Two start-ups among the winners of the Swiss Ethics Prize

The Swiss Ethics prize awards innovative projects implemented by companies and organizations in the field of ethics and sustainability. It has been organised since 2005 by students in the Business Economics programme at HEIG-VD. This year, the jury of professionals, made up of representatives from the private sector and associations awarded prizes to two younger companies:

BePooler is a smart mobility operator focused on ridesharing, offering a state-of-the-art car-sharing platform dedicated to commuters and business travellers in Europe. The B2B2C (Business to Business to Customers) business model enables employers to offer the service to all employees who need to commute, resulting in cost savings and monetary benefits for users. BePooler has a multiplier effect that translates into the possibility of grouping together users from different companies with the same journey, be it a short trip (e.g. airport, station, etc.) or a long one.

BePooler has over 15,000 registered users and 20 corporate customers in Ticino (i.e. Rapelli SA, JABIL Healthcare, GNOSIS Bioresearch SA) and Northern Italy (i.e. Allianz Spa, A2A SPA, Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A.). These users have covered more than 3,200,000 shared km, with real savings of more than CHF 600,000.

The company appealed to the jury because it puts technology to work for the transition to a greener economy by creating a simple, easy-to-use application for both individuals and companies. By facilitating car-sharing, BePooler is helping to reduce CO2 emissions, but it is also helping to forge new bonds of solidarity and social cohesion.

La Petite Épicerie created the first shop in Bavois (VD) in 2018. Following various requests and the enthusiasm generated by the new kind of shopping system, which enables producers and artisans to sell their products directly the founders decided to build up a franchising offer. Today eight shops have been realised: six in the canton of Vaud, one in Geneva in collaboration with L'Union Maraichère de Genève and one in Abtwil in the canton of St. Gallen. The next store will be opened in Etoy (VD) next week.

The company is currently in a growth phase, with several new outlets planned over the coming months. “Our aim is to reach 60 sales outlets throughout Switzerland by 2027, and to continue developing the concept towards a direct sales system that is increasingly committed to the food transition. It will include a deposit system to offer zero-waste products, improved efficiency of sales outlets, use of unsold products, etc.”, explains co-founder Stéphanie Favre.

This project convinced the jury because of the strength and simplicity of its idea, as well as the diversity of its positive impacts. This local 'smart' grocery shop enables direct and transparent trading. Founded by alumni of the HEIG-VD, it is helping to rebuild ties in villages where the last shops have closed down because they have become unprofitable. By offering fresh, local products close to home, it promotes short supply chains and reduces the need for car journeys for shopping, thereby cutting CO2 emissions. The system is user-friendly and simple, and the project, which plans to roll out to 60 Swiss villages by 2027, has demonstrated its economic viability.

(ES / SK)
Picture: La Petite Épicerie shop