Imagine: “A slot for a Californian massage? Yes, Tuesday, 3 p.m.?” Okay, but on condition that the spa is… clean. But what exactly is a clean spa?

It starts with a small drop of water and ends with a totally eco-managed, eco-citizen, ecological spa, ideal. But if it's what we all dream of, it's currently "work in progress". The intention, the will, the desire are combined with ecological materials driven by the determination of the management of these "eco" establishments. Explanations from Pauline Picaut, trained osteopath, co-founder of the new Spa Clemens .

Why a clean spa?

It is the desire to create a new "clean" aquatic wellness space which by definition is not really clean. " 2 years ago, we wanted to make a clean spa in a reasoned way, with very strict constraints in terms of eco-responsibility. And this, starting from an almost blank page because to date there are no (or very few) specialized architects, specific materials for aquatic spas. We had to do a lot of research by ourselves. As the daughter of a farmer, in love with and respectful of nature, I could not imagine being in any other approach " insists the young woman.

Concretely, a clean spa is…

According to the founder, you have to list all the needs of an aquatic spa and look for all the eco-responsible alternatives each time:

Responsible materials: everything had to be made in France, from eco-managed forests for the parquet, from ethical companies for everything else.

• Redesigned swimming pools : In partnership with a pool specialist, we need to find a way to use as little water and detergent and toxic products as possible. The solution for the 5 swimming pools at the Clemens spa? An ultraviolet tunnel to limit chlorine consumption. A constraint that requires more space, a significant investment given the price per square meter in Paris. " Then, we determined that, for impeccable hygiene conditions, we had to empty thirty liters of water per bather per day. Instead of throwing it away, this water goes back into our sanitary network to supply the toilet flushes. We use the water a second time before throwing it away. In the end, water and chlorine consumption is lower ."
• More ethical linen management : as the maintenance of bathrobes consumes a lot of water and energy, only towels should be used. " We even encourage customers to bring their own towels, which is manageable since all the spaces are private. So there is no hygiene problem with these towels from outside because we clean each space after the customers have been there, " reassures Pauline. And as for the spa towels, they are made of recycled cotton, a little less soft but more eco-friendly. " If we explain to customers why, it doesn't bother them! On the contrary, they welcome our commitment and are happy to take part in it ."
• Greener showers : Shower gels and shampoos arrive in large containers and the dispensers are filled at the spa.
• Less energy-consuming lighting : you should opt for low-voltage lighting but also for detectors that allow the cabins to turn off and on when customers pass by. The wax candles are made in France and the fake candles are all rechargeable, not battery-powered, with a long lifespan.
• Reclaimed furniture : avoid new. At the Clemens spa, everything was found by the Thiste interior design agency (founded by Thibaut Poirier, a Parisian interior designer). From the 1950s armchairs to the tables, stools, and dressers, everything is vintage. "We asked the interior design agency to buy as few new things as possible to give objects a second life."
• The masseuses' swimsuits are special : since the vast majority of massages are done in water, the practitioners wear swimsuits. It is better to choose a clean and recycled textile , such as Econyl, a recycled fiber from fishing nets abandoned in the oceans. "We are cleaning the oceans at the same time!" rejoices Pauline.
• Compostable slippers and tea bags : and what's more, tea towels have definitively replaced paper towels, which are too polluting.

Finally, but above all, we must share this “clean” ethic with our employees. “ We cannot respect the planet if we do not respect our employees .”

Other clean spas…

• L'Occitane spas also deserve this name. They use traceable and eco-friendly materials that save water. They use organic cotton linen from eco-managed plantations.
• The Parisian spa Weleda has planted one of its walls to purify the ambient air. The eco-friendly paint also guarantees lower indoor pollution.
• The Yves Rocher eco-spa in Brittany, in La Grée des Landes , is nestled in the heart of nature. Its rooms are insulated by green roofs guaranteeing real energy savings. Energy partly provided by wood boilers, heat pumps and thermal solar panels. But to go further, the Breton brand also uses materials such as hemp, cellular concrete (without volatile organic compounds, non-fibrous and non-combustible).

The way is open, spas now know the path to “clean”, even if the appropriate label has yet to be created.