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European waste reduction week

For a Group that sells more than 12 products per second worldwide, saving the planet's resources and thus limiting its environmental footprint is a priority. On the occasion of the European waste reduction week from November 21 to 29, discover an overview of some of our concrete actions.

Repairable products...


The Group is a pioneer in the field with its repairability policy, initiated in 2008 and reached maturity in 2015 with its "10-year repairable product" commitment. Today, this logo is displayed on 94% of new products marketed in Europe for the Tefal, Rowenta, Moulinex and Krups brands, as well as for Seb and Calor in France and Belgium. In 2019, this commitment began to be broadened to WMF products. The Group is going even further by offering the all-inclusive repair package, a simple and accessible offer that encourages consumers to have their products repaired more often beyond the warranty period at the best price. Launched in 2020 in France, this package is gradually being rolled out in other European countries.
 

employé en train de souder une machine

...within the recycling loop...


By 2023, Groupe SEB aims to incorporate 50% recycled materials in its new products. It has also made a specific commitment on recycled plastics, whose annual use in France is set to double by 2025. Flagship initiatives include Rowenta's Silence Steam generators with polypropylene casings made from recycled electrical and electronic appliances produced in Pont-Évêque, steam irons manufactured in Erbach (Germany) that incorporate recycled polypropylene, and the bases of canister vacuum cleaners with bags produced in Vernon. The use of recycled plastic also extends to the bags offered by the Group's stores to customers. In Europe, since 2018 they have been made of 80% recycled plastic and are 100% recyclable. They have been awarded the Blue Angel environmental label. With respect to metals, the stainless steel used by the Group is already mostly of recycled origin. Groupe SEB is also stepping up initiatives to recycle cookware, particularly in Europe with the Tefal brand. Consumers are invited to drop off their used frying pans or saucepans at the store in exchange for a discount coupon for the purchase of a new item. The products are then recycled by specialized companies for reuse in the manufacture of new products. In the same way, Groupe SEB gives a second life to returned products as part of its after-sales service. Thus, more than 5,000 appliances have been repaired and renovated by the French integration association ENVIE Anjou and remarketed. 
 

emballage recyclage

…eco-designed and eco-manufactured...


The Group's eco-packaging policy includes three priority objectives for 2023: the use of 90% recycled fibers, the elimination of internal plastic packaging and expanded polystyrene. Actions demonstrate the progress made in this approach: Kaiser baking trays are no longer packaged separately but stored in bulk before shipment to points of sale, and the Spiralizer (Tefal) vegetable cutter, for which the paper instructions have been removed and replaced by a digital version. In addition, in 2003, the Group has adopted a worldwide environment management system that aims to prevent pollution, control the use of resources (energy and water) and reduction waste, resulting in the ISO 14001 certification of our plants. At many of the Group's industrial sites, the largest volume of waste comes from the packaging of incoming components. To reduce it, some packaging is now returned to suppliers who reuse it for deliveries. This is the case at Erbach, Selongey, Is-sur-Tille and Vernon. Pallets are also concerned: in Lourdes and Vernon, the delivery pallets have been brought up to the Group's palletization standards for finished products so that they can be reused for shipments to customers. 
 

tupperware

…for more sustainable lifestyles!


Today's consumers are moving towards more sustainable consumption and aspire to healthier food and a better quality of life. The Group is constantly innovating to offer products and services adapted to these new expectations. While homemade food allows to eat healthier and limit consumption of processed products, it also reduces packaging and food waste. This is another of the Group's strong commitments. Some products can thus be turned into anti-waste tools, such as blenders, the traditional yogurt maker, which is making a comeback, or juice extractors, which allow maximum use of food in recipes. The Group's product offer also includes food preservation boxes or isothermal bottles and mugs in line with more responsible daily practices. More recently, the Group acquired a minority stake in CASTALIE, which designs and markets micro-filtered water fountains, an alternative way to consume water and reduce plastic waste.