Provence Entrepreneurs Unite to Drive Transition from Linear to Circular Economy

On December 3, 2025, Provence Écotransition convened a pivotal roundtable bringing together local entrepreneurs to discuss the urgent need to abandon the outdated linear economic model in favor of a sustainable circular economy. Étienne Laffaire, president of Provence Écotransition, spearheaded the event alongside the community of Sorgues du Comtat.

Sébastien Touquet, co-founder of consulting firm Shakpa, highlighted the inefficiencies of the linear economy, which involves extraction, production, distribution, usage, and disposal. He illustrated this with the example of a pair of jeans traveling 65,000 kilometers during production, underscoring the model's global complexity and environmental cost.

The transition calls for committed economic actors and shifts in consumer behavior. Carla Ciliberti from Luberon & Sorgues Entreprendre detailed their Industrial and Territorial Ecology (EIT) approach focusing on waste and energy management and supporting 13 local companies, such as the century-old Conserverie Raynaud, in adopting decarbonization plans.

The Relais de Provence, headquartered in Avignon with 60 employees, exemplifies circular principles, recycling 97% of 4,000 tons of textiles annually and exporting half of these to second-hand markets in Senegal and Madagascar. Researcher Romain Demissy urged a reevaluation of economic value, advocating for moving from owning to renting or repairing goods, emphasizing collective consumer responsibility to enable sustainable consumption.

This event underscores a growing regional commitment in Provence to foster ecological and economic sustainability, reinforcing the shift toward circular practices among businesses and consumers alike.