On 19–20 May 2026, the REuse Economy Expo, the very first European trade fair entirely dedicated to reuse, took place. As every year, Circulab was there. What we saw confirmed what we have been observing in the field for several years: the sector is becoming more structured, more professional, and, above all, expanding well beyond its traditional circles.
Over the two days, we met an impressive diversity of stakeholders: providers of innovative solutions, local authorities and public-sector organizations, social and solidarity economy actors, producer responsibility organizations, associations, and professional federations. Despite their different perspectives, they shared a common conviction: reuse is no longer a niche—it is becoming an industry in its own right.
Here is an overview of some of the organizations we met that illustrate the richness and diversity of this growing ecosystem.
Photo Credit : REuse Economy Expo.
Le Fourgon: deposit-return delivered to your door in under two hours
Le Fourgon has built a simple and effective model: everyday products—beverages, groceries, household goods, and more—delivered directly to customers in reusable deposit-return containers, often within two hours. On the next delivery, empty containers are collected and returned for reuse. No waste, no unnecessary packaging.
Operating in more than 2,500 cities across France and Belgium, Le Fourgon serves not only households but also professional clients, including local authorities, event organizers (corporate events, weddings, community fairs), supermarkets, and major brands.
Its model demonstrates that deposit-return systems can be adapted to a wide range of contexts and scales.
Touraine Propre: coordinating rather than collecting
The waste management authority Touraine Propre represents an original approach among local governments. Its mission is not to collect waste, but rather to raise awareness, coordinate initiatives, and drive waste prevention efforts across the Indre-et-Loire department.
Through its Cap 2030 programme, the organization has developed 39 actions aimed at reducing and recovering waste. Public-sector awareness campaigns, school outreach, citizen engagement initiatives, and inter-territorial cooperation all form part of its work.
Touraine Propre operates at the very top of the waste hierarchy—where prevention begins. It plays the role of a discreet but essential conductor, helping to create coherence across a territory where each local authority manages its own waste collection and communication systems.
LAMA Group: 36 years of cartridge remanufacturing
Based in Lyon, the LAMA Group has been operating for 36 years, built on the conviction that local employment and the circular economy can go hand in hand.
Today, the group employs 80 people, collects 3 million printer cartridges annually, and operates across 60 sites.
LAMA has developed its own brand of remanufactured cartridges while also producing for major brands. As a long-standing player in the sector, it demonstrates that remanufacturing can be both economically viable and deeply rooted in local communities.
KOMAKS France: remanufacturing printing equipment
Founded 20 years ago and also based in Lyon, KOMAKS France specializes in the remanufacturing of printing equipment.
After initially focusing on refurbishment, the company took a major step forward in 2022 by fully embracing remanufacturing—a rigorous industrial process that restores collected products to a condition equivalent to, or even better than, new.
The result is equipment sold at roughly half the cost of new machines while offering the same quality guarantees.
KOMAKS processes large volumes of equipment and supplies major brands, generating significant environmental benefits along the way. The company estimates that remanufacturing saves approximately 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ emissions per machine. It is a compelling example of how remanufacturing can deliver both economic and environmental value.
Carton Plein: reuse as a tool for social inclusion
Founded in 2012, Carton Plein is a non-profit organization that combines two causes that may appear separate but are in fact closely linked: tackling severe social exclusion and advancing the circular economy.
Based in the Paris region (including the 18th and 11th districts of Paris, as well as Nanterre and Pantin), the organization supports people who are far removed from the labour market—including homeless individuals, refugees, and survivors of domestic violence—towards sustainable employment.
Carton Plein offers two pathways.The first focuses on cardboard reuse and is designed for individuals facing the greatest barriers to employment, training them in the profession of resource recovery and materials valorization. The second focuses on urban cycle logistics, enabling participants to build professional skills while providing bicycle-based transport solutions better suited to the constraints of large cities. Each participant also receives individualized support from socio-professional advisors to help ensure a lasting return to employment.
In 2025, Carton Plein supported 169 people across all its programmes and employed around 30 permanent staff members. Its work demonstrates that reuse can be much more than an environmental initiative—it can also be a powerful driver of social inclusion.
What this trade fair tells us about reuse today
What stands out most at the REuse Economy Expo is the diversity of stakeholders involved and the complementarity of their approaches.
From home-delivery deposit-return start-ups and social inclusion organizations to remanufacturing companies and waste prevention authorities, reuse is being built collaboratively, across multiple scales and through a wide variety of business models.
The very existence of this first European trade fair dedicated entirely to the topic sends a strong signal. It shows that reuse is no longer a marginal practice. It is becoming a fully-fledged sector—one that is structuring itself, gaining momentum, and seeking to convince audiences far beyond those already committed to the cause.
See You at the Next Edition!
To listen to our special edition of Radio Circulab, produced in partnership with the REuse Economy Expo, visit Spotify or your preferred podcast platform.
