Paléo: pooled cups with other festivals?

It is difficult to realize it today, but, for a long time, the Paléo, it was music, joy and … a carpet of crushed plastic glasses when leaving the big scene at the end of the evening. Then, the festival introduced the reusable (and recorded) cups in 2009. Aim stated: reducing the volume of waste, the single use and its carbon footprint.

“It was extremely avant-garde on the part of the Paléo. And it is all the more meritorious that it is a large festival and therefore complex to do. I am quite convinced that by demonstrating the feasibility of the operation, it has changed the entire market. ” The man who praises is called Gilles Marmy. He is director of Ecomanif, who has just inaugurated a branch in Nyon where the dishes of the Paléo is now cleaned. Yes, the dishes, because in 2022 were also introduced on the site of the plates and washable bowls.

The laundromat is only 2 km from ASSE. “By collaborating with Ecomanif, we work locally and in a fairer manner,” says Jules Demaurex. In 2009, it was his father, Stéphane, who launched the cups at the Paléo. Today, it is he who is responsible for the sector. And he has projects. In the million cups and 150,000 plates and bowls, he would like to add washable cutlery. “We are in discussion with the stands to be able to find the right method,” he says.

Another idea: to pool cups with other events. Grouped within the Maximus association, the Cully Jazz, the city, the Estivale Open Air, the Venoge, BD Fil and the Lutry Harvest Festival did it for the first time this year. The advantage is economical, logistical and, of course, environmental. “We think about it. This is already the case with our dishes. Since Ecomanifies it to other events, ”explains Jules Demaurex. “It’s a good idea, but you have to align everything intelligently, otherwise it’s not very fair play,” says Gilles Marmy. Indeed, Maximus, it is “only” 200,000 cups and the goal is not to flood other festivals with those brandered Paléo, five times more numerous.

So why not have neutral cups ultimately? “This is our goal,” says Jules Demaurex. The stock is not changed entirely every year. Only those who are missing are printed with the colors of the current publishing, which represents 50,000 new glasses. In addition, Paléo assures that people collect them less and less. “The good continuation is to have a most neutral goblet possible, the least sexy in terms of design,” adds Gilles Marmy. Like that festival -goers have no interest in keeping it. Thus, it remains in its circularity. ” In theory, it can be used 160 times. “But we don’t really know, we don’t put a checkout. The oldest cups we have fifteen years and they are still as operational. ”