Manutan Group, ARES and Valdelia join forces to launch a professional integration initiative supporting the circular economy

Manutan Group, a leading European B2B e-commerce company specialising in the distribution of equipment and supplies to businesses and local authorities, announces the launch of a professional integration initiative within its Circular Hub (Seine-Saint-Denis, 93). In partnership with ARES, a group specialising in social and professional inclusion through economic activity, and Valdelia, a non-profit eco-organisation accredited by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition, this initiative mobilises workers undergoing reintegration to repair and refurbish used office furniture.

On Wednesday 15 October, Manutan Group officially inaugurated this new furniture refurbishment and social inclusion initiative in the presence of Yann Wehrling, Vice-President of the Île-de-France Region in charge of ecological transition, climate and biodiversity.

A unique professional integration activity combining social and environmental impact

In a context of growing pressure on natural resources and evolving European and French regulations promoting waste reduction and circular production systems, reuse has become a key driver of sustainable transformation. The Manutan Circular Hub is establishing itself as a major player in reducing waste volumes, creating local value, and fostering social inclusion.

In partnership with ARES and Valdelia, Manutan Group is officially launching a professional integration activity within its Circular Hub. Since October, four employees in reintegration programmes have joined the cleaning and repair workshop, supervised by a team leader responsible for coordination and quality control of refurbished products.

This initiative is designed to foster knowledge sharing, skills development and access to sustainable career paths. Employees benefit from professional support and technical training. The programme also enables Manutan to accelerate refurbishment processes, improve product quality, and strengthen synergies with the rest of the site (logistics, sorting, collection). Valdelia supports this with its traceability service for end-of-life furniture.

The launch of this professional integration activity marks a new milestone in the development of the Hub and reinforces its social dimension, combining furniture refurbishment with employment support. Located at the heart of a priority urban district in Le Bourget, this project contributes to a virtuous local value creation cycle.

“This professional integration activity is a first in the B2B distribution sector. Two additional recruitments are already underway to strengthen our operational capacity. It’s a source of great pride for us and demonstrates a strong commitment across environmental, social and economic dimensions. Since the creation of the Circular Hub a year ago, more than 600 companies have chosen our refurbished furniture, confirming Manutan Group’s position as a benchmark for its clients,” says Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit, Director of Circular Economy and Client Decarbonisation at Manutan Group.

“The partnership between ARES and Manutan perfectly illustrates our shared ambition to build an inclusive and sustainable society. Every day, people facing hardship regain confidence and autonomy, acquiring valuable professional skills for their future through the Circular Hub. Moreover, we’re preparing them for the jobs of tomorrow by developing expertise in repair, a strategic sector for pathways to lasting employment,” adds Guillaume Hérisson, Managing Director of the ARES Group.

One year of commitment to a sustainable model

Since its launch in June 2024, with the support of the Île-de-France Region, the Circular Hub has been a strategic pillar of Manutan Group’s mission to support businesses and local authorities in their ecological transition while anticipating growing regulatory requirements.

Located in Le Bourget, covering 3,000 m² and staffed by around 15 employees, the Hub focuses on reusing and refurbishing used office furniture to develop a second-hand offer. Inaugurated in June 2024, the site made Manutan the first company in its sector to offer a complete collection and refurbishment service, ensuring the return of high-quality office equipment (desks, chairs, cabinets, etc.) to the market.

Each month, over 3,000 items are collected and refurbished, significantly reducing carbon emissions and offering products up to 30% cheaper than new, without compromising on quality.

The Circular Hub was recently awarded the “Mastery” level in the “Verified by” programme run by FCBA, an independent certification body that promotes technical progress, efficiency and quality assurance in the industry. This recognition marks a milestone where the Hub has achieved full control of its refurbishment processes, efficiently meeting client needs with structured and reliable operations.