Towards more responsible brewing: Soofût and its reusable stainless-steel kegs arrive in the Lyon region
Welcome Soofût to the Lyon region! Discover this social and solidarity economy company’s solution of reusable kegs, and how it was supported in establishing its presence locally.
Over 70 tons of plastic have already been avoided thanks to Soofût and its stainless-steel reusable kegs. Founded in Nantes in 2020, the company already provides rental, washing, and transport of stainless-steel beer kegs in Paris and Marseille. Since September 2022, Soofût has also been operating in Saint-Priest (Lyon metropolitan area), to the delight of local breweries committed to eco-responsible practices. For its deployment in Lyon, Soofût was supported by Ronalpia and the Agence pour le développement économique de la région lyonnaise (ONLYLYON Invest) through their “implantation” program 2022.
Making brewing more ecological, inclusive, and cost-effective: Soofût’s challenge
Soofût rents, washes, collects, and delivers stainless-steel kegs to artisanal breweries and local production sites. The company addresses several key issues for the Lyon metropolitan area and its businesses:
- Ecological and sustainable: Following a circular economy model, the stainless-steel kegs—over 50% reconditioned—are shared among all partner brewers, designed for up to 30 years of mutual use. A water-saving kit was developed for the washing machine, reducing water consumption by 40% compared to traditional washers.
- Social and solidarity-oriented: As a social and solidarity economy enterprise, Soofût promotes professional equality and social inclusion. People facing employment barriers or disabilities participate in the handling and washing of the kegs.
- Economic: By sharing its eco-efficient washer and keg stock, the company helps its clients avoid large investments in stainless-steel kegs and washing machines that would otherwise be used only occasionally.
About 15 breweries in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, such as Les Danaïades and Brasserie 744, are already collaborating with Soofût.
Soofût’s establishment in the Lyon region: facilitated by Ronalpia, ONLYLYON Invest, and the Métropole de Lyon
The Métropole de Lyon financially supports Ronalpia and ONLYLYON Invest to help social and solidarity economy (ESS) companies deploy their solutions locally. Soofût benefited from tailored support from these organizations, from initial steps to full local anchoring.
How? Soofût applied in autumn 2021 to Ronalpia’s annual “implantation” call for francophone social enterprises. Its project was selected for the 2022 “implantation program”, receiving 9 months of expert guidance, including support to:
- Navigate administrative procedures,
- Find suitable premises,
- Identify financial aids and funding opportunities.
Lyon metropolitan area: a welcoming territory for circular economy enterprises
Soofût launched its Lyon metropolitan activity in July 2022. It now occupies 110 m² at the Ateliers Briand (owned by the Métropole de Lyon) in Saint-Priest, a strategic zone in the south-east of Lyon (Porte des Alpes). This shared space hosts around 20 other structures committed to a more local and sustainable economy, giving Soofût the opportunity to network and advance its projects alongside companies like Dabba, which specializes in equipment reuse.
Whether you’re looking for premises, funding, or talent recruitment, support is available to help your social enterprise establish itself in the Lyon metropolitan area and deploy its sustainable solution locally.