Download the file. - Groupe Seb

Since 2009, the global rate of return for products
under guarantee decreased by around 40%
71
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
More products repaired
The preliminary diagnosis now carried out on products returned
under guarantee with a view to repairing them has improved the rate of
products repaired rather than exchanged: 66% in 2012 in the countries that
were assessed, compared with 64% in 2010.
For the period outside of warranty, the Group has set up some incentives. From
2013 onwards, 36,000 different spare parts will be available for 7 to 10 years
(5 years in 2011) and their price will continue to be cut by 20 to 30%. These
price cuts will also benefit consumers buying spare parts, accessories and
consumables directly (2,000 items available in a number of countries through
the website www.accessories.home-and-cook.com). A consolidation platform,
set up in Hong Kong, will reduce the time and cost of supplying spare parts
from Asia. At the same time, the network of approved repair centres is
becoming denser: 6,500 in total, of which 2,800 are in China.
Involving consumers in recycling
The sustainable development dimension of a product increases
in value throughout its lifecycle and that of its components. In addition to its
involvement in collecting and recycling networks organised at state level
(eco-organisations in Europe), Groupe SEB is also exploring additional methods.
For example, at E. Leclerc stores in France in 2012, consumers received a
voucher in exchange for their old pots and pans to spend on a product from
the Natura (Tefal) range of recycled aluminium products. This collection,
financed by Groupe SEB, enabled the Eco-Systèmes organisation to recover
and recycle almost 50,000 cookware items at the end of their lifecycle.
Consumer safety has been
a priority since
the 1950’s
repairing iS alSo about
eDucating conSumerS
"Each year, we receive about 400,000 appliances at our workshop in
Saint-Nicolas, near Anvers in Belgium. We do everything we can to repair
them instead of exchanging them because, apart from the environmental
benefits, it also enables us to caution consumers regarding any improper
use and to protect jobs in a small company such as ours, which only has
10 employees. We repair about two thirds of the appliances, 95% of which
are still under guarantee. Groupe SEB represents 65% of our business.
The Group was one of the first to encourage repair and it gives us a lot
of support with annual training on new products and a highly efficient
IT system."
Testimony
Ann Boux,
ETP, Belgium