Creation of a paper sorting workshop in Landivisiau, France

Through its support for the creation of a paper sorting workshop in an ESAT in Landivisiau (Finistère, western France), the Air Liquide Foundation is demonstrating both its commitment to the handicapped and its involvement in the environmental field.

The association “Les Genêts d’or” has been struggling, since 1963, against the isolation of families and individuals dealing with handicaps. At the end of 2009, the association welcomed nearly 2,000 people and had 1,200 employees of all ages in 24 ESAT in the Finistère, a department in western France.

The Air Liquide Foundation wished to support the project of renovating the ESAT premises. After 30 years of existence, the Landivisiau ESAT, which had become obsolete, could no longer offer decent working conditions to its handicapped employees. The ESAT therefore decided to redirect part of its activities to collecting and sorting paper, in this way supplying a unit that produces cellulose wadding for the local market.

The new ESAT will be rebuilt according to eco-construction standards. The creation of a paper collection and sorting workshop, designed to ensure optimal working conditions, will make it possible to provide its employees with a constant activity and near autonomy.

Through its pursuit of a triple objective (a social objective through supporting the handicapped, economic and social objectives), this project is right in line with a sustainable development approach.