I offer my animals, who love them, peels and vegetable trimmings that cannot be used for salads and other recipes in our kitchens.
Early April 2023 - Project launch ♥
Here is the letter I wrote to the extended MJ family. With construction on our new site completed, their container was leaving the premises and I had this revelation: what if we didn't have waste bins? What if, as a company, in our manufacturing, production, receiving, warehousing, shipping, distribution, offices, we could recycle or compost everything? I asked a few people, it seemed possible, so I'm trying by reaching everyone via this letter below, right down to the shops/beauty salons/bistros (our homes).
Well, after that, we encountered some problem items, but also, after digging, their solution! WOW! So I'm attaching our process, starting with my letter to, ideally, motivate other companies. We may be the nerve center of this war.
Special mention to Marie-Aimée (MJ Ste-Thérèse) who took my idea to heart and immediately took action, to Marie-Christine for the solutions found, to Alain who will see to the follow-up for each of our locations with the same convictions; I feel as much passion in him to transform waste into fertile soil (imitating nature while the waste of some becomes food for others) then to everyone for your changes in habits and small efforts which make a huge difference.
Initiating letter:
Hello!
Can you each inform your team (lab, distribution/warehouse, offices) and Marie-Michèle, spread the word to all the houses?
I had a moment of beautiful revelation yesterday which joins a dream that dates back to the past: that MJ be zero waste.
In the new St-Bruno neighborhoods, we now have recycling containers (we pay to empty them twice a week and a compost container emptied every two weeks)
I would like everything to be either recycled or composted.
If you have material that does not belong to either universe, can it be sent to the source?
For example, if we ordered a product that is packaged in a non-ecological material, we would notify the supplier if it is possible to change it?
If we come with a lunch with waste in our team, I would like us to leave with it.
Marie Michèle, can we apply this principle to homes, even if it means ordering more bins?
Can you give me feedback on the viability of this project in two weeks?
I would like to see inspiration at the business level, imagine if everyone followed suit.
Please feel free to comment and get back to me privately if you see any drawbacks.
Jacynthe
Our steps, thoughts and efforts, in chronological order:
- I notify the teams
- I do not take a waste container to our St-Bruno neighborhoods (*see note below).
- Some cities don't accept compost from businesses - we'll pay to do it.
- I am changing the format of the lunches offered to bulk rather than bags (we are still trying to get to the source of the problem).
- I'm told we need more bins - we're shopping, it should be easy and enjoyable, we feel like we're taking part in a project together.
- I see for our bistro elements how we can also improve and the actions that this implies.
- Each of our houses shares with us the state of the situation regarding recycling, compost and trash (see photos below). Some houses tell us that they are missing items (especially bins) to move towards zero waste. We suggest that the teams in the houses get what they need. Points are raised and must be validated with our suppliers to reduce waste. This is mainly at the level of the bistro and packaging when receiving products. We realize that we need to find an alternative for compost collection in some of our houses. One idea: highlight that we have in some of our houses vegetable scraps and peelings to offer as a treat for your animals.
- A few women, perhaps embarrassed to put a brake on my enthusiasm, take advantage of Sylvain's visit (who would have preferred it to be said to me :)))) to address their fears to him: once a month, they must use disposable items - hey, ok! I understand, I certainly don't want to stress anyone out, once again, this whole process must be pleasant; so yes ok, for that, we will have - for the moment - a garbage bag; provided that we do not take advantage of it to throw away anything that can be composted or recycled. Let's proceed with the purchase of small garbage bins with lids placed in the appropriate places: during the round of materials to be distributed, we will have a lot of compost (all food leftovers, paper, cardboard, tissues even soiled, etc. it's fabulous to have a garbage bin with fertile soil), clean recycling and this little bag.
- We are talking with the supplier of the containers at our industrial site: recycling will be taken twice a week, compost every two weeks, we will adjust - we pay for this service.
-Some cities don't take compost from businesses, hmm, yet, that's a neglected resource; we'll pay for now while we wait for them to wake up (but I would like vegetable peelings to be served to animals rather than directly given to the earth, that way we maximize their potential, the manure will serve them and fertilize the earth).
*Anecdote: we had the opportunity to stay in a tourist center where there was no trash, in fact, the "garbage" was divided into three: compost, cardboard, plastic; I was able to buy the book that explains all the ecological approaches of this center to also see the photos of their composting and recycling center, being on an island, the garbage and landfill represent toxic and dangerous problems, more in their "face" than for us who send them to another continent (where children risk their lives to classify these mountains) or in the sea; if we found ourselves each and every company having to manage our own waste in our yard, we would not wait.
- We ask our teams to analyze what is thrown in the trash (i.e. neither recycled nor composted). A list of items ending up in the trash is shared with us and we look for solutions/alternatives for each item to minimize. Everyone participates and gives their ideas. By working on it together, the number of items ending up in the trash is already much lower! We have to find solutions: for example, our tights are not compostable; we are immediately taking steps to have our compostable bags printed. There are still items that end up in the trash, including the gloves we use in the bistros and in the lab. Jump to April 20!
– The issue of containers for bulk salad concerns me, we pay a lot for them while the composting centers don't want them. We won't recommend them, we're switching to compostable cardboard containers with recyclable lids. I suggest to Dominique, our bistro manager, to validate whether we can suggest, in accordance with Mapaq laws, that you bring your own reusable and clean containers to pick up your salad. We're thinking about a procedure to follow in the bistros while ensuring that this doesn't generate waste on our side. Since the scheduling issue is likely to pose problems (where to put the bulk while waiting for the dish, abandoning the current activity to fill the customer's container, etc.), Sylvain suggests that we try the pilot project with the deposit of our own reusable containers. We're looking for glass containers large enough to start this solution. We will even be able to quickly screen print our Maison Jacynthe containers, sober and chic, customers will assume the departure deposit - then will not have to pay when they return them clean and take them back full; we will sterilize in our dishwashers. We will start by putting 3 in the fridge with the cardboard bulks next to it; perhaps eventually we will only have reusable dishes.
- April 20: Wow! Another solution is found to recover items that ended up in the trash. As soon as we join, the Gozéro company box arrives the next day to collect the gloves from all the bistros (during our trips to the houses, we will collect them to accumulate them in the mother box) as well as from the lab to transform them into various objects! How happy we are! They even offer traceability in the process.
- Blue Organization: while I am trying to revive the foundation that I created with my father 12 years ago now, I was able to bring together a possible board of directors a few times since last summer; we therefore looked at the actions that we wanted to undertake; it seems wise in the early stages to give to organizations that are already working, that have been in place for a while and whose actions are evaluated. The goal, in addition to moving towards zero waste as a business, is to be able to clean and plant the land. So quickly last year we identified the Blue Organization which takes care of the banks of the river. We are taking advantage of Earth Day to give them funds and thus contribute as we can, to this urgency of having healthy aquatic environments as well as lush forests and gardens.
This series of initiatives (here to stay) adds to our important choices that make a difference:
- Use organic vegetables, fruits & nuts in our dishes and preparations.
- Use glass containers as much as possible and, for makeup, recycled cardboard as much as possible.
- Choose natural, pure, virgin, ethical materials prepared fairly.
- Craft here (except for makeup).
- Avoid packaging except when necessary.
- Use responsibly sourced paper for our books and guides and offer some of them in virtual form.
- Support and give to women in need, also in hospital settings.
- We opted for compostable bags (more expensive than glass bottles) so that we can reuse the bottles at home.
- With our new quarters, having everything under one roof, we avoid the transport between materials, finished products, and shipments.
- We watch over and protect our heritage (our houses are ancestral) and we furnish them with carefully selected antiques.
Here, I tell you the adventure!
In pictures: all our stores do their utmost to minimize their impact on the environment.
Jacynthe Ste-Thérèse House
6 recycling bins, 7 compost bins and virtually no trash!
Jacynthe Tremblant House
Jacynthe Dummondville House
Jacynthe Repentigny House
Our almond pulp biscuit, made from the almond pulp left over from the milk production process in our homes.
*Our neighborhoods in St-Bruno
I took pictures of my pride when we only had recycling & compost in the office/lab/warehouse/distribution districts.
Unfortunately, we had to add a trash can, for now while we find a solution.
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