Butts recovery and recycling : where it all began

At the origin of this project there is Erwin Faure , passionate about social entrepreneurship and the environment. Erwin was surprised to see the huge ecological impact of the cigarette butt . While working on the subject, he found that no viable pollution control and recycling solution existed. It did not take him more to use his training in business creation and his network in an initiative capable of responding to this problem: how to collect and recycle cigarette butts ? The association that carried the ÉcoMégot project was born. Erwin’s strong convictions on social entrepreneurship as well as on the social and solidarity economy will give meaning and depth to his project, which will finally see the light of day in 2016. First in the form of a prefiguration association, ÉcoMégot was supported by structures such as BPI or even France Active. Now ÉcoMégot has become a social and solidarity economy company called KeeNat , and has 3 partners Erwin Faure , Sandrine Poilpré and Edouard Vergé and more than fifteen collaborators.

Our human and environmental values

Both internally and externally, trust is the key word. Our expertise, the traceability of our products, the transparency of the process of harvesting and recycling cigarette butts are based on this strong and fundamental value for all of us! We trust all those who are committed to fighting against pollution from cigarette butts, in favor of our environment. We do everything to ensure that you, customers, are satisfied and happy to join the EcoMégot adventure. Your trust is a driving force for us!

Environmental protection: cigarette butts harvest

It is this value that gives meaning to everything we do. We are raising public awareness to hope for a positive long-term impact and a behavioral change with regard to the pollution of cigarette butts . ÉcoMégot makes it possible to fight against pollution from cigarette butts and, consequently, to protect our environment from one of the most toxic waste and widespread in nature, the oceans and the streets.

We ensure that the design of our ashtrays respects the principles of sustainable development and the environment.When collecting cigarette butts in France, we work with local insertion sites to limit our carbon footprint and reintegrate into working life. people excluded from employment. We collect cigarette butts , where possible, by bicycle or via electric vehicles.

Cigarette butt recycling: the EcoMegot innovation

We are constantly pushing the limits of our products to extract the best and improve day by day. Questioning allows us to take a step back from what we offer and adjust the processes to satisfy you as much as possible.

After years of research and development, we have succeeded in creating a new recycled and recyclable material from the cigarette butts collected. Our patented cigarette butts recycling process eliminates the use of solvents and water. Progress when we know that water remains a rare and precious natural resource and that solvents pollute the soil.

ESUS approval

What is ESUS approval?

The “Solidarity Company of Social Utility” (ESUS) approval is issued by the State to support the development of companies in the Social and Solidarity Economy (ESS).

SSE structures (companies, associations, cooperatives, etc.) work to reconcile social utility, economic performance and democratic governance. Their objective is to create long-lasting local jobs that cannot be relocated and to support the creation of these jobs in social cohesion with a territorial anchoring to promote local economic development.

KeeNat received this approval from the Prefecture of the Gironde in 2019, when the company was created. Having this approval certifies that we work on a daily basis, in each of the projects that we develop, in favor of social utility.

How does the KeeNat team work for social utility?

Behind social utility lies a sincere commitment to the preservation and development of social ties. KeeNat is committed to participating in the creation of local jobs, in particular through the integration process, in order to allow people removed from employment to re-enter the professional world with the best possible support.

Since 2016, the ÉcoMégot project, then all of the KeeNat activities, have allowed the creation of 10 direct jobs, and have participated in the realization of more than 3,000 hours in integration, directly and via a network of partners of the Trustworthy ESS, everywhere in France.

Acting for the benefit of social utility at KeeNat also means having a positive environmental impact and stimulating behavior changes by:

Developing solutions to preserve our environment: throwing your waste in the appropriate trash is a first step towards protecting biodiversity!

Sensitizing all types of public to eco-gestures to raise awareness and encourage eco-responsible behavior

ESUS approval, the promise of a committed company

Each of the KeeNat projects is therefore conceived through the prism of social utility. ESUS approval is also the promise of reasonable economic and financial commitments:

The economic results generated by KeeNat’s activities must be the fruit of the pursuit of our social and environmental objectives, the profitability of the company being primarily based on this social utility value.

KeeNat undertakes to comply with a reasoned and regulated remuneration and investment policy (remuneration ceilings; no issuance of company shares on the traditional financial markets)

Who are the people and structures behind KeeNat?

ESUS accreditation is the guarantee of democratic, shared and transparent governance. Who is behind the KeeNat company? The company’s share capital is currently held by: The management team, in majority: Erwin Faure, Sandrine Poilpré and Edouard Vergé, France Active, Lita.co, an impact investment fund, behind which is hidden 137 citizen shareholders.