New value sources and opportunities

Among all the challenges we face in making our ecological transition, one of the most important is certainly that of the management of our garbage. In 2019, nearly 54 million tons of electronic waste were produced. Of these millions of tons, it is estimated that only 20% are recycled or put back into circulation. However, the path of reuse is very interesting on several points, since it combines environmental benefits, social action thanks to the jobs it creates and economic benefits thanks to the resale value of the famous waste. By observing the potential of the circular economy in terms of environmental sustainability, the Manutan group decided to make it its new workhorse.

To understand the origin of Manutan's circular economy subsidiary, it is necessary to take a slight leap in space-time. Back in 2016, Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit and Timothée Mével met on the benches of the University of Berkeley. Sensitive to environmental issues and passionate about the circular economy, they launched Zack, a startup specializing in the collection of used electronic equipment. Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit says: “Originally, Zack targeted the B2C market by offering individuals a simpler solution. to get rid of their unwanted products. There was a real need to streamline the disposal of electronic equipment.” Over time, the start-up has moved towards a BtoB model by extending its services to professional office equipment. In a few years, Zack grew, and in 2020, the startup was even ranked in the top 3 of the best French companies in the circular economy according to the Tech For Good summit.

At the same time, the Manutan Group, one of the largest European suppliers of products and services to businesses, planned to adopt a more sustainable approach. Thanks to shared values, the two entities naturally came together, until February 2022 when Zack finally integrated Manutan, thus giving life to the group's circular economy branch, of which Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit was appointed director. “It was an opportunity to open up our perspectives,” he says, “By working across Europe, and on new product categories.” Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit explains that “More than 5 years after the birth of ZACK, we want to develop with a large group that shares our values. This acquisition allows us to accelerate our commercial and logistical activities while sharing our skills, everyone is a winner!”

For the new entity, the objective is twofold: it is necessary to adopt a more virtuous approach, then to integrate customers and suppliers in this transition. Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit affirms it: “The goal is to gradually get out of an economic model based on new products, in order to arrive at something more virtuous, and in the long term, carbon neutral.” With this in mind, Manutan has developed its first product that is fully in line with the circular economy: an office made from 98% reuse, manufactured in collaboration with the professional integration group Arès. The design of the latter makes it possible to avoid 80% of CO2 emissions during production, and the rejection of nearly 27 kg of waste. This product takes on the role of ambassador, since by maintaining a competitive price, good production capacity and a short delivery time, it allows some customers to get a foothold in the circular economy. Once this famous concept has been introduced, Manutan is in a position to offer its waste collection services inherited from Zack, thus fully including its interlocutor in the process.

To promote this desire to integrate as many companies as possible into a more virtuous system, it is necessary to succeed in convincing. Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit reminds us: “It is sometimes complicated to ensure that people have confidence in the circular economy over the long term.” To expand, you must first seduce the customer, ensuring that they are never harmed by choosing the circular economy and to do so, suppliers must also play the game in their production approach. According to Pierre-Emmanuel Saint-Esprit: “At the supplier level, the supply of used or refurbished products is still too low. It is evolving little by little, but there is still a delay at this level.” In other words, the balance of the virtuous circle is difficult to find!

And yet, we will have to find it, this balance. 54 million tons is the volume of electronic waste generated in the world in 2019, up by 21% in just five years according to the latest United Nations Global E-Waste Monitor report. According to the same study, the quantity of this waste will reach almost 80 million tons by 2030, making the electronics sector the fastest-growing garbage producer.