Perles & Co, a responsible DIY

At Perles & Co, it is a matter of course to be part of tomorrow's world, which is necessarily more respectful of people and the planet. Changing our habits for a healthier, more respectful and more sustainable development is a necessity.
Every day, we ask ourselves how to limit our impact on our environment. This is why our CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) policy leads us to carry out good practices and concrete actions towards the world around us: employees, partners, customers and our entire environment.

Acting in a supportive and responsible way

Perles & Co has always been a committed economic player. We work by trying to match the economy, our values and the world around us, while always placing the human being at the centre of our action.

Every month, Perles & Co is present alongside associations from various backgrounds such as Hôpital sourire, Les blouses roses, Clown Z'hôpitaux, Idapi, Arbres & Paysages tarnais, the Red Cross, etc., thanks to the solidarity donations made by our customers when they make their purchase (1% of the order).

Sensitive to equal opportunities, Perles & Co works in collaboration with several ESAT (establishment and service of help for the work reserved for the disabled) for the conditioning of certain articles. About fifteen disabled workers are working full time on this task.

Perles & Co ensures that its suppliers respect ethical criteria, ensuring good working conditions, safety and health for their employees, as well as the prohibition of child labour.

From both an environmental and a societal perspective, Perles & Co looks to responsible purchasing, such as recycled precious metals, certified fabrics, recycled glass beads...

It is important for us to guarantee the efficiency and safety of our products through three axes:
1. the transparency of the origin of our products, favouring as much as possible the European origin.
2. "Respect for standards with internal and external tests.
3. "Durability, because even if we sell "fancy" items, we make it a point of honour to offer quality that has been tested and even certified by standards and labels.

Putting people at the heart of the company

At Perles & Co, we attach great importance to the conditions and quality of work of our employees. Numerous solutions have been put in place to promote well-being at work and respect for the balance between private and professional life, such as a timetable in line with family life, so that employees can fully develop in their work.

>>> In the warehouse
Workstations and areas have been designed and fitted out to work safely (adapted height of shipping tables, uncluttered aisles, alternating tasks, coordination of breaks, regular debriefings, etc.)
Training in "gestures and postures" enables the adoption of appropriate gestures for lifting, carrying and organising workstations, thus limiting professional risks.

>>> In the offices
The ergonomics of the workstation is taken into account, allowing employees to benefit from screens and seats that best protect their health.

>>> For all our employees
- We promote employee training to anticipate their needs in a constantly changing world and to improve their skills and competencies.
- Concerned about the role of trainer that we have to play for future generations, we welcome work-study students in many departments. The aim is to pass on skills and provide a rewarding and enriching professional and human experience.
- We encourage open-mindedness in all our employees. Some have a complementary professional activity such as jewellery designer, jewellery craftsman, artist, video maker, graphic designer, IT developer or trainer. The result? Richness and influence on the entire work chain.
- Exchange, trust, conviviality, strength of proposal... The employees are at the heart of the reflection to improve life in the company.
- In a predominantly female company, we support the careers of both women and men. The majority of management positions are held by women.

Living more sustainably in our daily lives

Since its creation, Perles & Co has taken actions, such as waste management and waste reduction, to limit its impact on the environment. We put into practice the fundamental rule of the 3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle). In this respect, solutions have been found to make employees aware of eco-responsible attitudes.
Today, improving the packaging of our products to reduce our environmental footprint is one of our main battles.

>>> In the warehouse
- Whenever possible, we choose to package orders in paper bags (e.g. for dried flowers). This is a good alternative to plastic bags.
- We are developing bulk packaging to limit the mass use of plastic bags.
- To reduce the use of plastic, we have opted for eco-responsible, bio-sourced
Minigrip bags made from at least 20% sugar cane.
- The labels on the Minigrip bags are repositionable so that they can be easily removed and reused.
- To limit the purchase of plastic bags for the packaging of our pearls, we have launched an operation to recover Minigrip bags from our customers. And it works: the zipped bags have a second life by returning to the packaging circuit of our products. Because recycling is good, but reusing is better.
- The pickers use recyclable adhesive tape to close the orders. The boxes can then be put directly into the recycling system.
- Perles & Co has invested in a padding machine, a machine that allows us to recycle our suppliers' cardboard boxes by transforming them into padding for order dispatch.

>>> In our offices
For our purchases, we prefer sea or land transport to air transport.

>>> For all our employees
- Plastic bottles have been excluded from our premises. Everyone has a personal water bottle.
- A recharging station has also been installed for employees wishing to recharge their electric vehicle.
- Waste sorting is the norm in all departments.
- For coffee breaks, no pods or paper cups are used. Everyone has their own cup and we use coffee beans. The coffee grounds are then collected for our vegetable garden and spread around the plants and trees to serve as natural fertiliser.
- Because, yes, the employees do not hesitate to put their hands in the paw... or rather in the ground. For the past five years, volunteers have been conscientiously tending a small company vegetable garden (organic, of course!). Beans, tomatoes, strawberries, butternuts, potatoes, onions, shallots, peppers, sweet potatoes, chillies, aubergines, cabbages and aromatic plants grow proudly in a large patch of land.
- Perles & Co is committed to the environment beyond its walls. Employees of the company have taken part in reforestation actions (collecting seeds of rural plants, planting hedges in rural areas with the association Arbres & paysages tarnais)...