Recycling and giving products a second life

Following the decree of 6 January 2012 on the management of Waste Furnishing Elements (amended by decree No. 2017-1607 of 27 November 2017), the legislation makes us responsible for the end-of-life of the products we sell. Most of our products are subject to an eco-contribution, which we collect and pay to specialised eco-organisations.

To reduce our industrial waste and meet environmental challenges, Alba has chosen to join forces with three French eco-organisations: Valdelia, Ecosystem and Ecologic. These three companies offer a complete solution for the collection, treatment, recycling and reuse of all used professional equipment.

Eco-contribution: why and how?

The principle of eco-contribution

The eco-contribution is a financial contribution that we collect and pay to specialised eco-organisations to ensure the responsible management of the end-of-life of our products. This contribution is used to finance the collection, processing and recycling of used equipment.

Utility in the office furniture sector

In the office furniture sector, eco-taxes are essential for reducing the environmental impact of end-of-life products. Office furniture/accessories, when not properly recycled, can generate a significant amount of waste and pollution. By collecting the eco-tax, we finance concrete actions to recycle and recover materials, thereby reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill and preserving natural resources.

Our commitment

At Alba, we systematically integrate eco-contribution into the marketing of most of our products. This ensures that every purchase contributes to a more sustainable life cycle for office furniture, by funding the processes required for their recycling and reuse. Our aim is to minimise the environmental impact of our products while promoting a circular economy.

Working with eco-organisations: Valdelia, Ecosystem and Ecologic

To ensure efficient and sustainable management of our waste, we have chosen to work with three French eco-organisations: Valdelia, Ecosystem and Ecologic. These partners help us to put in place comprehensive solutions for the collection, treatment, recycling and reuse of our used professional equipment.

Valdelia

Valdelia is a not-for-profit eco-organisation founded in 2011 and approved by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition and Solidarity. Specialising in the management of non-household Waste Furnishing Items (WEEE), Valdelia offers a complete solution for the collection, recycling and reuse of used professional furniture.

Environmental and social issues

Valdelia's mission is to reduce pollution linked to professional furniture waste and to avoid wasting precious natural resources. In addition, Valdelia generates local activity and jobs, thereby meeting environmental, economic and social challenges.

How does it work?

Valdelia collects used furniture, sorts it and recycles it into new raw materials. For more information on take-back conditions, how the eco-contribution works and how it is calculated, please visit: www.valdelia.org.

Ecosystem

Ecosystem, formed from the merger of Eco-systèmes and Récylum in January 2018, is an eco-organisation specialising in the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), as well as used lamps.

Recycling process

Ecosystem organises and develops collection points for used lamps and professional and private WEEE. This hazardous waste requires special treatment to remove undesirable substances and recover recyclable materials.

Added value

Thanks to Ecosystem, over 90% of the weight of lamps and electrical equipment is recycled. The fractions extracted benefit from specific treatments for recycling, energy or material recovery, and disposal in compliance with regulations.

To find out more about what they do, please visit www.ecosystem.eco.

Ecologic

Ecologic France is an eco-organisation that provides a collection and processing service for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from households and businesses. Since 2006, Ecologic has been contributing to the development of a circular economy by preventing waste and recycling the materials contained in WEEE.

Mission and impact

Ecologic's role is to avoid waste and mining by recycling potential pollutants and raw materials from end-of-life products. Ecologic works alongside all the players involved to raise awareness and promote waste recycling.

For more information on take-back conditions, how the eco-contribution works and how it is calculated, please visit: www.ecologic-france.com.

By working with Valdelia, Ecosystem and Ecologic, Alba is actively committed to an eco-responsible approach to giving products a second life and reducing our environmental footprint. Together, we are contributing to a more sustainable future by promoting the recycling and reuse of materials.