Eco-responsible products: we at Bruneau are committed
On its website, Bruneau highlights certain products with an 'eco-responsible' mention. What does this mean? What are the guarantees? The editor has interviewed Hélène Sutter, responsible for eco-responsible products at Bruneau, to help you see more clearly... and above all more green. 😉
How to navigate through all the existing labels?
At JM-Bruneau we wanted to focus solely on eco-responsible labels set up by independent organisations, based on strict specifications and adopted by a large number of stakeholders at European or global level (FSC, PEFC, NF Environnement, European Ecolabel, Organic Agriculture, etc.).
How about products made from recycled materials?
Products made from recycled material belong to the category of environmentally friendly products. We are talking about the product, not the packaging. A roll of adhesive tape with packaging made from 100% recycled cardboard is not an environmentally friendly product ... that would be too easy!
The fact that the packaging is recycled is of course a step in the right direction, but we feel it is important to focus our communication on the ecological responsibility of the product in order to avoid greenwashing and for the sake of transparency and awareness-building.
Can recycled plastic bottles be considered as sustainable?
Well, no! Manufacturers are making great efforts to limit the impact on the environment and bottles are containing more and more recycled plastic (some manufacturers are even actively working on developing bottles out of paper). Unfortunately, due to their one-time use, these types of plastic products (bottles, bin liners, etc.) have a significant impact on the environment.
What about rechargeable or refillable products, for example? That could be a good idea!
Choosing a rechargeable or refillable product (batteries, pens, etc.) instead of a disposable product is a step that we really would like to encourage with our customers. We have therefore decided to promote these types of products with the "eco-responsible" tag. In the same way, we also promote refurbished telephones, products designed to be disassembled, plant-based products (to replace petroleum), solvent-free products when the majority of products in the category contain solvents...
Is a recyclable product labelled as "environmentally friendly"?
Recyclable is often perceived as environmentally friendly, but let us be honest: the fact that a product is recyclable does not mean that it will be recycled. This depends both on the action of the consumer (selective sorting) and on the recycling channels. Some products are recyclable but not recycled because their management is too complicated. At JM-Bruneau a recyclable product will therefore not get the indication "environmentally friendly".
Finally, do you have any tips on how to shop greener?
If you are, like us, sensitive to the environmental approach, you can use the navigation filters to see all eco-friendly products.
To learn more about Bruneau's eco-friendly approach, visit our info page.