Tomorrow Tomorrow: packaging for a sustainable tomorrow

Offered in a hundred points of sale in Canada and the United States, the reusable items imagined and designed in Quebec by the company Demain Demain even convinced Ricardo to distribute them. Anne Chabot, the founder, reveals the great ambitions of this company which places the future of the next generations as a priority.

It was from an early age that Anne Chabot recognized the entrepreneurial spirit in herself, but it was not until 2017 that she left her job as a teacher to devote herself to it full time. She then made the choice to exert a positive influence through entrepreneurship rather than through classes and homework.

By adopting eco-responsible practices themselves, entrepreneurs have a role to play in environmental education, she firmly believes. “Word of mouth is often what works best to spread awareness of a product that has pushed us to change our lifestyles ourselves, says the one who has long since converted those around her to dryer balls, as a 'example. “As a brand, it is difficult to promote ecological and responsible values ​​without falling into guilt. When people come to the store and their eyes shine, it's a sign that we've managed to make them aware of a reality”.

Storefront

In the boutique located on the street in Saint-Eustache, the entrepreneur likes to showcase the creations of local artisans and especially enjoys meeting her customers there. “People are happy to have access to the owner and I collect a lot of information, such as the use they make of our bags. »

The Basses-Laurentides region being best known for its agritourism, it quickly became clear to Anne that there was room to promote creativity and local craftsmanship, particularly with a tourist clientele brought by the national park of 'Oka nearby and the Vieux-Saint-Eustache public market. The people who live in the region are surprised, delighted and proud to discover these handmade products in the shop.

A variety of products

The current situation and the pandemic years (with homeschooling and teleworking) have also accelerated the process of reflection for the diversification of Demain Demain products. The company now offers cachepots and tote bags , among other novelties, which quickly became popular. The products are appreciated and recognized for their high quality; no one offers reusable bags of the same thickness.

Beyond the textiles of its products made from recycled water bottles, sustainable development is in Demain Demain's DNA. One of the triggers for the entrepreneur was seeing the excessive amount of single-use plastic that was thrown away at lunchtime when she was a teacher. She quickly realized that what she transmitted in her classes as ecological values ​​was difficult to apply in a school context.

A community

Anne makes it a point to treat all of her employees as she would like to be treated. Collaboration, good working conditions, the promotion of sewing and illustration trades are at the heart of its corporate culture.

In addition to its regular collections, an Artists line attracts another type of clientele. A good part of the income is also given to the artists who are involved in all stages of production. Illustrators particularly appreciate the freedom offered by this association, which allows them to see their works live on products used on a daily basis.

In addition to regular collaborators, the founder notes that the pandemic has also taught entrepreneurs to show greater solidarity. When markets are held, Anne makes it a point to talk to each of them, even the closest competition. Over time, professional friendships were created there. She also believes that by joining forces, it may be possible to demonstrate the relevance of finding in Quebec manufacturing producers who have been relocated in the past.

Involvement and sustainable development

Always in a context of sustainability, the company is involved in its community by giving back and prioritizing local initiatives. In particular, it associates itself with organizations that prepare lunch boxes and participated in a campaign for the GREMM, which campaigns for the preservation of belugas in the St. Lawrence River.

By having gone through these paragraphs, you will no doubt have noticed that the meanings of the name of the company are multiple. Whether we are thinking in the short term of making lunch for tomorrow or thinking of the reduced ecological footprint that these bags will leave for future generations, they are all valid. This is fully aligned with the Demain Demain brand: packaging for a sustainable tomorrow. “Taking action today while considering future generations is the best learning we can do,” she concludes.

Reviewed by MF Editorial