Monoprix

• Monoprix Tous Cultiv’acteurs (We are all “Harvest’actors”)

Launched in June 2016, this project aims to accompany 33 conventional market gardeners towards more sustainable agricultural practices. These farmers are committed to achieving the Bee Friendly² label within 3 years, with the help of agricultural experts. In return, they obtain a better financial return on their production. The initiative arrived in stores in February 2017 and represents 15 fruit and vegetable chains and 13% of the department’s turnover.

• Responsible Fishery

Since 2011, Monoprix no longer markets deep-sea fish species and since 2016, different species of organic fish are available in the fish section. In 2018, all wild fish will be labeled Pavillon France or MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) and all farmed fish will be labeled organic or from responsible Monoprix channels.

• Local products “Made in not too far”

Monoprix works with more than 450 local producers, less than 160 km from the point of sale, in order to favour regional and seasonal products, limit transport and promote the local economy.

• Partnership with the  company SEB

Starting from September 2018, 5 Monoprix stores will launch a rental service for 5 types of SEB household appliances via an online platform. SEB is also in partnership with an integration company (ENVIE) which takes care of cleaning the appliances after use.

• Recycling of industrial waste

All Monoprix stores sort at source all waste with a recovery process: paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, bones and tallow, food waste and used edible oils. The brands give preference to recycling channels that are as local as possible.
There is no real eco-design policy but a development of this approach is underway for the new range of organic products: Monoprix Origines.

• Reduce clients’ waste

In accordance with legal obligations, Monoprix has set up waste collection for its customers, in conjunction with state-approved eco-organizations.

• • Shop&Give

As of July 2017, customers now have the option of returning used batteries and light bulbs or perishable goods that are still consumable but surplus to their needs to the deliveryman when they deliver their groceries to their home (Figure 2). The concept will soon be extended to textiles and bathroom waste.

Figure 2. Publicity presenting the principle of Shop&Give

• • Citeo – Eco-packaging

In March 2018, a plastic bottle recycling campaign was initiated for a period of 3 years in 8 stores in Paris and Marseille (Figure 3). It offers customers the possibility of taking their bottles back to the store, in exchange they get a voucher (one cent per bottle) or can choose to make a donation to an association (Secours Populaire). Indeed, on average in Paris and Marseille 1 bottle out of 10 is recycled compared to 1 out of 2 nationally.

Figure 3. Publicity to encourage the recycling of plastic bottles

• • Sales with no packaging

Since 2011, organic fruits and vegetables are sold in bulk in more than 80 stores. And since 2014, organic dried fruit in bulk has been added to the offer in around 100 stores in France.

• Combating food waste

• • Re-belle Jams

Re-belle is an anti-waste integration company based in the Ile de France region, and makes seasonal jams from unsold fruit and vegetables from certain Monoprix stores.
 20 stores collect the jams and 100 stores sell them, including Monoprix, as well as hotels and delicatessens in Paris. The jars are sold at 3.90 euros each. Nevertheless, the estimation of the quantities required to correctly supply the 100 stores needs to be improved, as a 30% shortfall in products has recently been observed.

• • Too good to go

It is an application that links businesses with unsold food to customers willing to buy it, the same day, at a reduced price. Monoprix is currently testing the application; it would allow them to complete their revaluation of unsold items when collection associations, such as food banks, do not come by often enough to dispose of unsold items.

• • Food banks and Disco soup

All Monoprix stores have a partnership with food banks and/or Disco Soup, allowing them to donate their unsold food. Disco Soup has the particularity of distributing soup during festive and general public events.

• Donations and collections to solidarity associations

Since 2017, all Monoprix stores have been donating their non-food merchandise at the end of each sales period, i.e. 2.4 million euros of merchandise, mainly to the Red Cross in Île-de-France, Emmaüs or Secours Populaire in the provinces.
In addition, consumers can participate in donations through collects organised by Monoprix, in collaboration with reuse associations such as Rejouet (an association that refurbishes the games and toys collected and then offers fun activities), Relai (the textile collected is transformed into thermal insulation or rags) or Emmaüs (for the recovery of school supplies).