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GOBI, a technical supplier committed to zero waste

In line with the environmental commitments it unveiled at its press conference at UNESCO last February, the Vendée Globe has approached Gobi to design its official water bottle, in order to eliminate the use of plastic bottles in the 2024 village.

Violette Dorange et sa gourde Gobi
Violette Dorange et sa gourde Gobi
© Jean-Marie Liot/Aléa/VG2024

Founded in 2010, Gobi is helping organisations move towards reusability. Instead of importing products from the other side of the world, this company - based in Paris and Bordeaux - prefers to invent and manufacture water bottles, cutlery sets and lunch boxes locally, all eco-designed to minimise their environmental impact. The company works with ten or so industrial partners in France, and all the products are assembled in a workplace for the disabled.

‘In the Vendée Globe village, we have redesigned the waste route according to the 5Rs philosophy: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (as a last resort) and Return to the earth what can be composted. Our partnership with Gobi fits in perfectly with this approach. Water fountains will also be set up in the village so that everyone can fill their GOBI water bottle, thus eliminating the distribution and sale of plastic bottles,’ explains Alain Leboeuf, President of the Vendée Globe and President of the Vendée Department. 

We have redesigned the waste route according to the 5Rs philosophy.

Alain Leboeuf

Président du Vendée Globe
Les gourdes Gobi
Les gourdes Gobi

Solutions to suit every need

For the journalists from all over the world who come to the Vendée, the Gobi Street water bottle - the most sober in terms of the environmental impact of its manufacture - was chosen. It's also the lightest. For the volunteers and the organising team, who will always be on the move and need to hydrate regularly, Gobi also provides a 100% made in France lanyard so that they can carry their water bottle over their shoulder, making sure they don't lose it at race HQ or on the pontoons! Finally, the elegant and colourful Gobi Indoor glass bottle has been chosen to equip the skippers and press conferences.

For visitors who have forgotten their water bottle, the ‘Original’ model will be sold in the official Vendée Globe shop in the village, as well as online. It will offer a unique personalisation experience: the public will be able to personalise their water bottle with the image of a former winner of the race. It's up to the visitor to cut out their favourite card or give their predictions for the winner of this year's race!

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