Working with Redeem to Give a Second Life to Temporary Advertisments

In order to reduce waste and create beautiful, eco-friendly products for everyday life, Salomon has partnered with Redeem Equipment to give old store and event banners a second life by reusing them to create tote bags and wallets.

"Our motto is to make the best use of what we have. Our watchword is that we transform these materials destined for the garbage can into useful, long-lasting accessories." Leading this project are Pauline Calandot and Irene Marcotti, the founders of Redeem Equipment. For the past four years, they've been on a mission to discover new ways to upcycle products from the outdoor world. Their approach revolves around repurposing discarded climbing ropes, paragliders, outdoor jackets, fabric offcuts, and notably, store and event banners, by transforming these materials, often destined for the landfill, into durable, functional accessories. Their philosophy revolves around maximizing the utility of available resources.

The Salomon x Redeem partnership started nearly two years ago when Salomon employee Charlotte Vernette, while assisting with product photoshoots, thought about the potential use of samples and discovered that banners go to waste every month. Through meticulous research, Charlotte identified that these items could still be reused to create entirely new, environmentally friendly products. Today, she spearheads this remarkable upcycling project, ensuring that no material goes to waste. "I have a strong interest in CSR-related topics and I think every small project should be encouraged and pushed so we can all play our part in evolving towards a circular economy"

The process begins with the collection of banners from Salomon stores and progresses through a meticulous pattern-making and sewing process, resulting in unique and visually striking tote bags and wallets. It’s important to highlight that the manufacturing is local: 100% of the accessories are designed and manufactured in Haute-Savoie with upcycled materials. This speaks to the dedication in supporting local communities and reducing their environmental footprint simultaneously. Available at the Salomon store in Annecy, this creative endeavor is expanding, introducing new offerings such as fanny packs and smaller bags.

To further develop this program, two new products have been available since November at the Salomon store in Annecy: a sling bag and a fanny pack, still made by hand by by Pauline and Irene, and still using leftover banners from Salomon.

What sets this project apart is its philanthropic purpose. All profits from the Salomon x Redeem initiative go directly to the Salomon Foundation. Our foundation aids the social and professional rehabilitation of athletes and mountain professionals who have experienced physical disabilities due to accidents or illness. It also extends its support to bereaved families, offering them assistance during challenging times.

The Salomon x Redeem project reflects Salomon's approach to circularity. It's about showing the world that by working together and sharing the same values, we can create products with less impact, and contribute to local economies.