ONE TEAM, ONE ETHIC!
Who we are?
Ethikis ad civis is a cooperative and participative company based in Toulouse, and originally created by two citizens determined to act on the environmental and social issues of our time.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Ethikis promotes ethics in the fields of consumption and use by creating concrete tools to fight against out-of-age practices.
OUR IDEA…
Responsibilities for the existence of organised obsolescence are shared between consumers and manufacturers but in a general way, obsolescence is not inevitable.
Our approach tends to convey this awareness and empower everyone against its early outbreak. LONGTIME® is a positive communication tool, a reference in terms of product durability and a concrete solution among the range of good practices that promote a longer lifetime for products.
What is a cooperative and participatory society? A company like no other! Shared governance, limited lucrativity, pursuit of the general interest… these are some of the main principles of SCOP under French commercial law.
The LONGTIME® story
2016
The idea of an anti-obsolescence label
The idea was born in the portable screwdriver section of a DIY-specialised store. In the middle of all these products, we wondered: “Why isn’t there a label for household appliances?“
The project of the durability-quality label was born.
The research phase begins. Many thanks to the Friends of the Earth, ADEME and ESEC (Economic Social and Environmental Council), among others, for their meaningful contributions on the subject.
2017
Creation of the Ethikis ad Civis association
In January, we met with numerous associations, repairers and consumers to receive their feedback and define the criteria for the label. This is the beginning of the consultation/drafting phase which will last more than 2 years!
In March, we joined the ADRESS programme and benefited from technical support to set up the project. That same month, we registered Ethikis ad civis as an association under the 1901 French law.
Drafting the specifications
In May, we began work with Ecocert Expert Consulting, which has considerable expertise in the development of independent labels. Their intervention enabled the drafting of verifiable and non-opposable criteria, and ultimately the edition of the control grid.
Partnership with control bodies
Awarding a label is not a trivial act. Surrounding ourself with independent actors is a matter of course. We also wanted to give candidate-manufacturers the choice of working with a particular control body. This is why we have signed agreements with APAVE certification and ECOCERT environnement, which meet the following criteria: independence / competence / impartiality.
2018
Winner of “My project for the planet” award
Awarded by the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition (French) in May 2018, among 420 projects submitted to the votes, LONGTIME® is one of the 15 winners and has the honour of pitching in front of the Minister Nicolas Hulot!
Transformation of the association into a cooperative
Ethikis becomes a cooperative and participatory company (SCOP) in the form of a SARL (French). The difference with a traditional company: the company belongs to its employees, cannot be owned by another entity and cannot be sold. An initial desire on the part of the founders to support projects such as the LONGTIME® label.
Carrying out 2 pilot audits
In August, with the services of Ecocert environnement, we tested the audit grid in a first company. We carried out a second pilot audit in December for another manufacturer with the services of APAVE certification.
2019
Finalist of the Social Innovation Tournament
In June, the European Investment Bank informed us that LONGTIME® was selected among 1600 projects across Europe to be one of the 15 finalists of the Social Innovation Tournament.
European deployment of the label
Daniela joins the permanent Ethikis team – multilingual and in line with our action, she takes charge of the European development of the label.
Announcement of the first labelled products
We can finally present the label to consumers and companies involved in the manufacture of products designed to last.
LONGTIME® is operational!