Initiative #6 Humans by Nature (Urrugne, 64)

When I was on the Basque coast at the beginning of the trip, I heard about an incredible association: Humans By Nature. I managed to talk by phone with Matthieu Haslé, its founder, and I tell you all about it here!

A birth that changes everything

For many years, Matthieu worked as a Manager at Décathlon. But with the birth of his child, he asked himself a lot of questions about his future, and decided to take a new turn in his career. He then embarked on a new adventure by creating a participative grocery shop. This was an opportunity for him to become aware of the pleasure of carrying out a project that made sense and was in line with his values. The grocery shop was a real local success, and several others opened later. Matthieu chaired the association voluntarily for a year.

A different kind of birth, that of Humans by Nature

Matthieu thus discovered a vocation: to facilitate the emergence and success of projects with a high transition value. These same projects, with a comparable vocation, favour the environment.

This is how Humans by Nature was born in June 2020. The association is based on the sharing of skills, human and material resources to develop projects that make sense. Everything is done in a short circuit, within a 200km radius.

Today, there are between 70 and 80 of them working for the good cause, and they have already hosted about 20 projects. One of their success stories is the Higas Forest, the largest edible forest in Europe.

The different projects are very varied: sustainable air purifiers, eco-responsible textiles, children's brands, second-hand platforms, mobile dry toilets, compost circuits, micro-market gardening, recycling centres, short circuits...

At the same time, the association works to raise awareness among companies and communities with collages, conferences, etc...

For project leaders, the association membership fee is 120€/year. They must also share their skills, equipment, etc.

One thing is certain: no competition is possible for the environment!

A voluntary association that seeks to become sustainable

Humans by Nature has received a subsidy from the Urrugne town hall, donations from companies, and answers calls for projects. But the association does not fit into the usual boxes, which makes it difficult to find funding.

It is therefore necessary to think in a differentiated way, and for example to create a network of places to host meetings of the association on an ad hoc basis and free of charge, which avoids renting a room that would remain empty three quarters of the time.

As Matthieu works voluntarily for the association, he completes his income thanks to Impact transformations: he accompanies companies that would like to pivot their business model, to move to an economy of functionality, or circularity.

At HBN, we are just talking about ways to find financing and hire a few employees (including Matthieu). The thinking is turning to a new business model that would allow for a source of income alongside the project fertiliser (consulting for companies, for example), while keeping the assistance to project leaders as cheap as possible (just membership).

Humans by Nature, only in the Basque Country?

For the moment, yes! But the association is willing to let several HBNs grow in the area to increase the possibilities and even, if possible, to transpose existing projects to the new branches! Alone we go faster, but together we go further :)

Thank you very much to Matthieu for this exchange! This initiative inspires me a lot, and conveys great values.

To learn more about Humans by Nature : www.humansbynature.fr