The Green trend is everywhere; it is not just a passing fad, but a shift in how we think about our daily consumption and the implications it has on our planet’s impact. Consuming responsibly, organically, ethically, ecologically, solidarily, made in France, producing as little waste as possible—these are principles we would all like to apply to our daily lives, yet the ins and outs can sometimes be difficult to grasp…
However, there is a way to live and approach tourism and life in the capital differently, in order to reduce your ecological footprint, through soft transport, eco-friendly accommodation, slow food restaurants, fair-trade cafés, organic markets, responsible boutiques, natural wellness institutes, gardens, and more.
So, here is my little Parisian eco-friendly itinerary to contribute in my own way to environmental preservation, through cultural, social, and respectful consumption, while also discovering the green side of the capital. I have gathered green addresses or those offering more sustainable products/activities for you.
_
Table of Contents
Organic Brunch at Hôtel Jardins du Marais
Organic products, teas from the fair-trade market, and a commitment to local craftsmanship. The brunch at Les Jardins du Marais (€35 and €20 for children under 10) is served on Sundays and public holidays from 11:00 AM to 3:30 PM.
Another highlight of this hotel located in the historic Marais district is its magnificent (and slightly secret) 1,500 m2 green terrace, with a Mediterranean feel. An idyllic place for brunch this summer, that’s for sure!
74 rue Amelot 75011 Paris
_
Anne Frank Shared Garden
The capital has about 500 parks, squares, and gardens, giving the city a little green touch. Moreover, projects for vegetable patches, green roofs, beehives, and educational or shared gardens have developed at a furious pace in recent years to preserve biodiversity in urban areas.
This cultivated garden, located in the 3rd arrondissement, is managed by the local residents who have come together in the “1001 Feuilles” (1001 Leaves) association. To get there, take the Impasse Bertaud at the intersection of Rue Beaubourg and Rue Rambuteau. It must be admitted that this garden is a bit hidden; I myself must have passed not far from it hundreds of times without ever discovering it…
_
Lunch at Cantine Merci
Merci is a concept store with a commitment to solidarity. This place sells designer pieces (design, fashion, kitchen utensils, household linen…) and then, the profits are donated to an endowment fund for poor children, particularly on the island of Madagascar.
A gesture that is worth noting, not to mention that the place, with its loft-like appearance, is worth the trip just for the visual pleasure.
As for the restaurant, the Cantine Merci is a fan of slow food and short distribution channels. It offers a daily lunch based on organic, fresh, and seasonal vegetables and products—a real treat!
111 boulevard Beaumarchais 75003 Paris
Metro Saint Sébastien Froissard
open Monday to Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM
_
The Hi Matic Hotel
Sleeping green is possible at Hi Matic, the first urban “eco-lodge“, designed by Matali Crasset. With its 42 cabin-rooms certified by the Green Globe label, the hotel was designed with natural materials such as wood, rubber, and non-polluting paint.
Of course, being eco-friendly comes at a price, because you shouldn’t feel too cramped in these small cabin-rooms… At the same time, when you come to Paris, it’s rarely to stay in your hotel room…
Hôtel Hi Matic
71 rue de Charonne 75011 Paris
_
A Carriage Ride
It’s crazy, but take a short carriage ride in the city and you become the number one attraction for passersby. Children will think you’re a prince or princess, motorists will curse the sky for crossing your path, and curious onlookers will wonder what you’re doing there…
In short, an experience to have at least once in your life, and besides, with this mode of transport, your carbon footprint will be almost zero.
Rates: €9 for adults and €6 for children for a 20-minute ride around the Champ de Mars, departing from the east pillar of the Eiffel Tower
Tuesday to Sunday
_
An Electric Cruise Aboard the Batostar
These river rides depart from the foot of Pont Marie, opposite the Île Saint-Louis. The Batostar is the first 100% solar-electric boat in Paris. The ride lasts 40 minutes and goes around the Île Saint-Louis and the Île de la Cité with a short explanatory video, which allows you to discover the Paris of today in comparison with that of the Middle Ages.
Batostar
Rates: €10 for adults and €5 for those under 12 (free for under 4s)
_
Paris à Vélo C’est Sympa!
I had somewhat given up on cycling in Paris since my last metal beast was stolen from my building’s bike garage… And then, after a few pedal strokes later, you get the taste for it back, and you realize that when the weather is nice, it’s actually quite pleasant to move around Paris like that.
If, like me, you no longer have a bike and Velibs terrify you, you can always try renting one at Paris à vélo c’est Sympa and as a bonus, they can take you on a guided tour of the city (plus, they have tandems, and it must be fun to try riding those contraptions just once…). These bike rides with a guide allow you to wander peacefully through the Parisian streets.
And if you don’t feel like pedaling (which I can completely understand), you can also fall back on bike-taxis like Trip Up, which will take you almost anywhere in Paris while avoiding traffic jams (result: ecology + great deal)…
Paris à Vélo C’est Sympa !
22 rue Alphonse Baudin 75001 Paris
_
Fruit and Vegetable Baskets
I have long wanted to test this kind of concept to consume better and be a locavore in Paris, and here are my two tested and approved baskets.
_
Potager City
Potager City is a young company in Paris that delivers fruit and vegetable baskets (about €16 for 4-5 kg) mainly from small local producers. Ordering and payment are done online on the site, then the basket is to be collected at local shops in all neighborhoods of Paris.
The little extra: with the basket, you receive the “Gazette du potager” (Vegetable Garden Gazette), which gives you information on the origin and conservation advice for the fruits and vegetables you have just picked up. This gazette also contains recipe ideas to make with the delivered food.
_
FreshCorner
In the same vein, FreshCorner offers organic baskets (between €10 and €15 for 3 kg) in the capital with the possibility of home delivery or at TousPrimeurs partner relay points.
In any case, I was very satisfied with the quality of the products in these baskets. The only small downside is that for a person living alone, the quantities can sometimes be difficult to consume, or you need to have a large freezer.
_
Les 3 Poireaux
And the last one I was able to test, Les 3 Poireaux (The 3 Leeks), is a site that offers a delivery service for organic fruits, vegetables, and local products directly from the producer to Parisian apartments. Indeed, delivery is made in Paris and the inner suburbs right to your home (which is really pleasant, I must admit!) or to your place of work.
In my basket there was: two yogurts from the farm, organic apple juice, a salad, shallots, potatoes, carrots, leeks, kale (which was a big discovery for me, as I had never cooked or eaten that vegetable before), and an absolutely delicious smoked sausage.
The little extra: there was also a little recipe for kale pesto with nuts and parmesan in the basket (which helped, given my little knowledge about this vegetable…).
Ordering and price: orders are open from Wednesday to Sunday and deliveries are made on Wednesday or Thursday / baskets from €10 to €25 but you can also order products individually or by weight.
_
To help you in your quest for a Green Paris, the Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau provides a free little Green and Sustainable Paris guide, in paper version (printed on recycled paper, obviously) to be collected at the Bureau’s welcome points.
With all this information and advice, I am certain that you will be fully capable of weaving your own green web of the capital, and why not start right away by sharing your green tips in the comments?…
Photo credits: Melle Bon Plan
