Transformative Projects
As part of their Master’s degree in Sustainable Management and Technology, students work on a sustainability challenge provided by a company to propose new perspectives or solutions that can have the potential to transform an industry or societal practice.
This project targets a transformative approach to waste management in Richemont’s manufacturing facilities, focusing on circular economy principles. It aims to achieve zero waste by systematically mapping, prioritizing, and addressing waste streams through innovative and sustainable practices, significantly reducing waste and enhancing operational efficiency. The project has been developed by four students in the context of their Master’s degree in Sustainable Management and Technology.
Richemont is a global luxury goods group that stands at the forefront of innovation and sustainability in its production processes. Embracing a circular approach to consumption, this zero-waste project seeks to minimize waste across the industrial plants of Richemont, addressing diverse sources such as industrial materials, chemicals, water, filtration, and catering by actively exploring sustainable solutions.
The project presents a detailed analysis of the waste flux of the manufacturing facilities of Valfleurier in Buttes, and Manufacture Cartier Watchmaking in La Chaux-de-Fonds and a roadmap to minimize their wastes.
Key highlights include up to 95% reduction in oil waste and up to 80% reduction in electronic waste, if the recommendations of this study are implemented. In our work, we employed a three-phase approach: mapping waste fluxes, prioritizing waste streams, and developing an action plan.
The project combines academic methodologies with practical applications to propose impactful solutions. The three-phase project includes mapping current waste fluxes, prioritizing key waste streams, and proposing feasible solutions, ultimately forming an action plan for improved waste management practices. The mapping and prioritization process efficiently targets the most impactful waste streams, with the potential for significant environmental and operational improvements. The comprehensive analysis covered 50% of Richemont’s waste streams, offering opportunities for further optimization and serving as a blueprint for future sustainability efforts. The report also highlights the importance of addressing the communication gap within Richemont’s manufacturing sites and advocates for internal culture shifts and collaboration to enhance sustainability efforts across the industry.
In summary, this project offers a transformative pathway towards achieving zero-waste practices, reducing environmental impact, and fostering collaborative efforts that extend beyond a single company, ultimately contributing to a more sustainable and resilient economy for all stakeholders involved.
Students: Hugo Blanadet, Charles Feigneux, Yanis Oulmane, Amael Parreaux-Ey
Company’s supervisors: Gauthier Renaud, Stéphane Dubach
Academic supervisors: Gino Baudry