Mr Bricolage Blog

In Oyonnax (Ain, 60 km to the east of Bourg en Bresse), the Mr Bricolage store was declared best used bulb collection point 2010.

Over the 12 months of 2010, the store collected 516 kg of bulbs. This is the heaviest weight of bulbs collected by any DIY store in the Rhône-Alpes region.

This award was issued by Récylum, an agency which collects and recycles energy-saving bulbs at end-of-life.

In 2010, a total of 3,655 tons were collected (38 million bulbs). This figure was up 5 % from 2009. This figure rises each year due to increasing quantities of low-energy bulbs reaching end-of-life.

End-2010, Récylum had created 19,000 collection points which are currently available throughout France, including 14,000 accessible to the general public.

In 2011, Récylum has launched a communications campaign targeting the general public for the first time with funny spot advertisements based on black humour and one single slogan “You don’t need to be a champion to recycle used bulbs”.

Just a few days ago, the Mr-Bricolage.fr site opened a new video section dedicated to green gardening.

11 videos are presented by Chantal Detry and provide key information on how to manage your garden while protecting the environment. All key aspects of gardening are covered, from soil types and exposure to watering, diseases, garden friends, fertiliser and soil improvements. Chantal Detry promotes and advises gardeners to work with, rather than against, nature.

A few traditional garden crops are also presented with advice on garden flowers, tomato growing and the layering of small fruit trees.

Loads of simple but practical tips to ensure that gardening is really green.

Mr.Bricolage is gradually eradicating incandescent bulbs from its stores. Since 1^st July, 60 watt bulbs have faded from the shelves and been replaced with low-energy bulbs.

This withdrawal is part of the commitments made by stores in the context of the Grenelle law on the environment. 100 and 75 watt bulbs have already been withdrawn from the market. Added to 60 watt bulbs, these bulbs represent 80% of the bulb market. Replacing these energy-guzzling bulbs with low-energy bulbs will save eight terawatt-hours of electricity.

Mr.Bricolage has proposed a range of low-consumption bulbs as an alternative to traditional bulbs for many months. Technologies regularly make progress and new products reach the market. Recent innovations include LEDs or light emitting diodes, which have proved popular with consumers. In addition to saving energy, low-energy bulbs last 6 to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.

Low-energy bulbs can be recycled at the end of their life cycle, providing yet another benefit for the environment. Mr Bricolage stores collect the bulbs in the specially designed trays at store entrances.

More details:

Consult the convention on the withdrawal of incandescent bulbs

Discover LEDs or light emitting diodes

More info on the recycling of low-energy bulbs

See the environmental commitments of Mr.Bricolage

Consult Recylum Facebook page, the recycling body for used bulbs

130 Mr.Bricolage stores have committed to promoting the wood sector in France. Stores highlight the different uses of wood in homes: construction, renovation, furnishing and decoration.

Wood has many advantages: ecological, sustainable, low-cost, natural, renewable, resistant, convenient and nice to look at. Wood benefits from a positive environmental context. The use of wood globally contributes to reducing greenhouse gases due to its ability to store CO₂. This ability is assessed as one ton per cubic metre of wood transformed. Although French forests are the largest in Europe, French wood production is practically the lowest in terms of quantity per inhabitant.

Times are changing. Elected representatives increasingly promote the use of wood produced locally, or in the region. The government has taken several commitments in favour of wood. These commitments aim to increase the use of wood in the different areas of the home. Public authorities particularly wish to multiply the minimum percentage of wood in new constructions by 10. They also commit to the use of certified wood in public constructions.

Wood promotion campaign

This campaign aims to ensure the public are aware of the use of wood in homes. Stores are currently displaying information stands and brochures in this context. Information brochures are adapted depending on the different uses of wood: patios and fences, insulation and renovation of facades, interior design and decorations, woodwork and parquet flooring. This campaign is organised on behalf of France Bois Forêt, via the Comité National pour le Développement du Bois (CNDB – National committee for the development of wood).

For more details:

The web site of the Comité National pour le Développement du Bois

The web site of France Bois Forêt

2009 recently came to an end and Recylum, the recycling body for used bulbs, has already collected 10 000 tons in just 3 years.

Energy saving bulbs consume 5 times less than ordinary bulbs. They do however contain several components which must be recycled at end-of-life to protect the environment. Many stores, including Mr.Bricolage, have acquired collectors for for energy saving bulbs. These collectors are generally installed at store entrances.

Remembering to recycle old bulbs must be automatic when customers come to the store to replace a defective bulb.

Recylum aims to organise the collection and recycling of used bulbs by individuals and professionals in France (including overseas departments) ; all sources of light are involved, with the exception of filament bulbs and incandescent bulbs. (More info. on www.mr-Bricolage.com : Withdrawing incandescent bulbs).

For more information on the recycling of your used bulbs, check out the 8 videos of Mac Lesggy: click here.

For more information on Recylum, click here.