Our Impact

Discover our key figures, collective achievements, challenges and our internal expertise

Because there is no “ Planet B ”, Citeo is committed to reducing the environmental impact of packaging and paper.

Let’s take a look at our latest progress and the challenges ahead !

2024 overview and
2025 prospects

Jean Hornain

« Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Our business has never been so meaningful and useful. »

Jean Hornain
CEO of Citeo

figures

Source : Citeo ; Citeo/Adelphe Annual Report 2023 – estimated data.
Recycling rate for household packaging : Citeo’s estimate for the entire sector, which needs to be consolidated.

20 000

companies supported in their 3R strategy, accounting for more than 64% of packaging and paper tonnage

Homme qui design des bouteilles et fait de l'éco conception sur un ordinateur.

17

mutual sector-based prevention and eco-design plans developed with professional organisations

€11

million invested in eco-design (R&D, support, tools and services, etc.)

€50

million invested in developing reuse through the ‘EncoRE plus de Réemploi’ call for proposals*

250

initiatives financed *

16

million people in 4 French regions covered by 2025

Hauts-de-France

Bretagne

Normandie

Pays-de-la-Loire

30

million standard reusable packaging units available

* Estimation 

9 in 10

French people state that they sort their packaging waste, with 53% of them doing so routinely*

Bacs de tri sélectif incitant au geste de tri.

98%

of people in metropolitan France can sort all their packaging and paper

72kg per cap

were sorted

58 kg/per cap

14kg/per cap

Packagings

Papers

* Source : Observatory of sorting habits, 2024, Citeo


Sorting habits | Country average

72kg per capita
  • < 40 kg per capita
  • from 60 to 90 kg per capita
  • from 60 to 90 kg per capita
  • > 90 kg per capita

Sorting habits

  • < 40 kg/hab
  • from 60 to 90 kg/hab
  • from 60 to 90 kg/hab
  • > 90 kg/hab

(–) No data available for Mayotte and Saint-Martin

67%

of packaging is recycled

Steel > 86%

Aluminium > 37%

Paper/cardboard > 69%

Plastics > 27%

Glass > 86%

4

million tonnes of packaging have been recycled

That’s

2,3

million tonnes of CO² saved every year

Equivalent to

8 200 return flights

Usine de papeterie avec des machines.

63%

of paper is recycled

1

million tonnes of paper have been recycled

That’s

18

billion litres of water saved

Equivalent to

6000

76% of packaging and paper placed on the market in France* is recycled in facilities in France

23% in Europe

1% elsewhere in the world

* Mainland France and French overseas territories

6,4

million items of packaging end up on the streets every day*

Groupe de collecte qui ramasse des déchets abandonnés dans la forêt.

1 280

agreements signed between September 2023 and December 2024

35%

of the territory covered

* Source : Study on litter tonnage in urban environments, Citeo

our collective achievements

At Citeo, we’re speeding up the ‘3Rs’! Reduce packaging, introduce Reuse on a national scale, Recycle by developing sorting and new channels and fight against abandoned waste : discover what we have collectively achieved to accelerate the adoption of more responsible and circular modes of production and consumption.

our challenges

Environmental, industrial, technological, societal : to meet today’s major challenges, we must collectively change gear. Let’s mobilise all the levers, for all the packaging, with all the players, starting today. Here are some of the main challenges we need to meet.

Anticipating the packaging of tomorrow

€14 M

14 million invested in R&D in 2023

Main d'une personne tenant des paillettes d'emballage en plastique.

Eco-designing single-material or single-resin packaging that is compatible with recycling streams

Developing R&D projects to find innovative materials, for example those made from bio-sourced materials, that can be recycled or composted

Using more recycled material in packaging

Developing packaging reduction at source

Un homme et une femme qui consulte une tablette dans un entrepôt.

15%

less packaging by 2030 compared to 2010

Rethinking single-use packaging, starting by reconsidering its features

Activating the 5 key reduction levers* (in addition to optimisation and reuse) in a way that is relevant to each market

Reinforcing eco-modulation of tariffs to encourage reduction actions

* Less bulk packaging, streamlined features, large sizes, flexible formats, solid, concentrated and/or dilutable products.

Implementing reuse at the national level

10%

of packaging reused by 2027

Introducing a shared national scheme for supermarkets and hypermarkets, with regional activation in 2025

Un homme qui range du saumon, dans un emballage réemployable dans un frigo.

Financing pilot or deployment projects run by brands, retailers and solution providers

Supporting the public in the use of reuse, bulk and refills on a daily basis

Managing the cost of collection and sorting, and achieving our recycling targets

Un père et sa fille triant une brique de lait vide dans les bacs jaune de tri sélectif.

70%

recycling rate for household packaging by 2030, compared with 67% in 2023

Activating the levers of collection, for all materials and all packaging, everywhere and at all times

Modernising and rationalising sorting centres to capture more and better quality packaging for recycling

Developing recycling yields, secondary sorting and new streams for plastic packaging

Combating littering and all forms of pollution

1/3

of the country covered by action plans to combat littering*

Groupe de collecte qui ramasse des déchets abandonnés dans la forêt.

Using financing agreements and plans to combat littering with local authorities, associations and cleaning operators

Making the preservation of land and marine biodiversity the focus of awareness campaigns, from the youngest age 

Making Extended Producer Responsibility a key principle in the fight against pollution on an international scale

*Between September 2023 and December 2024

inspiring stories

Yes, there’s still a lot to do. But there are also plenty of projects, success stories, determination and synergies to accelerate the transition of our models towards greater sustainability. Shall we tell you about them ?

#Reduction E-du-ca-tion! That is one of Citeo’s watchwords, particularly when it comes to reducing packaging. It’s difficult for consumers to distinguish between ‘the right amount of packaging’ and excessive packaging. Our experts are speaking out, particularly on our social media channels, to help people better understand what are often technical realities.

11 is the number of detailed, substantiated proposals we have shared in the run-up to the European elections in June 2024.

These proposals, which are still relevant today, set out a clear, shared vision for those involved in the circular economy, with a view to improving Europe’s economic and environmental performance.

#Reuse Thanks to their call for proposals entitled ‘EncoRE plus de réemploi’, Citeo and Adelphe are encouraging field trials. One example is the ‘Instructions for re-use’ project, which opens the doors of one of its stores for us. Take a look !

A key measure of the French Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (AGEC Law), prevention and eco-design plans have challenged and are now guiding companies strategies to reduce the impact of their activities on the planet. We review the situation.

#Collect & Sorting In the run-up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, how could we help Marseille to introduce packaging and paper sorting in public spaces and sports venues ? One of the keys to success was consultation and collaboration between all stakeholders. Christine Leuthy-Molina, Citeo’s Regional Director for the south of France, and her partners, tell us all about it.

Is my packaging recyclable?

TREE makes it easy to answer this complex question.

The tool devised by Citeo enables manufacturers to assess the recyclability of their packaging using a reliable methodology and with complete autonomy.

#Recycling Go behind the scenes of the 2nd plastic packaging secondary sorting centre in France, financed by Citeo and operated by Suez in Epinal. Discover how artificial intelligence ensures that (almost) nothing escapes recycling…

IPC x Citeo : a 4-year partnership and €2 million to develop R&D projects on plastic packaging. The focus is on reducing, reusing and recycling, of course!

#Littering 2024, an Olympic year. Who better than our champions and ambassadors to get the message across, in particular when it comes to littering. Wendy Renard, international footballer, and Patrick Deixonne, sailor and explorer, share their commitment to civic responsibility and their practical advice in this video.

From sorting and collection right up to the gates of recycling plants, the action taken by local authorities on the ground is key. How can you speed up performance while keeping management costs under control? Focus on the challenges, solutions and best practices in the regions.

our business sectors

We have over 420 staff ! A fantastic team to accomplish the missions of Citeo and its subsidiaries, with solid expertise at every stage of the packaging and paper value chain. Their shared DNA ? ACTE ! stands for four shared values that guide their day-to-day work : Anticipation, Collective, Transmission and Engagement. Organised into 6 divisions and 2 subsidiaries, they are committed to delivering impact and performance.

Implements client strategy through a strategic analysis of Citeo’s market environment and positioning. Anticipates new issues to be addressed, manages the rise in tonnage and sets pricing. Develops high-quality relationships and support with and for Citeo’s client partners. Provides customers with smooth, straightforward administrative management of all EPR streams.

This team coordinates and ensures the coherence of the operational activities at the core of Citeo’s services.

  • Eco-design & Reuse : anticipates and determines the strategy for reducing the environmental impact of packaging and paper. Trials and develops reuse solutions to complement reduction and recycling.
  • Operations & Regions : implements the strategy and rolls out projects as part of regional operations with local stakeholders (collection, sorting, out-of-home waste, combating littering, development flows, and other schemes).
  • Recycling : implements the operational recycling strategy, secures and develops streams to maximise recycling and reduce environmental impact. Monitors implementation of the recovery and recycling agreement, and steers R&D activities.
  • Digital Factory : facilitates and deploys all IT activities and digital solution development, in collaboration with all business sectors.
  • Product Management : ensures the strategic alignment of IT projects, coordinates cross-functional projects, and assists with the development of processes and IT project phases to maintain control, guarantee impact and anticipate risks. Develops a culture of impact monitoring.
  • Innovation : develops monitoring activities and innovation projects to help accelerate 3R solutions.
  • Society and Consumption : monitors, develops and disseminates knowledge of changes in society and citizen consumer behaviour.

Designs and implements communication and mobilisation initiatives aimed at engaging all of Citeo’s audiences, in particular the general public, in 3R practices and uses (reduce, reuse, sort and recycle), through various channels, mass media, digital and social media and events.

Supports growth and creates the conditions for achieving Citeo’s objectives. Monitors the social climate, ensures social dialogue, develops skills and seeks to ensure that resources are allocated appropriately. Develops the culture and provides support for managers and their teams, and adapts the environment and working methods.

Promotes a regulatory and policy framework tailored to the company’s priorities. Manages corporate communications and oversees relations with institutional and press stakeholders, in order to enhance Citeo’s reputation. Oversees legal activities, secures business activities, guarantees compliance within Citeo, and manages governance and consultation.

Supports the various departments in their projects and achievements by shoring up the company’s commitments and its financial trajectory. Provides financial and management oversight of operations. Strengthens the internal control and risk management culture. Measures and reports on our environmental, economic and social impact.

Adelphe, a subsidiary of the Citeo group, works to reduce the environmental impact of packaging, particularly in the wine and spirits, food services and healthcare sectors. Supports businesses in the 3Rs, provides financing for local authorities to collect and sort packaging, and raises public awareness of best practices and habits.

A subsidiary of the Citeo group, Citeo Pro is currently the only approved producer responsibility organisation for food service packaging EPR. Supports companies in eco-design initiatives for packaging used in cafés, hotels and restaurants. Develops collection, sorting and recycling, in synergy with the system already in place for household packaging, alongside retailers, food service professionals and waste management operators. Citeo Pro has positioned itself within the new EPR for industry packaging.

A subsidiary of Citeo in charge of single-use absorbent and paper hygiene products, is currently being established. Its goal is to organise this new area of activity for the Group’s businesses and provide its clients with advice, expertise and services. The precise scope of this new Extended Producer Responsibility scheme is being determined as part of the regulatory framework.

About Citeo

Citeo is a mission-led company established over 30 years ago to reduce the environmental impact of packaging and paper marketed in France.

« To tackle the environmental crisis and speed up the changes that are vitally needed, Citeo seeks to encourage and support economic stakeholders in developing production, retail and consumer practices that protect our planet, its resources, biodiversity and the climate. That is our corporate purpose. »

Citeo offers reduction, reuse, sorting and recycling solutions to companies in the fast-moving consumer goods and retail sectors.

More than 80,000 companies are Citeo clients.