Selective sorting & sustainable development approach at the Coutances site

Our industrial site in Coutances, located in La Manche (Normandy), set up a selective sorting and sustainable development approach at the beginning of 2021.

This approach is based both on international news with the COP 26 which took place in Glasgow but also on the news of the Unither Group since the UniCare Project was initiated this year by the Direction of the Group. The aim of the UniCare project is to define our CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) priorities.

The first actions carried out on the Coutances site concerning the selective sorting & sustainable development approach are:

1. Removal of plastic cups on the site:
   • End of plastic cups throughout the site (water fountains, cafeteria, offices, meeting rooms and workshops),
   • Paper cups at water dispensers only in the workshop.
2. Use of individual bottles and cups:
   • Distribution of a 2-in-1 insulated bottle with integrated cup to the employees,
   • Sensitization of temporary workers around this approach by Temporary Work Companies so that they come to the site with their individual cup and gourd for breaks and meals,
   • Incentivizing the use of the individual cups in hot beverage dispensers by introducing a 5-cent surcharge if the employee uses a disposable paper cup.
   • Abolition of the provision of plastic water bottles in meeting rooms, to encourage the use of insulated bottles,
   • Provision of Unither decanters and glasses for Customer receptions.
3. Implementation of selective sorting:
   • Installation of selective sorting bins in the cafeteria,
   • Elimination of individual bins in the offices of the workshop and the administrative area, and installation of selective sorting bins in common areas of voluntary contribution of waste to encourage staff to carry out the selective sorting of their waste,
   • Provision of “table bins” in the offices of the administrative area (for non-recyclable waste) and boxes for “draft” paper.
4. Management of selective sorting:
   • Collaboration with the service provider Elise – #1 of the collection and recycling of office paper in France. Dual vocation: Actively participate in the protection of the environment while creating local and sustainable jobs for people with integration difficulties or disabilities.

This approach was implemented with the help of a working group composed of employees and management. Congratulations to the Coutances website for this great CSR approach!