Site Visits
The Chair organizes seminars with visits to organizations that enable students to interact with circular players and learn from them in a practical setting.
Manutan's Reuse Center Visit, 2024
In March 2024, the Chair students had the opportunity to visit Manutan's Reuse Center for office furniture. The center exemplifies the circular economy in action within the office furniture sector.
During the visit, students learned about Manutan's commitment to sustainability by extending the lifecycle of office furniture through reuse and recycling, significantly reducing environmental impact and fostering a more circular economy. This hands-on experience allowed the students to see first-hand how circular principles can be implemented in real-world business practices.
Renault Refactory Site Visit, 2022
In March 2022, the Chair was granted a visit to Renault's Refactory in Flins, France.
The plant, located in the suburbs of Paris, is the only one in Europe dedicated to circular economy applied to automotive.
It serves 4 objectives: extending the lifespan of vehicles through maintenance; promoting clean ways of mobility, with hydrogen for example; recycling vehicles' spare parts; and investing in cutting-edge technology, like 3D printing.
RépareSeb Site Visit, 2022
In March 2022, the Chair visited the joint venture of Groupe Seb and Groupe Arès, RépareSeb in Paris, France.
This unique partnership perfectly embodies the reunion between circularity and professional insertion. RépareSeb repairs and refurbish Seb devices that consumers return to the company. Workers were all previously far from employment.
Fabien de Castilla, deputy Director of Groupe Arès, took the students through the repair workshop and explained how he sees the growth of the joint-venture.
EssilorLuxottica R&D Site Visit, 2022
In February 2022, the Chair visited EssilorLuxottica's R&D center in Creteil, France.
After an introduction to #EyesOnThePlanet, their Sustainability Program, the students visited key components of R&D processes in lens manufacturing.
From smart eyewear, to additive manufacturing and digital surfacing, it was a unique chance for them to learn about the innovation opportunities and solutions being worked on, which offer new avenues for waste reduction, reuse, and recycle all across the value chain.