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In Pézenas, in the Hérault region of France, just a stone's throw from our vermiculture farm, a wonderful project is taking shape.
It's the kind of project we like, with strong values of sharing and awareness of the planet, close to nature and new ways of working together. The project is called Re'N'Art, a cooperative meeting place where people can make and eat in a short circuit, around a recycling center and a bistro kitchen garden.
To tell us all about it, we went to meet Océane, who is part of the Re'N'Art founding team, and who also works at Vers La Terre on certain missions (lucky us!!).
Hello Océane, can you introduce yourself in a few words and tell us about your role in the Re'N'Art project?
A wanderer at heart, I moved back to Pézenas just over a year ago. I'm part of a group of friends, some of whom I've known forever, others for 3-4 years. There are a good fifteen of us in the group, and I've taken a flat-share with two of them.
It's the fact that I've taken this flat-share that has set things in motion a little. In this group, there's Cécile Couraud, who's behind the Re'N'art initiative. Her idea won me over! I was dreaming of a recycling center in Pézenas. I told her that if she needed a little help from time to time, I'd be happy to help. And that's how I got involved!
I quickly found my place!
There was a great need for help with team coordination and administration. Today, I'm Cécile's shoulder: I act as a relay between her and the other team members, taking care of meeting minutes and appointments. If anyone wants to join the team, I'm in charge.
Can you give us a brief history of the project and explain how it is structured today?
Re'N'Art originated with Cécile Couraud. She's had this project in mind for many years, and over time it became more refined and concrete. We also had to find the people who wanted to get involved.
Re'N'Art was launched in May 2017. Today, it is supported by a twelve-strong steering committee. We share common values which are environmental protection, waste reduction and its impact, circular economy, social innovation as well as territorial anchoring.
To develop this project, we have chosen a business model that enables us to involve our customers in the following way: by applying a dual pricing system, i.e. a reduced rate on all our services in exchange for a monthly volunteer commitment. This is what will provide a social response for people on low incomes, while enabling us to develop the place based on the skills provided.
In short, we want to model the project on the skills present, not on ideas. The site's various activities will operate interdependently under a single umbrella: a Société Coopérative d'Intérêt Collectif (SCIC) bringing together different partners, with the dual aim of promoting environmental approaches and forging social links.
We are currently supported by the Alter'Incub incubator for socially innovative projects, at the Union Régionale des Sociétés Coopératives in Montpellier. We have also joined a business incubator in Pézenas (SYNERSUD) and are being monitored by Terre Vivante on the agricultural and organizational aspects of the project.
Can you tell us about the services that will be offered at Re'N'Art and how it's an innovative concept?
In terms of innovation, the project speaks for itself: an innovative project in the area, the involvement of customer members, organizational innovation, multi-partnership in the area and a multi-disciplinary team. We need to imagine this recycling center at the heart of a global project.
In the ressourcerie, we'll be offering workshops such as computer repairs, car repairs (small-scale mechanics) and household appliance repairs. Sewing workshops are also planned.
Around the "ressourcerie", a number of activities will be organized, including
The resto-bistro, supplied by the permaculture market-gardening zone and local producers. The concept of this restaurant will most certainly be a "brocante" restaurant, all vegetalized, as if we were eating in the middle of the jungle, and where everything you find there can be bought. You'll be able to take home the cup you drink your coffee from. Surplus produce will be sold in baskets.
Creative activities through workshops and courses (upcycling, decorating, marouflage, etc.) and a play area for kids, as well as discovery workshops.
Vers La Terre and Re'N'Art are located in the same area and share similar values. Are you thinking of collaborating?
Yes, of course, that's to be defined over time. For the moment, Vers La Terre is making its premises and equipment available, and we'd like to thank them for that! In the future, we're thinking of workshops to raise awareness of vermicomposting, and perhaps even a City Worms demonstration in our premises to show everyone that it's easy to recycle bio-waste at home.
Re'N'Art is taking part in the "My project for the planet" operation. Can you tell us a little about it?
Indeed, our association was selected as part of the "Mon projet pour la planète" call for projects launched by Nicolas Hulot and financed by the French Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, ADEME and the Biodiversity Agency.
A budget of 3 million euros has been released to help socially innovative projects get off the ground. We submitted our application and were selected from 1174 projects. Of these, the jury chose to highlight 30 favorites, of which Re'n'art is honored to be a part, in the circular economy category.
Those who wish can support us by voting for us by clicking on the link below until May 11!
https://www.monprojetpourlaplanete.gouv.fr/projects/plan-climat/collect/depot-des-projets/proposals/re-n-art
Re'N'Art's milestones to date:
Meeting with SICTOM Pézenas / Agde for future partnerships
Meeting with the Conseil Départemental de l'Hérault
Meeting with the Occitanie Pyrénées Méditerranée region
CAHM (Communauté d'Agglomération Hérault Méditerranée)
Visits and discussions with other recycling centers in Occitanie
Location search (currently under negotiation)
October 2017: entry into pre-incubation at Alter'Incub
November 2017: first event with the official presentation of Re'n'Art (500 people!)
January 2018:
Official entry into incubation at Alter'Incub
Creation of the association
Start-up of the resourcerie activity (furniture collection at the Pézenas tourist office, donations from private individuals, first contract and barter with the Pézenas printer - in exchange for decorating his print shop - first move, ...)
Re'n'art is asked to decorate the hall for the Mayor's New Year's address, and the project is presented again.
Current partners : Ville de Pézenas, SICTOM Pézenas-Agde, Imprimerie d'Oc, Alter'Incub, Les SCOP, MDE de Pézenas, Pitchoun Store.
To find out more:
By the way, what is a ressourcerie? All the info here.
To follow the Re'N'Art team on facebook click here, on their website click here.
Thanks to Océane for answering our questions, and long live Re'N'Art!
Do you have a social innovation project linked to ecology and environmental preservation and would you like to tell us about it?
Send us an e-mail at lise@verslaterre.fr
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