Manutan puts the circular economy at the heart of its business model with the creation of its Hub Circulaire, an integrated reuse center dedicated to used professional furniture.

To support businesses and communities in their ecological transition and to anticipate increasing regulatory demands, Manutan inaugurated its Circular Hub, a centre dedicated to the reuse of professional furniture, on  the 13th June 2024.

The Circular Hub: A Pioneering Initiative for Industrial Reuse 

Spanning over 3,000 square meters, the Circular Hub located in Le Bourget (93) aims to repurpose used professional furniture to develop a second-hand offer for businesses and communities. With this offering, Manutan becomes the first company in the sector to provide an integrated collection and reconditioning service, allowing office equipment (desks, chairs, cabinets, etc.) to be reintroduced to the market. 

This pioneering initiative has a triple objective: 

1. To meet the needs of businesses and communities that wish to upgrade their used equipment and reduce the carbon footprint of their purchases. 
2. To anticipate regulations on carbon footprint reduction and the purchase of reused or repurposed goods (AGEC law in France, eco-design directive, and Right to Repair at the European Union level). 
3. To support Manutan's CSR strategy: the Circular Hub will contribute to its net zero footprint goal by 2050, while having a positive social impact by creating jobs in Seine-Saint-Denis (93), in a priority urban area for people completing their reintegration process. 

A Unique Second-Hand Offer in the B2B Market 

The second-hand offer is available on Manutan's website, featuring products up to 30% cheaper than new ones without compromising on quality. 

This new activity operates in three steps: 

1. Collection of used furniture from businesses and communities. 
2. Sorting products based on their reuse potential, carried out by operators at the end of their reintegration process. 
3. Second life: Manutan buys valuable products, refurbishes them, and stocks them for resale to businesses and communities. The Group also donates furniture to partner associations, including Sud-Oise Recyclerie. Finally, to complete the process, the remaining furniture will be recycled into secondary raw materials in partnership with the eco-organization Valdelia. 

Currently, approximately 7% of furniture collected from professionals is reused or repurposed, 83% is recycled, and the rest is incinerated or disposed of in non-hazardous waste storage facilities classified for environmental protection. 

A Social and Solidarity Ambition 

For the development of the Circular Hub, Manutan mobilises around ten of its employees in commercial, marketing, and IT roles. Additionally, the first person hired by the Circular Hub as a reuse operator is a young individual in professional reintegration from the association Sport dans la Ville. 

According to Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit, Director of Circular Economy at Manutan: "Beyond the environmental impact alone, we are convinced that reuse jobs must have a strong social impact. For several years, Manutan has been promoting access to professional life for young people from priority  neighbourhoods through its partnerships with Sport dans la Ville and Ateliers Sans Frontières. In parallel, we also encourage donations to associations. In 2023, we donated nearly 2 million euros worth of goods to Emmaüs." 

Manutan: An SME Committed to a Performance, Sustainability, and Ethics-Oriented Ecosystem 

Beyond its commitment to a circular model, Manutan supports its clients in their product and service purchases with its 85,000 eco-responsible references and 63,000 references meeting other environmental aspects* (recycled/recyclable packaging, recyclable products, etc.), aiming for a more ethical and responsible model (CSR supplier charter, audit). 

In September 2023, Manutan launched its product environmental impact score. Based on the PEF** method established by the European Commission, this rating system provides information on the product's impact throughout its lifecycle, beyond the carbon footprint, and will be deployed by 2026 for the 800,000 products in Manutan's offer. This initiative helps clients in their responsible purchasing strategies while valuing suppliers engaged in these topics. 

Key Steps in Manutan's Commitment to a Circular Model 

*Products with environmental labels, and/or with at least 25% recycled materials, and/or second-hand and refurbished equipment. 

**Product Environmental Footprint