Translations

BRUNEAU (3SI Group) computerizes its waste management system

4. Environment

Waste management

Sector Business / Distribution

Year 2013

Country France

Transmitter

Context

The 3SI Group is France's third largest e-retailer with a total of 25 brand names (fashion, home furnishings, office supplies, e-retail corporate services). Group subsidiary Bruneau, with a presence in 5 European countries, is France's leading e-retailer in office furnishings and supplies intended for professionals.In this logistics-driven sector, waste management represents a major challenge.

Objectives

Anticipating future waste reprocessing needs, as extended to the B-to-B market segment (eco-organisms) and applicable to office furnishings;
Reducing waste tonnage and decreasing the costs related to waste reprocessing;
Improving the quality of measurement tools: data collection, easily accessible to all actors, reporting, and an output analysis.

APPROACH

Awarded the ISO 14001 Standard certification as of 2005, the company focuses year in year out on enhancing its environmental management processes.To achieve waste management efficiency, a dedicated computer tool, GESDEC, has been developed by an in-house multidisciplinary team and features three levels of processing:1 - Fact sheets on each type of waste handled:- ability to create, modify and consult the waste data sheets- each sheet is built around a set of regulatory information (European waste-related nomenclature, ADR regulations regarding hazardous waste transport, etc.), standards (ISO 9001 for processes) and operating details (common designation, photo, etc.).2 - Subcontracted waste handling firms:- ability to create, modify and consult the data sheets on each subcontractor- each sheet is built around regulatory information (Prefecture administrative order, e.g. Declaration of hazardous waste transport) and operating details (business name, SIRET registration number, address, Website, phone contact, etc.).3 - Waste removal:- ability to create, modify and consult each reported removal from Bruneau's main site, as well as on its provincial distribution platforms;- each sheet indicates all entries contained on the waste tracking form (BSD) used to monitor the life cycle of each waste product. This information is combined with financial data to control both expenses (transport, treatment cost) and revenues (reuse). Best practice spotted by the World Forum Lille in 2013.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

- Reduction in waste generated and cost optimization (improved sorting, lower cost of dumpster rotation). - Optimization of the human resources required for quality monitoring and ISO standard compliance. - Enhanced quality of service provided to professional clients in removing products at the end of their life cycle and guaranteeing their reprocessing with minimal impact to the environment.