France Seeks Investment in Recycling Segment

Recycling of industrial and household scrap materials has become a major economic and environmental issue. Invest in France Agency is promoting investment opportunities in the country’s recycling segment. The agency claims that because of its expertise in waste treatment, France has important technical skills that can be adapted to the recycling of scrap material, highly qualified employees and highly regarded technological expertise.

Waste reduction is one of the key reforms of the Grenelle Environment Round Table proposed legislation, with the objective to increase recycling by 35 percent by 2012 and 45 percent by 2015.  

Annually, 20 million tons of household material, 14 million tons of municipal waste and 90 million tons of industrial waste, together amounting to 132 million tons, are recycled in France, which only represents 16 percent of the total 849 million tons of waste produced. In France, the recycling industry includes 2,400 companies employing 31,500 people.  

Eco-Emballages, based in Levallois-Perret, France, has been a pioneer in selective recycling management since 1992, alongside companies that are specialized in specific materials, such as Aliapur (rubber tires), Valorplast (plastics/household packaging), Ecopse (polystyrene), Recyfilm (plastic films), Ecofut (plastic containers), Motus-Véolia (paper and documents) and Adivalor (agricultural scrap), according to Invest in France Agency.

“This rapidly expanding sector is particularly attractive to international investors,” Philippe Favre, president of Invest in France Agency, says. “A dozen projects have been identified (not including energy production) by Invest in France Agency monitors. Four of these investment projects are led by foreign companies: Wellman France Recyclage at Verdun, Freudenberg Politex at Colmar, Amcor at Ste-Marie-la-Blanche (taken over by the Spanish La Seda company), Sorepla at Neufchâteau (Dutch Envipco group). The Spanish Urbaser group also operates in France through its subsidiary, Valorga, a global leader in the field of methanization plant construction,” he adds.

Invest in France Agency (IFA) promotes and facilitates international investment in France. The IFA network operates worldwide and includes a U.S. office based in New York City. IFA works in partnership with regional development agencies to offer international investors business opportunities and customized services all over France. For more information, please visit www.investinfrance.org.