Perlim Meylim Alliance has been prioritizing CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) as a development axis for a few years already. “CSR is not a communication strategy for us, but the expression of our convictions. For example, if we choose to propose an organic apple, we want that the packaging it is sold in meets specific environmental and social criteria. It is above all a matter of coherence.” Beatrice Chauffaile, communication manager at Perlim Meylim Alliance and Jessica Roussel, in charge of CST and quality, were indeed already convinced of the relevance of implementing a CSR policy within the company. But the current sanitary crisis has accentuated the limits of a global market and therefore reconfirmed this choice.
“Thinking ‘locally’ allowed us to cope with the increase in demand during the crisis”
During this period when international trade has been severely disrupted, having adopted this CSR approach proved to be a real asset. “Unlike some of our competitors who had to deal with supply issues from Italy, we had no problem since our supplier is located 15 km away from the company. Our apples could then easily be packaged in a context where the consumption of apples had strongly increased,” explains Béatrice. “We hope that this crisis will help trigger a global awareness and an intensification of CSR implementations by all actors of the sector. Corporate Social Responsibility is a virtuous circle. We are all convinced of it and will continue on this path.”
Photo credit: Romann Ramshorn studio
“Great CSR projects yet to come”
Always in search of continuous improvement in favor of societal expectations, the Alliance aspires to switch all its packaging to eco-responsible materials. Additionally, both structures reaffirm their choice to have 100% of their orchards with the High Environmental Value label and mechanically weeded. “Whenever we can find an alternative solution to chemical treatment, we do it,” indicates Béatrice. A choice motivated above all by deep convictions, without however meeting a precise objective of communication. “Moreover, the Alliance has been working for over a year with Les Amis d’Objat, an organization located 3.5 km away from the site and manufacturing huge insect hotels from recycled products (palox, straw, pine cone…) gathered by our employees. Designed as true observatories of biodiversity, the goal of placing them (40 in 3 years) in all orchards is to raise awareness about the importance of useful fauna and pollinators,” explains Luce Savian, orchard technical engineer.
Building insect hotels - Les Amis d'Objat
Photo credit: Romann Ramshorn studio
“We also wish to accentuate our local positioning by promoting the Corrèze origin, which is a relatively preserved territory. We are also one of the 12 fruit stations working with ADEME (Environment and Energy Management Agency) to limit their food waste and increase performance from the orchard to the station. We have already worked a lot on this axis, but if we can still improve, we will do it without hesitation,” concludes Jessica.
A reminder about Perlim Meylim Alliance: 40 producers spread over 3 departments (Corrèze, Dordogne, Haute Vienne).
For more information:
Béatrice Chauffaille
L'Alliance Perlim Meylim
Phone: +33 555 252 930
beatrice@perlim.com
www.perlim.com
www.alliance-perlim-meylim.fr
Also present on 
Jessica Roussel
Phone: +33 555 252 937
jessica@perlim.com
Luce Savian
Phone: +33 555 25 29 45
Mobile: +33 676 973 149
luce@perlim.com