An article by Maud, added on September 25, 2020 3 min. reading
During the Sustainable Development Week, we highlight virtuous initiatives in the environmental field, particularly but also in the social sphere. Today we present to you the UNISOAP association.
Founded only 3 years ago, the association is already well developed. Its principle starts from a simple observation. As a guest in a hotel, we rarely use all of the soaps available to us.
UNISOAP therefore takes the necessary steps to ensure that these soaps are recycled in order to make them donation to associations helping vulnerable people like the Red Cross or the Restos du Cœur for example. For the moment, the distribution is confined to France, but eventually, the soaps will be distributed abroad.
All the soap transformation work is carried out by young disabled workers in the ESAT Myriade Fondation OVE in Vaulx-en-Velin (Rhône). Thus, UNISOAP reduces waste but also engages socially.
UNISOAP only lives on its sponsorship agreements with hotels and crowdfunding campaigns (two have already been organized, which has enabled the association to raise around € 20). She can trust major donors who bought her equipment. This is the case of the Caisse d'Epargne Rhône-Alpes Corporate Foundation.
Why are we interested in this association? Although based in Lyon, UNISOAP works throughout France. Two hotels in our region are already partners: The Mercure Paris Roissand Charles de Gaulle and Novotel Paris CDG Roissy Convention.
At the Mercure Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle, it was Gwladys, in charge of quality, who set up the partnership. She sought to involve the hotel in initiatives that would increase its quality. Naturally, Gwladys searched in the field of recycling and got to know UNISOAP through social networks. The one-year partnership agreement was signed remotely very easily. The hotel teams were sensitized and were immediately enthusiastic and involved in the project. After three months, 50kg of soaps were recovered!
This initiative shows to what extent hotels can commit without too many constraints to taking positive steps for our planet.
Key info:
- 30 to 40 kilos of soaps are collected per month in a hotel with 245 rooms
- Five tons of soap already collected
- 120 partner hotels
- Three prestigious awards
- September 2019: CSR trophy awarded by IDEX (independent leader in energy transition)
- December 2019: SMART Tourism Trophy awarded by ONLY LYON
- February 2020: “People's favorite” prize during the Palmes du Tourisme Durable
- 30 press releases (television, radio, written press, web)
For more information :
- If you are a hotel and you want to engage
- About UNISOAP in general
- On Accor's Planet 21 program.
