Press release. The Caeterra group, already known for Easy to Compost, announces the launch of Easy to Change, its B2B service dedicated to managing cigarette butts in companies and public spaces. A simple, measurable promise: "zero butts on the ground" at equipped sites.
An invisible but massive form of pollution
According to the NGO Surfrider Foundation, 40 to 50% of cigarette butts smoked outdoors end up directly on the ground, despite the presence of ashtrays. A single butt is enough to pollute up to 500 litres of water. In France, this represents nearly 30 billion butts discarded each year (ADEME, 2020); butts are also among the most commonly collected litter across Europe.
Beyond their environmental impact, cigarette butts damage the image of companies, local authorities and public spaces. Building entrances, reception areas, car parks and terraces are the first affected, giving an impression of neglect.
A clear mission: zero butts on the ground
Easy to Change's priority is operational before it is activist: eliminating cigarette butts from the ground at its clients' sites. Rather than relying on guilt-inducing campaigns, whose effectiveness is limited, the company combines suitable collection furniture, a regular collection service and a traceable treatment chain.
For organisations wishing to go further, a positive incentive can be activated on request: every gram of butts collected can generate a donation to a partner charity. This societal-reward mechanism, already proven in Northern Europe on other waste streams, turns a gesture perceived as negative into a collective contribution — without ever replacing the primary objective of cleanliness.
A complete service for smoking areas
Easy to Change offers end-to-end management, designed to simplify organisations' lives and guarantee the cleanliness of premises:
- installation of designed, secured ashtrays;
- regular cleaning of smoking areas;
- collection and transport of butts;
- decontamination and recycling via specialised channels, with quarterly traceability.
This service ensures clean, safe and welcoming outdoor spaces while strengthening the CSR approach of companies and local authorities.
Aesthetic, fire-safe ashtrays
To support this system, Easy to Change has developed a range of ashtrays handcrafted in France (Picardie). Designed in collaboration with a designer, they integrate harmoniously into urban and professional environments. Each model features an in-house fire-safety system that prevents fires and meets the safety standards applicable to publicly accessible buildings.
About Easy to Change
Easy to Change is a service of the Caeterra group, already known for Easy to Compost, a pioneering solution for managing biowaste and composting in companies. With Easy to Change, Caeterra provides a concrete response to cigarette-butt pollution, combining cleanliness, design and social innovation. The service relies on structural industrial partnerships — MéGO for material recycling and clikeco for national logistics and traceability. The group's head office is in Arras (France), with a workshop based in Picardie.
Note: figures and management quotes to be validated before press distribution.