The idea was born from a farewell party. To give a gift to a colleague who refused to buy new items, Séverin Prats looked for a gift card usable in recycling centers or responsible shops. Without success. Yet, as early as 2018, the French gift card market was worth 3 billion euros, and 78% of French people already wanted to consume more sustainably. Éthi'Kdo was then created, with the ambition to offer an alternative to traditional gift cards. Today, it provides access to over 3 million products online, as well as eco-friendly restaurants, sustainable accommodations, artisanal workshops, and associations.
More than 15 million euros have already been redirected, since its inception, towards the social and solidarity economy and actors of positive impact consumption. The cards are also said to reduce CO₂ emissions by 31 to 48% compared to traditional gift cards. Furthermore, 83% of users discovered a business they didn't know before thanks to the Éthi'Kdo card, and 98% plan to return. “We have initiated a change in behavior,” enthuses Séverin Prats.
The idea is also to evolve an entire market, now estimated at 8 billion euros per year in France. The cooperative works with 80% of other sector players to help them develop their own eco-responsible offerings. A way to transform an ordinary gesture into a discovery, and then into a habit. And to remind that a gift can have a value far beyond what is printed on its packaging.
