Most entities are pursuing an active waste management policy with some original initiatives, including that of Crédit Agricole Italia which, as part of its Newlife programme born in 2018, donates meals not consumed by its employees to charitable associations. Crédit Agricole CIB already provides for the redistribution of foodstuffs not consumed at an event when a call for tenders is made with a caterer.
Crédit Agricole des Côtes-d'Armour has installed an “Emerald Station” composting machine next to its corporate restaurant to recover bio-waste with a sustainable solution.
Since 2013, Amundi has been pursuing a responsible waste management policy in France, including selective sorting through the voluntary use of group kiosks in its Paris offices. Recyclable waste is handled by Cedar, a protected workshop employing people with disabilities. In 2023, 35 tons of waste were recycled and recovered. Today, some 10 waste sorting streams have been set up in Parisian buildings, including hazardous waste (from multi-technical maintenance activities) now traced and monitored on Trackwaste. In the United Kingdom, Austria, Ireland, the United States and Japan, recycling solutions are also offered to employees. In addition to selective sorting, Amundi launches an annual Cleaning Weeks operation. At the Amundi Group* level, 86% of waste was recycled in 2023.
Crédit Agricole has also committed to reprocessing all its bank cards (i.e. 16.5 tons in 2023). Since June 2024, Crédit Agricole’s customers have benefited from new 100% recycled plastic (rPVC) bank cards developed at the initiative of CA Payment Services, which, since the implementation of its recycling procedure 10 years ago, has processed more than 27 million cards (i.e. 140 tons of recycled cards). Their lifespan has also been extended from 3 to 4 years.
As part of the project to transform its branches into “collaborative agencies”, the Centre-Est Regional Bank has implemented an approach to recycling and reuse waste according to its type (transformation into granules for heating broken or obsolete furniture, reuse of metal, etc.) and has called on the adapted company INO Recyclage.
During the renovations of its branches, LCL also acts in favour of re-use alongside Emmaüs Alternatives in particular.
The Regional Bank of Languedoc also supports various players in the circular economy through its patronage activities (for example in favour of Trocr, an app that makes it possible to donate and receive objects in exchange for support to associations, authorities or businesses) or partnerships. SCOP3, the Montpellier start-up that offers companies a turnkey digital solution for moving in with refurbished furniture everywhere in France, hexagone, specialist in sustainable furniture made in France for workspaces, Keenat for waste management (butts, chewing gums, etc.) are among the bank's partners.
* Entities in France and subsidiaries abroad with more than 100 employees.
Combining passion for wine and well-being
Château Meyney, owned by Crédit Agricole, and Soin de Soi, a company specialising in the development and creation of organic and natural cosmetic products, have created a grape-marc soap (by-product representing 20% of the weight of the harvest). It took a year of research to come up with the best formula for the design of MEY solid soap and NEY liquid soap from grape pressing residues, a dry and organic element rich in natural and plant elements.
Read our latest news on the circular economy:
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Crédit Agricole in the circular economyIn a changing world, where the expectations of customers and employees are more geared towards using and reducing the environmental footprint, Crédit Agricole Group entities are getting in step with each other and changing some of their practices. -
Directing demand and behaviour towards sustainabilityAs part of their business, the Group’s entities are developing solutions to promote more responsible consumer demand and behaviour, including through Olinn through CAL&F. -
Reinforcing sobriety and reducing the environmental footprintIn addition to recycling, Crédit Agricole entities are attentive to sustainable purchasing and eco-design. To help boost the Group’s performance while creating value for the business lines while respecting its values and its environment, the Group has defined a genuine Responsible Purchasing Policy. Therefore, the purchases made must have the most positive environmental, social and economic impacts possible over the entire life cycle.