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Circular Economy Division

Com'Publics has been working with players in the circular economy sector (companies, federations, eco-organisations, etc.) for over 15 years, and runs a number of thematic think & do tanks on the subject.

 

TOPICS COVERED

Collection, recycling
EPR, eco-organisations
Packaging
Reuse and bulk sales
Biowaste, composting
Materials, raw materials
Environmental claims
Carbon emissions
Consumer information
Environmental labelling
CSR
Biodiversity
Sludge spreading
Water

THE DIVISION’S CLUBS

LIGHTWEIGHT ALUMINIUM AND STEEL PACKAGING CLUB

The Club brings together players (marketers, packaging manufacturers, recyclers) keen to improve the collection, sorting and recycling of small metal packaging (coffee capsules, lids, aluminium foil, etc.) by setting up a recycling network and deploying equipment in sorting centres.

 

ALLIANCE FOR COMPOST

Created in 2022, the Alliance brings together public bodies, companies, collection operators and associations to support and help local authorities introduce source separation of bio-waste and raise awareness among residents. 

 

THE EAUX DE TERROIRS CLUB 

The Club aims to present a positive image of the mineral and spring water sector, at a time when issues relating to packaging and water resources are at the heart of public debate. 

The Club gives the floor to water ambassadors (chefs, mayors, etc.) to highlight the positive externalities of the product (healthy hydration, gastronomy, local industry, biodiversity, etc.).

 

THE SUSTAINABLE FERTILISATION CLUB 

At the initiative of the SYPREA (Syndicat des Professionnels du Recyclage par valorisation Agronomique), the Club brings together political leaders, economic players and associations working on soil and fertilisation issues, while educating political decision-makers and stakeholders. 

 

FRENCH ALLIANCE FOR CARBON NEUTRALITY

The French Alliance for Carbon Neutrality brings together companies committed to avoiding, reducing and offsetting their greenhouse gas emissions. Against a backdrop of mistrust of companies' voluntary commitments, the Alliance is a platform for sharing know-how, comparing points of view and providing expertise to decision-makers.

EXAMPLE OF A PROJECT CARRIED OUT BY THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY DIVISION

The Lightweight aluminium and steel packaging Club was set up by Com'Publics in May 2009, under the impetus of companies such as Nespresso, France Aluminium Recyclage (FAR) and the Bel Group, which were convinced of the need to improve the recycling of small aluminium and steel packaging.
Alongside its partners, the Club has carried out 4 years of R&D in 4 sorting centres, in partnership with local authorities. These experiments showed that a large proportion of the aluminium and steel packaging received by the sorting centres, particularly small items (aluminium foil, coffee capsules, tea lights, small drinks cans and tins, screw caps, etc.) fell into what is known as "sorting refusals" and were therefore not recycled, even though they could be recovered by installing Eddy current machines and overbands on the "sorting refusals".
The 4 years of experimentation carried out by the Club have made it possible to establish the technical feasibility, economic interest and environmental relevance of recovering aluminium and steel from refuse at sorting centres. These positive results led the Club, Citeo, the Association des Maires de France and the Fonds de dotation pour le recyclage des petits aluminiums created by Nespresso to jointly launch the Projet Métal in 2014. The aim of the Project is to equip all French sorting centres with the equipment needed to recycle small metal packaging, by working in the field with local authorities, sorting centre operators, marketers and Citeo. 
Thanks to this project, 60 sorting centres were equipped and more than 40 million French people were able to sort their small metal packaging by 2023, and more than 5,000 tonnes of small aluminium packaging were recycled by 2022.