sustainability & social engagement
Faced with current environmental challenges, we are taking ambitious measures to reduce our ecological impact and promote sustainable practices. Whether it’s producing renewable energy, strengthening our recycling programs, or contributing to the protection of local biodiversity, each initiative reflects our sincere commitment to preserving the environment. We firmly believe that every action counts in building a future that is more respectful of the planet.
retourn ou boutey
Introduced in the 1950s in Mauritius, the bottle refund system has become an integral part of daily life for Mauritian customers and clients. This simple yet impactful initiative has been widely embraced, with customers consistently “playing the game” and engaging in the practice. Oxenham has been a key contributor to the success of this system, which remains firmly rooted in the country today.
Proze Ver
The majority of glass pollution in nature comes from non-refundable glass bottles (bouteilles non-consignées) an issue that directly concerns us as a distributing company.
This is why, in 2023, we launched the Proze Ver Recycling project in collaboration with Scott and Grays Inc, two other companies who also face this problem, to find a common solution.
We have embarked on a project to produce between 60 % of our electricity consumption from solar energy. The project started in November 2023 and was fully completed in March 2024 allowing us to quickly move to this new mode of energy.
In 2019, we have invested in a second washing machine with an increased capacity of 10,000 bottles per hour. More recently, Oxenham has invested in 100 % solar-powered BYD electric vehicles. Today, our fleet includes 4 BYD T3 vans and 3 BYD Dolphin cars for our staff to drive towards a sustainable future.
This initiative has allowed us to make savings in both water and energy use.
At Oxenham, bottle caps don’t go to waste thanks to the initiative led by Wahed Lallmamode, a recycler—or as we might folklorically refer to him, a “marchand bouteille”. Wahed has turned used bottle caps into a valuable resource, buying them and reselling them for recycling. As a result of this initiative, the collected bottle caps are transformed into functional kitchen utensils. Through a process of melting and reshaping, the recycled caps are given new life as everyday items, thus reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact.
Used oil is collected and sold to local company, Virgin Oil, where it undergoes a refining process. Once refined, the oil is resold for reuse in machines, giving what was once waste a new purpose.
This initiative not only helps reduce waste but also contributes to the sustainable use of resources by turning used oil into a valuable asset for industrial applications.
At Oxenham, cardboard and plastic are recycled through Wecycle, a partner committed to sustainable waste management.
After collecting cardboard and plastic from Oxenham, Wecycle sorts the materials, separating those in good condition from those that are defective. The items intended for recycling are then exported to Asia, a process that can take approximately three weeks.
Launched in response to the Wakashio incident, Islanders Preservation Action advocates for marine conservation. As part of this initiative, we introduced IPA Beer (Indian Pale Ale) to support the protection of lagoons, seas, and marine life.
A key project under this initiative is our partnership with Reef Conservation on seagrass preservation, essential for healthy marine ecosystems. Oxenham also contributes through coral planting, mangrove conservation, and awareness campaigns.
Since 2022, we have partnered with Reef Conservation on a four-year marine seagrass preservation project. Seagrass plays a vital role in biodiversity, climate change mitigation, and coastal protection. Through this initiative, we engage in mangrove conservation, plantation efforts, and educational sessions, sharing our insights on social media to raise awareness.
Oxenham has organized several successful beach clean-ups under the Islanders Preservation Action initiative. For World Cleanup Day, we led a clean-up at Bel Ombre Beach in collaboration with Mission Verte, collecting an impressive 300 kg of waste. Prior to this, clean-ups were also held at Pointe aux Piments and Flic en Flac with the participation of Oxenham staff and volunteers. These events not only remove debris from our shores but also actively engage the community in environmental stewardship. Building on this momentum, we are looking forward to organizing more impactful beach clean-ups in 2025 to further our commitment to preserving coastal environments.
The Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher, commonly known as ‘Coq des Bois’, is a beautiful long-tailed bird endemic to Mauritius. Due to deforestation and fragmentation of its native habitat, its population alarmingly declined. An issue to which Oxenham has decided to bring its contribution by allocating an annual budget to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
Through this action, Oxenham’s purpose is to raise much-needed awareness on the urgency of preventing its population from declining further.
To that purpose, our company is registered with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation as a Silver Species Champion. This initiative has been launched when Oxenham revealed its latest Gin, the Pierre Poivre Craft Distilled Gin.
As part of our commitment to social responsibility, we are proud to sponsor the Windsurfing Tour de Maurice led by Laurent D’Unienville. This event aims to raise awareness and generate funds through crowdfunding for Link to Life, an organization dedicated to supporting individuals battling cancer. Our involvement highlights our dedication to supporting essential causes and making a positive impact on society.
We are committed to being a socially responsible business and making a positive difference in both our local and broader community. Our efforts include supporting various projects through fundraising and donations:
Since July 2022, we have been contributing Rs 10,000 monthly to the NGO Lovebridge. This support helps children receive psychosocial assistance and academic tutoring to improve their literacy and numeracy skills. We also encourage our employees to volunteer with sports clubs and charities, providing prize packs and acting as sponsors to support their efforts. In October 2023, we organized a day of engagement with our staff at the NGO Esperance 2000, in Curepipe, focusing on supporting adolescent school dropouts and offering them care and attention.Through these initiatives, we strive to contribute positively to our community and support those in need.
On December 20, 2022, Oxenham organized a Christmas event at one of Ti Rayon Soleil’s schools, Pik Pik Maternelle in Vacoas, for 52 children and 12 teenagers, along with the staff. A truly memorable both for Oxenham than for the beneficiaries.
In the lead-up to the event, from November through the first two weeks of December, we conducted a gift collection drive across all Le Connoisseur shops, with gift donations from both clients and Oxenham staff. Additionally, Oxenham sponsored lunch and drinks to make the celebration even more special.
We are committed to the well-being of our employees, which is why we regularly organize health awareness sessions on critical topics such as breast cancer and prostate cancer. These sessions aim at educating our team about early detection, prevention, and overall health management, ensuring that our employees are well-informed and empowered to take charge of their health.
Pink October also marks a period of awareness where we offer mammography and do breast cancer awareness to our staff at a preferable price.
Alain Etiennette, a passionate and dedicated member of the Oxenham team whose positive impact reaches far beyond the workplace. Deeply committed to social upliftment, Alain plays a leading role in the Roche-Bois Old Boys, a community-driven initiative focused on empowering youth and supporting vulnerable groups through the power of sport.
One of Alain’s most impactful contributions is the Island Bicycle Tour, organised every two years where he brings together young people and elders from across Mauritius. This unique initiative uses cycling as a tool for inclusion, healing, and discovery—promoting health, environmental awareness, and intergenerational connection along the journey.
At Oxenham, we are incredibly proud to support Alain’s inspiring efforts and to count such a committed changemaker among us. His passion and leadership embody the true spirit of community engagement that we value and celebrate.
Our future sustainable goals
Our goals for the next 3 years:
- Reach 55% solar energy by 2027
- Expand the Proze Ver bin network island-wide
- Support at least 2 new biodiversity conservation programs
- More activations under – Islanders Preservation Initiative (IPA)
- Reduce wastewater through closed-loop cooling systems in
our distillery and juice operations by end of 2025 - Expand our electric and hybrid vehicle fleet
