As the return to the office slowly approaches, are you wondering how to maintain the green habits you acquired while working from home? Don't worry, some people have already looked into the issue and decided to give you a helping hand. Here are six of our favorite companies to help you make your return to the office more eco-friendly.
Vépluche, closing the loop on biowaste
No more waste in the cafeteria! Vépluche is a bio-waste collection service that uses bicycles to collect organic waste from restaurants and businesses and turn it into compost. All food and plant waste is collected and taken to the Vépluche composting plant, where it is converted into compost and then into local, natural soil.
This same compost is then redistributed to employees for their personal use or to nourish the green spaces in their offices. In addition to compost, Vépluche also offers baskets of fruit and vegetables from local farmers, or delivers fresh produce directly to employees' homes. This is a great exampleof the circular economy!
Baobab Lab, for healthy, local food
Just because you no longer prepare homemade meals doesn't mean your lunch breaks have to suffer! Committed caterer, Baobab Lab installs connected refrigerators in companies to provide employees with healthy and responsible meals at any time of the day. Every morning, the refrigerator is stocked with 6 to 8 different recipes, all cooked using local, unprocessed ingredients. The meals are delivered in returnable glass jars to encourage zero waste, and any unsold items are redistributed via Phenix, an SSE start-up and European leader in anti-waste initiatives.
Baobab Lab has also recently entered into partnerships with NGOs and donates a portion of the profits from each meal purchased to them. The perfect way to make your lunch break have a real impact!
CASTALIE, saying goodbye to plastic bottles
Plastic bottles in meeting rooms? Not anymore! To combat plastic waste, CASTALIE offers water fountains for still, sparkling, or hot water. The water is local and microfiltered, thanks to a fountain directly connected to the water supply. It is eco-designed and allows you to consume high-quality water and say goodbye to single-use plastic for good.
And for those who prefer to have their own container handy, CASTALIE also CASTALIE customizable glass bottles and flasks. You're either corporate or you're not!
Café Joyeux, for a socially responsible coffee break
Café Joyeux is first and foremost a chain of socially responsible and inclusive restaurants that employ and train people with mental or cognitive disabilities in Paris, Rennes, and Bordeaux. At the end of 2019, Café Joyeux launched its own range of Arabica coffees, available in beans, capsules, or ground. These specialty coffees come from fair trade and certified organic plantations, are roasted in Strasbourg, and prepared in Paris by people with disabilities. If you weren't particularly keen on the bland espresso from the coffee machine, this is perfect timing!
All companies can order their own capsules or sachets directly online through asubscription system that can be canceled at any time. An important point to note: 100% of the profits go towards opening new Cafés Joyeux. Your coffee break just got an upgrade.
Auum, 10 seconds for a clean glass and zero waste
Today, 50% of the plastic produced in France is disposable, and nearly half of it ends up in the environment! We can't say it enough: the best waste is no waste. Auum offers an alternative to disposable cups, thanks to cutting-edge technology. In just 10 seconds, their stylish and easy-to-use equipment cleans, disinfects, and dries your glass or cup. The goal? To reduce waste in the workplace and encourage reuse. A great example ofthe circular economy!
Good Daily, healthy and delicious snacks!
Good Daily was founded by Arthur Duclos, who set himself the challenge of improving quality of life at work by offering healthy and sustainable products, from A to Z. To better control the impact of its products and be as virtuous as possible, Good Daily has internalized production, delivery, collection, and processing: "nothing is lost, everything is transformed"! For the past two years, Good Daily has been delivering more than 150,000 products every month to over a hundredcompanies. Coffee, tea, fruit, snacks, plants... You'll make your employees happy!
Text: Jeanne Favas
CASTALIE Laurent Benhamou 2021
