Ze Drive
FRANCE
Web: https://zedrive.fr
Contact: contact@thedrive.fr
Lacalisation : Saint-André-de-Cubzac (33)
Sector: Zero Waste Drive
Date of creation: 2020
Date of meeting : 19/04/2021
Maturity of the project : Mature
Overview
Summary of the project
Ze Drive was created by two co-founders: Laura and Célia. Laura was an agricultural engineer and already knew many local producers from her previous job. Célia was a school teacher. Both of them had the will to change jobs and to start a zero waste drive, following the Brut Nature video on the naked drive.
At the beginning of 2019, they joined a project incubator: ETICoop, allowing them to have technical support and an outside view on the project. They leave their job in July 2019 and on February 14, 2020 receive their first order. They benefit from a massive influx of customers following the confinement and the flight of consumers from the large distribution.
They decided to establish Ze Drive in Saint-André-de-Cubzac for personal reasons in the first place (housing) as well as for its good geographical position. Rents are lower than in Bordeaux, the town is at the crossroads of several departmental roads, on the edge of the A10 freeway, and upstream from the Pont d’Aquitaine, which means that traffic jams can be avoided (a major advantage for capturing suppliers from the North of Gironde).
Key numbers
- 200 baskets per week
- 100 regular producers (the number varies according to the season)
- more than 1000 products online on the website
- more than 1200 families accompanied in their zero waste approach
Pillars of circular economy
Sustainable supply with work on product sourcing.
Responsible consumption by the democratization of zero waste consumption, local (60%), and products that meet strict production criteria (80% organic).
Extension of product lifespan of ‘packaging’: there is no more single-use packaging but reused containers (glass jar or cotton bags).
Functional economy through the reverse deposit: Ze Drive packs all its products in reusable containers that you do not pay more for when you order, but for which you get a credit of 10 cents per container brought back the next time. Ze Drive washes them and puts them back into the circuit.
Project functioning
To listen to Laura Boudier present the project, you can watch the video at the bottom of the article!
1. A zero waste drive for all
Ze Drive is a zero-waste drive that offers a wide range of local, national (for what cannot be found locally) and international products (products considered to be staple goods that cannot be found in mainland France. This is for example the case of bananas, tea and coffee).
The aim is to avoid having to go to several shops to do one’s shopping: the consumer must find all the products he needs in the same place.
Customers choose their pick-up location and validate their order by selecting the time slot of their choice:
In Saint-André-de-Cubzac :
Wednesdays from 10 am to 7 pm
Fridays from 10am to 7pm
Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm
Or on one of the weekly collection points :
Villenave d’Ornon on Thursdays from 5pm to 7pm
Libourne on Fridays from 16H to 19H
Lormont on Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Bordeaux, Wednesdays from 5pm to 7pm (from May 19th)
2. Non-refundable containers
Ze Drive works with a reverse deposit system. When ordering, the customer only pays the price of the products. The containers are not charged in addition.
In order to have the best possible return rate on its containers, Ze Drive uses the principle of the reverse deposit: the customer benefits from a purchase voucher of 0.10€ for each container returned.
Once recovered, the containers (glass jars and tissue bags) are washed before being reintroduced into the circuit.
The deposit system also applies to certain suppliers. Some specific containers are returned to suppliers: ice trays, bottles, cosmetic bottles…
3. Diversified and carefully selected products
Ze Drive offers more than a thousand references on its website, distributed as follows: 80% food references and 20% non-food references.
Among the references, 80% are from organic agriculture and 60% are local. The remaining 40% are French products or subject to special sourcing. Ze Drive is committed to offering ethical products that respect the living world. The primary desire is to remain on small-scale organic and local production.
Ze Drive offers a large number of references allowing users of the service to do all their shopping in one place. Customers also have the possibility of ordering fresh fish thanks to a partnership with the eco-responsible structure Poiscaille.
Ze Drive seeks to make its service accessible to as many people as possible, without being too elitist. The goal is to offer several ranges of products: from the organic nugget from a small local production, with a price that values the work of the producer, to the organic product from a larger structure, not necessarily local, which is able to offer prices more accessible to small budgets.
sustainable development approach
Environmental benefits
Ze Drive’s zero waste initiative helps to fight against the production of waste generated by single-use household packaging and over-packaging. The development of this type of project makes it possible to democratize the reuse of containers and to stop the use of non-reusable plastic packaging.
Economic benefits
The development of the drive makes it possible to develop the economic fabric of Bordeaux by relying on the short circuit via supplies from local producers.
Social benefits
The development of the drive makes it possible to develop the economic fabric of Bordeaux by relying on the short circuit via supplies from local producers.
Reproducibility & perspective of evolution
Reproducibility
Numerous zero waste projects are emerging throughout the country, such as the L’écho des Bocaux store in Saumur, or the first zero waste drive in France, the Drive Tout Nu located in Toulouse.
These initiatives allow the democratization of a more environmentally friendly way of consumption.
Perspective of evolution
The two co-founders do not intend to develop at the national level. They intend to develop the concept of the zero waste drive through franchises / commercial partnerships in the Bordeaux area (1 hour around Saint-André-de-Cubzac).
Copyright CirculAgronomie 2020