Class of 1984: 40 years on, a reunion full of memories...
This KEDGER has created Pando – a brand of hygienic products that are made from natural ingredients, are refillable, made in France, and plastic-free!
After the health crisis hit, resulting in the closing of his restaurants, Charlie Laloge (Class of 2009) came up with a solution for a "zero plastic" bathroom that hasn’t changed his habits. An unusual career path and a strong entrepreneurial mindset.
Charlie Laloge started attending the Bordeaux campus of KEDGE in 2006. After a busy life with the student associations, (Adrénaline, Sup de Com, Trophé, etc.), he decided to take a gap year and did a marketing internship at Guinness in Paris. "I quickly realised that my growth would come through entrepreneurship. I was aware that I was lucky to have an internship with responsibilities, but something just wasn’t right. I was restless and wanted to be independent."
After completing his studies with a semester in the Philippines, Charlie decided to travel around Asia and Australia for two years where he discovered the world of the restaurant business. It was the trigger for him, because once he was back in France, he opened his first bar, Le Carlie, in Paris, followed by a bar/restaurant, La Boissonnière.
During the first lockdown, he didn’t want to just stand idly by so he and his teams started making meals for the Restos du Coeur! "It was an incredible experience. It not only gave meaning to our daily lives during that period, but it also allowed us to be part of the collective effort. It was also a great opportunity to meet inspiring people. It was a great lesson in humility! "
When the restaurants were allowed to reopen, it was short-lived. In October he was forced again to close his doors. Instead of letting it get him down, he took it as a sign. He and a friend (also a restaurant owner) decided to create a responsible project with a real ecological added value. They created Pando, a simple and innovative way for everyone to reduce the amount of plastic they consume in five essential products: deodorant, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, and soap.
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"Although alternatives are available, and despite the general awareness of issues to the environment, most people still use single-use products that come in plastic containers in their daily care routines, either because natural products are thought to be less effective or because alternative products are less convenient."
The partners have designed glass bottles that are both aesthetically pleasing and solid, which can be refilled indefinitely with non-toxic, plant-based products. And all of this without resorting to going to solids (like bar soap or shampoo bars).
"Our formulas took a while to design, but we're proud of the result. They're gentle, effective, free from any controversial products, and all score 100/100 on Yuka."
After having financed the research with their own funds, they decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Ulule to finance the production by offering up to a 35% discount! "We hope that people will like our brand and will support us. A simple share on social networks can bring us a lot. The beginning of our campaign has been promising, but we hope to go even further. I am convinced that this is the beginning of a great adventure."
Follow Pando on social networks: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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