Our history
Discovery and inspiration
Anne-Julie Beroud discovered the virtues of homemade washing powder at her grandmother’s side. Sensitive to the environmental impact of conventional detergents, the thirty-year-old decided to create her own eco-friendly product. Her recipe, made from organic soap and essential oils, was a big hit with her family and friends, who quickly placed orders with her. Faced with growing demand, Anne-Julie realised that it was essential to develop a stable formula based on local ingredients.
Collaboration with the Fribourg School of Chemistry
As a social educator by training, Anne-Julie did not have the necessary chemical knowledge, so she asked a student at the Haute École de Chimie in Fribourg to carry out research into the issue. The collaboration was a success. However, one challenge remained: the binder, which was essential for offering the detergent in bulk in large-capacity containers that needed to be shaken to mix the components.
Partnership with Ideal Chimic
Ideal Chimic, a Geneva-based company specialising in chemical products, stepped in to meet this challenge in partnership with Anne-Julie. The aim was to formulate a binder without using palm oil or petroleum, giving preference to plant or mineral ingredients from the region. This proved to be a new challenge, as no-one had tackled this issue before, making Anne-Julie a pioneer in the field.
Ecological commitment and local production
Anne-Julie’s commitment to the environment is not confined to the composition of her washing powder. At Eco-libre (formerly La Corde à Linge), even the recycled plastic drums come from Switzerland, more specifically Basel. The Tournerêve Association supplies the sunflower oil, an essential ingredient, by recycling its unsold goods, and deliveries are made by bicycle. A successful fund-raising campaign on SIG’s Impact platform enabled the purchase of a three-wheeled vehicle. Production is handled by PRO Entreprise, a sheltered workshop in Geneva.
Vision and future
Every stage, from the choice of ingredients to delivery, is carefully thought out to minimise environmental impact, reflecting Anne-Julie’s deep commitment to preserving the planet. Her introduction to ecological awareness dates back to her teenage years, when a class speaker made her aware of the disastrous consequences awaiting the planet without concrete action. Today, her company, Eco-libre, embodies her refusal to remain inactive in the face of today’s environmental challenges.
