A quick glance at the GPS informs us that we are more than 3,000 kilometers from Lapland. Aside from the snow and the reindeer, the warehouse looks just like Santa’s workshop. A few days before the passage of the big red man, the Copains destoys premises in Retiers (Ille-et-Vilaine), south of Rennes, is overflowing with soft toys, construction and board games, dolls and figurines. But here, no new toys even if some sometimes arrive in their original packaging. Only used, damaged or broken toys that the young company collects from schools, daycare centers, businesses or landlords in the surrounding area. And every day, the tour brings its share of treasures. “We regularly have shiny eyes,” assures Fabrice Delalande.
At the origin of the project launched in the spring, this big child made it his mission to save all those abandoned toys that clutter up bedrooms or wardrobes from the trash. There is no shortage of resources because, according to Ademe, 120,000 tonnes of toys are thrown away each year. And only 4 to 5% reused. Faced with such waste, several social and solidarity economy structures have emerged across the country to offer a second life to these poor remote-controlled cars, robots and other Playmobils. In just a few months, Copains destoys has already saved more than five tonnes.
“You don’t buy a toy from us, you adopt it”
After sorting by category and a little cleaning, half of the toys collected are resold as is. on the website of the Breton company, either in batches or by the kilo. With prices of course advantageous for customers with toys sold “between 10 and 70% of the price of new”, underlines Fabrice Delalande. “But with us, you don’t buy a toy, you adopt it,” he smiles. “And a child will not be happier with a new toy,” agrees Gaëlle Le Stradic, in charge of the social and solidarity economy in the Brittany region, who awarded a grant of 17,000 euros to Copains destoys.
If a figurine has had its head or leg amputated or if a piece of a board game is missing, Laëti and Julia, the two employees, then take out the tools to repair them. “We receive a lot of Doctor Maboul games and the bones are systematically missing from the boxes,” says Julia. So, we’re tinkering to make another one. »
Autistic people soon to be hired
While the recycling of toys, particularly plastic, is still very complex, the Breton company even recovers broken toys that no one wants anymore. Rejects which, thanks to the talent and creativity of employees or partner artists, will become decorative objects such as flower pots and lampshades or jewelry. “It’s still very amateurish,” admits Fabrice Delalande. So we can’t wait to take it to the next level, because there is so much to invent. »
In the coming weeks, the entrepreneur will also give substance to another aspect of his project with the hiring of autistic people. “I think the setting here may suit some people,” says the founder of Copains destoys, himself with a disability. In France, it is considered that 90 to 95% of autistic people are excluded from employment.