ACT TOGETHER
The little guide of eco actions to take on a daily basis!
Nothing is lost, nothing is created,
everything is transformed!
As inhabitants of this shared planet, we can see that nature produces in cycles. Nothing is lost, nothing is created, everything is transformed! Yet, we operate in a linear fashion.
G AT H E R I N G CO N C E P T I O N
A S S E M B LY T R A N S P O R TAT I O N
CO N S U M P T I O N END OF LIFE
It is necessary to reclaim these cycles so that we can reassess the value of all of our resources. 2
We therefore need to change our consumption habits so that we no longer produce waste, only resources which can be sorted, reused and even upcycled.
We use the "7Rs" mnemonic: Rethink - Refuse - Reduce - Reuse - Repair Reinvent - Recycle.
REFUSE
RECYCLE
REDUCE
RETHINK REINVENT REUSE R E PA I R
In this practical guide, we offer simple actions that you can implement into your daily life. Every effort counts! At home, at work, in the local area and even on holidays... We must respect and protect the environment together.
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In the
kitchen
Preserve the temperature
Check your temperatures
of the oven by avoiding opening the door during cooking.
5°C is correct for your refrigerator and -18°C for your freezer. Below these temperatures, each degree adds 5% to the energy consumption.
There's no reason to preheat for too long or at high temperatures 2 minutes at 70°C is plenty.
Choose induction hobs which consume up to 40% less electricity than electric hobs and make cooking that bit easier.
Don't put hot food into the refrigerator without first letting it cool to room temperature. On the other hand, defrost foods in the refrigerator: the cold will reduce the appliance's energy consumption.
Defrost your devices every 3 months 2 mm of ice on the walls equals 10% more energy consumption. So 2 cm doubles the energy consumption!
Eating your leftovers reduces food waste.
Use lids when cooking
That's 50% energy saved.
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Monitor product use-by dates to avoid waste and consume the foods approaching their expiration date as a priority. A third of the food produced worldwide ends up being thrown away!
Get yourself a bio-bucket, which serves as a temporary home for organic waste, before being placed in your garden composter or in your town's collective composter (contact your local authority for details).
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Going shopping Before you leave Create your menus for the week, make your shopping list and buy in smaller quantities, topping up regularly to adapt to your needs
While you're shopping Go shopping after a meal, because you'll be tempted by impulse purchases if you're hungry. Respect the shopping list, purchase the right quantity of each product, examine the expiration dates and respect the temperature of each product.
After shopping Respect the storage advice, organise your fridge according to the “first in, first out” principle, make use of your leftovers, freeze cooked meals, and be careful not
to confuse Use-by dates (before which the item should be consumed) and Best-beforedates (when the item is considered to no longer be at peak quality). The Best-before dateimplies that a product may see its quality deteriorate over time, but does not mean that there is a risk associated with consumption.
Beware of packaging This is a major source of waste. Remember that the amount of packaging can also be reflected in the price! It is possible to avoid consuming the products with excessive, unnecessary packaging, such as fruits and vegetables, or even to choose hygiene products such as shampoos or soaps which are sold in solid bar form.
Opt for bulk buys but be sure that you can consume the product before its expiration date.
Choose reusable items
Buying in bulk
This allows you to adjust the quantity, and also avoids unnecessary packaging.
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such as: washable cotton buds or cotton rounds, safety razors, toothbrushes with interchangeable heads or which are made of recyclable wood, reusable coffee capsules...
Buy fruits and vegetables which are considered "ugly" Products that come from nature are not always perfectly shaped with a uniform colour or a beautiful shine. A misshapen piece of fruit or vegetable, which may spoil faster or appear imperfect is still a piece of food like any other and should be consumed in order to reduce waste.
Only buy what you need and avoid the temptation of sales .
Use apps to help fight against food waste such as TooGoodToGo, Optimiam or Phoenix for restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, etc.
Rethink gift giving
More than one in three people admit to having resold a gift they did not like. Consider gifting a service or an emotional experience rather than a new possession. For example, a voucher for a massage, a concert ticket or taking an instant camera to a group event to create memories.
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Adapt your diet Reduce your meat consumption
Choose local and organic products
This is possible by adopting a flexitarian diet that aims to go from 6 meals to 4 or less meals per week which contain meat or fish, while avoiding processed products. Every effort counts!
It's good for your health and for the environment!
Eat local and seasonal products
They are often better quality, and they cause less contamination because they require less transport and less "middle men".
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Choose the right product Avoid products which contribute to deforestation or the degradation of fertile land (imported animal proteins, foods that come from mono-culture, transgenic foods, products made by brands with bad reputations...)
Use informative apps For example, Yuka scans the barcode of a food or cosmetic product and provides information about the effects of its ingredients on our health and the environment, and their composition. Clear Fashion allows you to find out
Check the labels when making a purchase,
more about clothing materials and brand practices.
Investigate, and then make your voice and opinions about companies and their decisions heard using apps like Buycott. It is also possible to us the app to join campaigns and make change happen!
Verified environmental labels include:
there are several rigorous labels which can help to support you towards more responsible consumption, with products that respect the environment and our health.
But,beware that some labels are not certified and are not as demanding. Find out more if you're not sure! It can help to guarantee that you're buying a product that respects and protects the environment.
... and many more ! 9
Value & protect water The water that flows through our pipes ends up in the sewer, even if it is still safe to use. Optimise your equipment A mixer tap can save 30% to 50% of water. A handheld shower head can save up to 75% water, with better jets for your shower.
Check the condition of taps and toilets to prevent leakages A dripping tap wastes about 5l of water per hour, which can cost up to €149 per year. A leaky toilet can waste about 25l of water per hour, or more than €740 per year!
Choose to take showers of less than 5 minutes and remember to turn off the water
By cutting your shower from 10 to 5 minutes, you can save up to €210 per year and per person.
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Doing the housework & laundry Wash at lower temperatures (cold, or 30°C) and use shorter cycles. These can use 3 times less energy than a wash at 90°C.
Use the "half-load" setting when the drum is not completely full.
Make your own laundry detergent It's simple, green and can save you money! Easy, quick recipes are readily available online.
Switch to natural household products It's cheaper and it avoids contaminating your home: the air indoors is 5 to 7 times more polluted than the air outside! This is true even in the city, because 91% of household products are believed to be carcinogenic and mutagenic. Remember to ventilate your home well for 10 minutes, twice a day.
Use economical programmes for laundry that is worn but not dirty as it does not require pre-washing.
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Get about in your area Choose public transport (underground, bus, tram)
Consider a car-sharing platform
to avoid traffic, save money and help improve air quality.
if you don't drive very often.
Try car sharing for longer journeys This limits the high cost of travelling, traffic, parking problems and air pollution. Consult online platforms to find out if your company is a part of any carpooling schemes.
For shorter journeys, try walkingor travelling by bicycle
which remain the most beneficial modes of travel: good for our health, both physical and mental, as well as that of the planet. This is just as valid for personal journeys as well as your daily commute. If you don't have your own bike, consider a bikesharing service.
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Invite nature into your home! Whether it's a balcony, a garden or even a window box It's easy to add a touch of green to your space. We particularly recommend pollen flowers which are greatly appreciated by our precious pollinating insects.
Open your own bug hotel to support biodiversity in urban areas.
Contribute to the creation of a new “community garden” near to your home This promotes the dynamic of a collective space, based on shared participation, and brings amateur gardeners together in a project that teaches respect for our environment.
Avoid the use of pesticides in crops Don't use chemicals, instead feed your plants with home-made compost. Also opt for local plants, which are more resistant and easier to maintain.
Placing a bird feeder or a nesting box supports biodiversity in an important way! This is supported by a study which was carried out in England. There is a free guide with advice on how to welcome birds into your garden available on the Natagora website.
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Produce less waste The greenest waste is that which we do not produce! Reducing waste is our top priority. Choose a reusable bag when shopping, and try to always favour bulk buying.
Avoid disposable products: wipes, plastic plates and cutlery, even those made of cardboard. Instead of kitchen towels, use a tea towel or a sponge.
A menstrual cup or menstrual underwear are much better than tampons or towels during your period.
Buy refills rather than a whole new product each time (shower gels, cleaning products, ink cartridges, etc.) or products with less or no packaging (shampoo bars and soaps, for example).
Stick an anti-junk mail sticker (regulated by law, Art R.633-6 of the French penal code) onto your letterbox.
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Repair your broken objects, instead of throwing them away
It is also good for local businesses (cobblers, tailors...). Consider donating or investigate resource centres for devices which you no longer use.
Buy second hand clothing, furniture, electronics, etc. Try looking on eBay, Vinted, DePop...
Replace aluminium foil, an energy-intensive material, with reusable packaging (glass containers, Bento boxes or good quality Tupperware...).
Use washable nappies for your baby This can save up to €1,000 per year.
Forget cotton wool pads
and remove makeupwith washable cotton rounds instead.
Optimise what you need Find out about existing solutions to meet your needs Can I borrow it? Share it? Or rent it? It is preferable to hire the use of an object than to buy it, placing that product at the service of the so-called functional economy.
Donate items which you no longer use
and pick up things you do need from donation-based platforms such as Freecycle or local Facebook groups.
Try bartering, where possible, to exchange your items as needed.
Buy from local businesses, where possible, in order to promote buying local and reduce transport.
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Better heat & better insulation Close shutters and curtains when it is very cold or very hot These simple gestures can make a saving of at least 5% on your energy bills.
Position reflective panels behind radiators This can avoid up to 70% of heat loss, and keep you more comfortable in the room.
Check window seals If they let the air enter, they can easily be made more waterproof with insulating strips.
Regulate the temperature
20°C in the living room and between 16 and 18°C in the bedrooms is more than enough. Each additional degree increases the bill by an average of 7%!
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Choose green energy Choose a green energy supplier (Classifications are readily available online: Enercoop, Mint, Solstice groupe, Planète OUI, Ilek...). In France, 93% of French people are in favour of renewable energy and customer demand for green electricity has more than doubled in the past 4 years!
Group your electronic equipment with powerstrips with individual switches or programmable/remote-controlled sockets to switch your devices off when not in use.
Choose a green gas supplier (with Ilek)
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At work Switch off your computer equipment when you're not there (as well as associated technology: printers, scanners...) when leaving your home or at the end of your working day, as well as switching off the lights when leaving a room. Don't just leave things on standby (Wi-Fi router, games console, etc.).
Be sure to use energy saving material (low consumption LED bulbs, and low consumption household appliances, for example). Energy yields are betterand you'll quickly fee real savings in your budget. This doesn't mean you should get rid of things that still work, or you could consider giving them away.
Only keep your essential documents on your servers and delete those which are not necessary The ecological footprint of our digital activities (internet, data storage...) is considerable: the IT sector represents around 7% of global consumptionof electricity (source: Greenpeace). For more information, take a look at the We Green study which is available on wwf.com.
Create good waste sorting habits
(paper, plastic bottles and glass, but also batteries, electronics, light bulbs...). This is also useful in a business setting with the installation of sorting bins, there are so many possible solutions!
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Limit the use of single-use coffee capsules
Using ground coffee is often tastier than single-use coffee pods, or you could even try adding your own coffee to a reusable capsule.
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Good eating habits Listen to your appetite, serve yourself according to your hunger, and go back for more if you wish to (when Possible). Be sure to eat whatever is on your tray and take special care not to waste bread.
Use washable dishes for meetings and social breaks.
Use a mug or cup for your coffee break rather than a disposable cup, and use a reusable water bottle rather than a plastic bottle. Use a glass bottle at home and an insulated one for carrying with you.
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Reduce the volume of paper used Print only what is necessary, and try to print on both sides on the page, in black and white, reuse scrap paper and finally, ensure that the paper is sorted in order to be recycled. According to the French Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), an employee uses an average of 70 to 85 kg of paper per year.
Use eco-responsible search engines Your online searches are worth money, which can be partially used to support various causes. The following search aggregators do this: Ecosia, which works to support reforestation; Lilo, which offers a choice between a range of various associations or projects that you can choose to support; or YouCare, which offers meals to shelter animals.
On holiday Take a walk while keeping to the marked paths and respecting protected or private areas.
Use kinder forms of transport (walking, cycling, skateboards, scooters...) or public transport
Choose products which are respectful of the environment to protect yourself (mosquito repellent, sunscreen, scented oils, moisturisers, lip balms...).
to get around while visiting new places and enjoying what they have to offer.
Do not leave any rubbish behind and try to pick up any waste you may find.
Admire the landscapes or natural beauty without causing any damage or disturbing the local flora and fauna.
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Newrest is committed
to reducing its waste! Your catering service provider is committed to implementing good practice throughout the production chain! Our development of menus and orders considers the preferances and habits of the guests, as well as selecting responsible products and efficients stock rotation.
Adjusting production both before and during the service to avoid surplus.
Reselling unsold items where possible (in compliance with the regulations and procedures of the Health Control Plan).
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Photo credits: Frédéric Maligne, W2P Production, Blubel, Jonathan Borba, Carlos, Dan Gold, Toa Heftiba, Holger Link, Kevin McCutcheon, Andrew McSparran, Eduard Militaru, Laura Mitulla, Annie Spratt, Sylvie Tittel, Lewis Wilson.
61 boulevard Lazare Carnot 31000 Toulouse - France Tél: +33 (0)5 62 89 39 88
www.newrest.eu