Help us make more EmbalVERT and put less plastic in the oceans and landfill
<p>Louise and Alastair have discovered how to produce an eco-.friendly alternative to plastic food wrap.</p>
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<p>Its made with love in the French Pyrenees with organic cotton, our own beeswax, organic Jojoba oil and Pine Resin.</p>
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<p>We use only Hydroelectricty in the production of Embal'Vert from one of the landowners where we keep our bees, who has a hydroelectric generator on the river Saison</p>
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<p>Embal'vert is currently made in our kitchen, and we have now outgrown this and need a workshop to supply demand.</p>
<p>We have an old barn dating from 1700 that will make a great workshop, and we have made a start on it but we need help to get it finished and kitted out.</p>
<p>Each Embal'Vert is currently made by hand, and Louise can't keep up! We need a custom made stainless steel roller system with a heated bath, so we can treat a whole roll of 50m in one go. This will save time, and allow us to make enough Embal'Vert to really start making a difference in reducing plastic waste. for this we are looking to raise 8,020 euros</p>
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<p>Our dream is to have our own solar power stored on site in batteries and used to run the workshop and use this electricty to power an electric vehicle for deliveries and travel to and from exhibitions and markets.</p>
<p>We are helping the Planet with our beekeeping, </p>
<p>Please help us make more 'Embal'Vert so we can help more.</p>
<p>I have to admit to being a complete beginner at crowd funding, and to some extent social media, so I have little idea how many people this appeal will reach, or how many people will be sympathetic enough with our aims, to help us. However, it wasn’t that long ago I was a complete beginner at bee keeping, living in France, and being a Father, so here goes!!!!</p>
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<p>It’s been explained to me that we should have low targets that increase in steps as each level is reached. But, its been explained that if I put in to much detail, it will be boring</p>
<p>So here is my shopping list</p>
<p>1. honey spinner</p>
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<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/542806/extractor-de-miel-radial-motorizado-tucano.400x600.960-1537466521.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
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<p>2. stainless de-capping trough. </p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/542831/decapping1-1537471528.png" width="100%" /></p>
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<p><strong>Step 2</strong></p>
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<p>Transformation of barn built in 1750 into a workshop<img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/567028/barn_small-1548671173.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
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<p>For wax and honey spinning, we need a bee-proof room, and we currently use our kitchen for this.</p>
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<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/563607/DSCF7098-1547056945.JPG" width="100%" /></p>
<p>Here is the barn, ready to start work</p>
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<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/542814/stirscopy-1537469014.jpg" /></p>
<p>This is our current storage space!!</p>
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<p>Spinner 1600 euros</p>
<p>De-capping trough 650 euros </p>
<p>Concrete floor and entry ramp 3000 euros</p>
<p>intenal walls and ceilings 2200 euros</p>
<p>fiittng out, including electricty, water, waste, lighting ventilation, 1 290 euros</p>
<p>moveable workbench 560 euros</p>
<p>We will need new barn doors 1870 euros</p>
<p>Plus internal doors between the clean room and storage space 950 euros</p>
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<p>Total 12 120 euros</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/563667/doorsmall-1547112704.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
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<p>The remaining part of the building will allow us to store empty hive parts, and our market stand and tables, which currently are outside under the hanger.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/563668/hangersmall-1547112969.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>So, the barn is now funded...what’s next??</p>
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<p>Step 3..Fabrication machine</p>
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<p>Currently Louise receives bolts of material that are 1.5m wide and folded around cardboard formers.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/561823/bolts_med-1546031160.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>This needs to be cut into the 4 different widths, then each one is ironed, as the folding on the bolts causes creasing.. This is a very labour intensive operation, and we now can’t keep up with demand like this</p>
<p>We need a machine to automate this process. A prototype needs to be designed and made, probably in stainless steel.</p>
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<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/561820/jeanm_med-1546030391.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>Jean Marie is the Dad of one of Charlie’s friends at school, he runs a steel fabrication and agri-mechanic service, and he is confident he can build us the machine that will automate the coating of the cotton, and enable us to increase output 50 or 60 fold.</p>
<p>Fabrication machine 3 800 euros.</p>
<p>I can't show a picture here, as its not been made yet, but we imagine it will be about 3 m long and 60 cm wide, with a electric motor to pull the material through the hot wax mixture</p>
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<p>Total raised to here 11 920</p>
<p>Wow! Take a big, deep breath, and lets go even further.....</p>
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<p><strong>Step 4 Zero CO2 deliveries</strong></p>
<p>The next stage takes our ecology stance a big step forward, we want to produce and supply Embal’VERT in an eco friendly manner. We have already switched our electricity supplier to Christine.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/561821/christine_med-1546030473.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>Christine kindly lets me place my hives on her land to harvest honey from her common lime trees. On the same land she has a hydroelectric station dating back to 1920...So all the electricity we use to make Embal’VERT comes from Christine’s hydroelectricity, brilliant!</p>
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<p>So, Embal’VERT is produced with zero co2, or carbon neutrally. However, we would love to deliver Embal’VERT without any co2 produced as well, so a 100 % electric vehicle is the next step.. A Kia Niro electric car</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/561811/niro-1546026352.png" width="100%" /></p>
<p>would give us a range of 380 km for deliveries, and local exhibitions.</p>
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<p>Electric car 45,000 euros.</p>
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<p><strong>The Final step!!! Can we get there?</strong></p>
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<p>Roof tiles and power Wall!</p>
<p>Using Christine’s hydroelectric power, with no CO2 emissions is a great step forward, however, moving electricity from one place to another involves electrical power losses, so it is much more efficient to generate the electricity where you need to use it.</p>
<p>It’s much more efficient to store your electricity in batteries on your property, use as necessary, and sell any excess to the electricity company .</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/542822/tesladiag-1537470462.gif" width="100%" /></p>
<p>To be self sufficient in electricity for our workshop, and to produce sufficient excess to power a 100% electric delivery vehicle , we will need solar panels ( or solar tiles are now available ),</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/542824/Tesla-tiles-1537470669.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
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<p>plus a battery similar to a Tesla “Power wall”</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/542826/power_wall-1537470911.jpg" width="100%" />.</p>
<p>Solar panel installation 21,500</p>
<p>Power wall battery installation 7 360</p>
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<p>So our help ladder goes like this............</p>
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<p>Barn fitting out 12 120</p>
<p>Fabrication Machine 3 800</p>
<p>Electric delivery car 45 000</p>
<p>Solar Roof Panels 21 500</p>
<p>Wall Battery 7 360</p>
<p>Total Required 89 780</p>
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<p>So, now its in your hands, and the hands of your contacts...Many thanks!!</p>
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