How to implement a 3R strategy in business?

This year, through SERD, European Week for Waste Reduction, Ademe (the Agency for Ecological Transition) is highlighting the theme of packaging through the following topic: “Sobriety before recycling”.

Concerned by this issue, Enerfip is discussing with you the 3R strategy (Reuse, Reuse, Repair) within companies. By sharing our vision, our best practices and our objectives, we hope to inspire other companies to become more involved, but not only that! We also want to improve and discover innovative actions that are easy to implement. Here is our guide to the 3Rs in business!

What are the 3Rs?

Have you ever heard of the 3Rs? No? Even if you don't know the acronym, we're sure the concept is familiar to you. The 3R strategy is simply that of Reuse, Re-employment, and Repair.

Reuse: transform the life of a product or certain parts by reusing them instead of turning them into waste.
Reuse: favor objects that promote the development of reuse, whether they are refillable or reusable containers.
Repair: with a view to reducing packaging, it is essential not to overconsume and, therefore, to reuse even if the object has a defect. If necessary, repairing a product can give it a long second life!

And the 4Rs?

There is also a concept called 4Rs, which highlights the circular economy. In this virtuous system, the waste of one constitutes the raw material of others. Thus, the 4Rs symbolize Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle.

How to promote recycling in a company?

Did you know?
“Since July 1, 2016, pursuant to Decree No. 2016-288, published on March 10, 2016 – called the “5 streams” decree – companies and administrations collected by a private service or those collected by the public service and producing more than 1,100 liters of waste per week and per location (all waste combined) are required to sort and recover 5 waste streams:
– cardboard / paper (with a specific feature for office paper, the sorting of which is mandatory for all establishments with 20 or more office employees, regardless of their total waste production);
– metal;
– plastic;
– wood;
– glass.*”

Raising employee awareness about waste sorting in a company is not necessarily a simple thing. And yet, “companies represent around 750 million pieces of waste per year**”. Given the figures, we understand the need for action and, above all, the fact that each company has a role to play.

So how can you promote recycling in your company and engage your colleagues? Here are some ideas for you to consider.

• Switch to responsible purchasing:
  • Centralize office supplies to avoid overconsumption;
  • Replace plastic cups with water bottles or mugs…
• Optimize the existing sorting system:
  • Offer sorting bins (yellow, green, blue, compostable)…
• Empower your employees
  • Invite your employees to participate in responsible seminars;
  • Write an article about zero waste;
  • Educate your staff on good habits using signage...

Good practices implemented at Enerfip

Eager to promote a greener vision of the future, particularly through responsible investments dedicated to energy transition projects, Enerfip also cultivates the vision of a more responsible daily life. This is why we have implemented some simple eco-responsible actions and rules for living well together within our company. Since we are nice, we share them with you!

1. We provide reusable containers (water bottles, cutlery, Tupperware, etc.) to limit waste and unnecessary packaging.
2. We offer a water bottle to each new employee to drink tap water, but also with a view to reducing plastic waste.
3. We carefully follow sorting instructions and prioritize recycling, with several recycling bins available to employees.
4. We opt, with WeMet, for unique wooden business cards with a QR Code to moderate our paper consumption.
5. We choose a coffee that is certainly delicious, but above all sustainable. Slow Coffee Forest coffee is based on one goal: forest regeneration.
6. Our office is mainly made up of second-hand furniture with Scop 3. Economical and stylish, the furniture therefore benefits from a second life!
7. We regularly set up ecological challenges to promote a greener daily life. For example, last month, we decided to combine an ecological and sporting challenge via the Treely app. How? For every 10,000 steps taken by Enerfip employees, a mangrove in Madagascar was planted, or 285 trees!
8. Employees reduce their carbon footprint by favoring environmentally friendly transportation (bicycle, scooter, tram, train, etc.). A mobility bonus is set up to encourage them.
9. We organize workshops and events around these issues internally: zero-paper workshops, climate frescoes, waste collection with SurfRider, visits to third-party sites (e.g., Macondo), etc.
10. We favor soft mobility for business trips when possible (e.g., train between Montpellier and Madrid).
11. Every year, we calculate our carbon footprint with Carbo.
12. A carbon calculator is offered to our investors so they can assess the carbon footprint of their investments.

Committed by nature, Enerfip regularly questions itself in order to find new solutions and virtuous actions for itself and for the planet. If you too have tips and tricks that we haven't thought of, don't hesitate to share them with us. Together, let's change tomorrow!

* How to raise awareness about waste sorting in companies? – The guide | We Act 4 Earth

** Recycling waste in companies: best practices