: “Regulations require that markings be white and invisible at night, designed solely for the headlights of motor vehicles. Pedestrians, cyclists and environmental issues are ignored,” deplores the manager.
A cost-effective, environmentally-friendly solution to red tape
While conventional street lighting costs between 200,000€ and 400,000€ per kilometer, the LuminoKrom® solution is estimated to cost just 5,000€, with no CO₂ emissions or light pollution. A clear advantage in a context of energy sobriety and the fight against climate disruption. David Lisnard acknowledged that France “doesn’t know how to support its companies”, pointing to the system’s “red tape”. OliKrom, which employs 20 people, is nevertheless pursuing its development, with prospects for diversification into the cosmetics sector in particular, while waiting for public procurement markets to become more open to innovation.
