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Cargo commits
Our mission is to develop and distribute useful, beautiful, high-quality products to enhance the daily lives of everyone, while minimizing our impact on the environment and being mindful of our role in society.
Consumers are increasingly expressing the need to live in a more ethical society that consumes better and more sustainably. We share this vision, which is why we have decided to integrate the concept of social and environmental impact into all our initiatives, making strong CSR commitments focused on four pillars that align with our businesses :
OUR 4 CSR PILLARS
OUR
PRODUCTS
- Managing product life cycles
- Introducing safe and compliant products to the market
- Providing labeled products using responsible materials
- Selling functional and sustainable products
OUR
ENVIRONMENT
- Minimize and manage waste streams within our operations
- Control pollution in production and transportation
- Decrease energy consumption in our operations
RSE environnement
OUR
EMPLOYEES
- Acting as a responsible employer, deeply connected to the local community
- Striving to be an ethical and supportive employer
- Offering employees an "appropriate" working environment and conditions
- Managing skills and facilitating professional development
OUR
SUPPLIERS
- Leverage on reliable and referenced suppliers
- Understand, audit, and control our manufacturing chain
- Establish a supplier code of conduct (excluding discrimination, child labor, forced labor, etc.)
RSE collaborateurs
RSE fournisseurs
OUR
PRODUCTS
Compliant and safe products
We place a strong emphasis on the products listed in our subsidiaries. Compliance with standards is rigorously monitored by independent laboratories.
Our in-house testing laboratory, Cargolab, supports subsidiaries throughout the product life cycle by guiding them in determining their offerings: conducting tests after importation, providing decision support for sourcing and purchasing, and analyzing any anomalies reported by customers. Regular samples are taken in-store to ensure that the initial specifications are adhered to.
Sustainable products
When establishing Cargolab, we aimed to take things a step further by conducting our own functionality and durability tests..
Indeed, a standard does not guarantee that a product will function correctly or endure over time, which is why the durability of our products is tested in both the short and long term.
Equipped with various test benches, we conduct tests for functionality, strength, and durability.
With Cargolab, our commitment is to bring functional, durable products to the market that are accessible to all.
More responsible or certified raw materials
With the assistance of our suppliers, we consistently contemplate the integration of more responsible raw materials into our products.
For instance, we have collaborated with our subsidiaries to develop ranges of cooking utensils made from recycled materials such as aluminum, natural and biodegradable straws, a line of toys crafted from FSC wood, and textile products labeled OEKO TEX, accounting for up to 50% of references for certain subsidiaries.
Additionally, we have pledged to promote this label (FSC or PEFC*) for the printing of our communication materials (catalogs, point-of-sale advertising, etc.).
*FSC = Forest Stewardship Council and PEFC = Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes.
OUR
ENVIRONMENT
Improving our packaging
From the inception of a new product, we collaborate with our subsidiaries and suppliers to design the product in a way that minimizes its environmental impact.
One of our primary focuses is on packaging, and we work around three key axes:
- Reducing packaging
- Modifying their composition (e.g., from plastic to cardboard)
- Choosing materials that are more environmentally friendly (e.g., sourced from sustainably managed forests for paper and cardboard).
At times, we also reconsider the very design of the product to completely or partially eliminate packaging.
From now on, the concept of eco-design is an integral part of the specifications for all new products.
Before
After
Slide up and down to see our before and after
Before
After
Slide up and down to see our before and after
Before
After
Slide up and down to see our before and after
Optimizing container management
Our supply chain and logistics team handles the consolidation of orders from subsidiaries to maximize container filling.
We also raise awareness among our suppliers about the available volumes in a container, encouraging them to adjust their packing methods to make the most of the available space.
Collectively, these efforts enable us to achieve an average fill rate of 84 %.
Favoring environmentally-friendly transport
While the majority of our products originate from Asia, we are committed to optimizing their transportation to minimize our environmental impact. Goods are primarily shipped by sea, and we strictly avoid utilizing waterways that traverse the North Pole.
Air transport constitutes less than 1% of our overall transportation, and we categorically reject road transport from Asia. Upon arrival in France, over 50% of our containers are transported by rail between the unloading port and our warehouses, further reducing the carbon footprint of our logistics.
For example, sea transport emits far less CO2 than air transport (e.g. from Ningbo to Lille) :
SEA + ROAD : 0.12 tonnes CO2/tonne transported
AIR : 7.08 tonnes CO2/tonne transported
RAIL + ROAD : 0.40 tonnes CO2/tonne transported
Source : ecotransit.org
Controlling pollution linked to our activities
To promote recycling, we have implemented sorting bins in break rooms to recycle organic waste, paper, cardboard, and metal. Paper is also collected for recycling in each office.
In our warehouses, wooden pallets are also collected for recycling.
We consistently undertake initiatives to reduce digital pollution associated with our activities, including organizing digital clean-up days and raising awareness about the need to minimize consumption.
Encouraging Sustainable Mobility
We actively encourage our employees to adopt more environmentally friendly modes of transportation, such as bicycles, electric scooters, or public transit, through the implementation of a sustainable mobility allowance to support them in this initiative.
We have introduced the KAROS carpooling platform, enabling employees to reduce the cost of their home-to-work commutes and the carbon footprint of their travel.
As part of our ongoing efforts, our internal combustion-powered service vehicles are gradually being replaced with low CO2 emission vehicles. Charging stations have already been installed on our site.
Reducing Travel
To minimize our carbon footprint, we have equipped 23 of the Group's meeting rooms with video-conferencing systems, facilitating remote meetings.
OUR
EMPLOYEES
Supporting young graduates
We are proud partners of the « Nos quartiers ont du talent » association, providing young graduates with mentorship from experienced employees in their job or work-study search.
Providing a comfortable working environment
We prioritize the well-being of our employees :
New talents receive a welcome kit upon joining the company. Cargo also supports young parents with 35 reserved spots at the group level. Throughout the year, various activities are organized to foster camaraderie and collaboration among teams.
Supporting disadvantaged populations
The cargo group's "Engagés Solidaires" Foundation
All inhabitants of the planet share fundamental needs: health, security, the opportunity to start a family, and the hope for improved living condition.
As a significant player in the consumer goods sector in Europe, a region privileged in terms of economic and human development, the CARGO Group aims to redirect a portion of its financial resources to less-favored areas, initiating and supporting development initiatives for populations in greatest need.
Since its establishment in 2011, the Engagés Solidaires Foundation has :
+ than 150 Projects
supported in some fifteen countries
+ than 50 partner
associations
+ than 1 000 000€
distributed to assist disadvantaged populations
"Le Coeur des Entreprises"
Cargo is a co-founder of a collective of around fifteen companies known as « Le Coeur des Entreprises » which collaborates year-round with associations recognized for their public utility and social solidarity mission. The goal is to assist individuals experiencing homelessness, vulnerability, disability, or extreme precarity by offering both human and material support to associations and volunteers.
"Café Joyeux"
The group is a patron of Café Joyeux, downtown café-restaurants with a mission of workplace inclusion for people with disabilities. We take great pride in contributing to the opening of "Café Joyeux" in Toulouse, providing employment for around ten individuals.
Associative partnerships
Several of our subsidiaries are actively engaged with various associations, including "Restaurants du coeur" participating in the collection of food items, and "Petits Princes" fulfilling the dreams of seriously ill children.
OUR
SUPPLIERS
Guiding our suppliers
Our Qinsky office in China ensures the adherence of our suppliers to our specifications.
98% of our suppliers in China have signed the "code of conduct," a charter where they commit to adhering to the standards and specifications outlined by the Group. These standards represent the minimum expectations for CSR within the factories.
The charter explicitly expresses the commitment to support suppliers in achieving defined social and environmental objectives, implementing controls, and having the option to terminate supplier relations without notice in case of issues.
Moreover, some of our subsidiaries also embrace the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), a program aimed at enhancing the social and environmental conditions in factories producing imported products.
This entails ensuring that manufacturing conditions, at a minimum, contribute to economic development for local communities and are respectful of the environment.
Sourcing
While a significant portion of our production originates from Asia, we frequently engage European suppliers for specific product categories.
For certain subsidiaries, European production constitutes half of the collections sourced from artisans such as potters, joiners, and glassmakers.
Additionally, some subsidiaries provide their customers with products made in France, comprising up to 35% of their catalog.