Catégorie : News

Women in business: motivations, barriers and solutions to take action

An increasing number of women are choosing to embark on an entrepreneurial journey, drawn by the idea of working for themselves and giving new meaning to their careers. According to a study carried out by OpinionWay for France Active and the French Banking Federation, to mark the International Women’s Day, 56% of women see entrepreneurship as an opportunity to give meaning to their lives, whilst 52% of them are willing to take the plunge to bring a personal idea to fruition.

A growing desire to start a business

The latest OpinionWay survey for France Active and the FBF reveals that the desire to start a business is growing among women, but the perception of obstacles remains strong. 24% are considering starting their own business (+3 percentage points), a figure that rises to 32% among the under 60.

What are their main motivations? 56% of women want to give meaning to their professional lives and 52% want to bring a personal idea to life. Among those under 35, it is mainly economic reasons that drive them to start a business: 34% see it as a way out of a precarious professional situation.

Against the backdrop of economic uncertainty, this survey also reveals that salaried employment is regaining ground, with 49% of women preferring to be employed (an increase of 8 percentage points compared with 2025) rather than starting their own business.

The barriers to female entrepreneurship

The obstacles identified by women wishing to start a business are mainly economic, psychological or administrative. For instance, one in three women feels to lack sufficient start-up capital, whilst 27% fear they will face difficulties in accessing finance.

Furthermore, one in three women is afraid of failure, and 29% underline the complexity of administrative procedures as a major obstacle to their plans.

Ways to encourage women to start their own businesses

To this end, the survey conducted by OpinionWay for France Active and the FBF highlights three measures that would help women to start their own businesses.

• Greater equality in the private sphere

For 49% of women, a fairer division of domestic and family responsibilities is an essential prerequisite for encouraging entrepreneurship — a view shared by only 39% of men. This desire is accompanied by a growing demand for measures to facilitate a work-life balance, supported by 49% of female respondents (+ 4 points compared with previous surveys).

• Simplification of administrative procedures

The simplification of administrative procedures is supported by 53% of French people, an increase of 5 percentage points compared with 2025. Reducing complexity would help to minimise discouragement and encourage people to take the plunge into entrepreneurship.

• Support schemes and trainings

42% of women emphasise the need for support, mentoring and training programmes to help secure their business ventures.

The survey by OpinionWay (in french)

Three inspiring and committed women

Pauline Katchavenda: inclusive, large-scale joinery recycling

Pauline Katchavenda, founder of Recyfe, is revolutionising the recycling of joinery in France with an inclusive circular economy model. At the helm of the country’s first national network for recycling end-of-life windows, she brings together 23 social enterprises to collect, process and reintroduce materials into new production, thereby reducing CO₂ emissions by over 60% per tonne of recycled glass. Her ambition is to make the entire construction sector circular, in partnership with giants such as Saint-Gobain, whilst creating local and inclusive jobs.

With Recyfe, Pauline Katchavenda demonstrates that the circular economy can combine environmental performance with social impact. The network, supported by France Active, recycles over 90% of a window’s components, preventing landfill and promoting reuse. Its approach, which is both innovative and rooted in local communities, is inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs committed to a more sustainable and socially responsible construction industry.

Recyfe

Maud Simian, stakeholder in a SCIC supporting local agriculture

In Ance Féas, five farmers have joined forces to set up a cooperative (SCIC) dedicated to the rearing, processing and sale of pigs within an ultra-local supply chain. Their aim: to make use of 600 hectares of abandoned communal land by rearing pigs in the open air (fewer than 10 per hectare), ensuring minimal environmental impact. Faced with a lack of nearby processing facilities, they have set up a canning factory and a shop, thereby creating a 100% local supply chain.

With the support of the local council and residents, they process 100 tonnes of meat a year and create five jobs, revitalising the valley’s economy. The project, set up with the help of France Active, combines environmental sustainability, local roots and cooperative governance. The meat, reared and processed within 15 minutes of the farm, appeals to a loyal customer base, whilst the SCIC embodies a sustainable alternative to industrial models. Proof that collective and responsible farming can sustain local communities.

Conserverie du Baretous

At the age of 21, she has taken over the shop where she completed her work-study placement

At the age of 21, Honorine Meunier has taken over the shop “La fée des Fleurs” in Secondigny, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, turning her work-study placement into a meaningful venture. Passionate about nature, she favours local, seasonal and pesticide-free flowers to promote responsible consumption: “This week, I received a delivery from a flower farm in Deux-Sèvres, located just a few kilometres from my workshop,” she tells us.

Supported by France Active, she embodies a bold, entrepreneurial spirit, combining environmental awareness with a strong local presence. Her aim is to promote conscious consumption and revitalise local life. Through local partnerships and a genuine offering, she demonstrates that young entrepreneurship goes hand in hand with sustainable innovation.

La fée des Fleurs

The Mirova Foundation supports women’s entrepreneurship

“Equal access to employment and entrepreneurship is a key driver of social justice and economic development. Yet, as this study shows, many women continue to face structural, social and cultural barriers that limit their ability to start and grow a business. Despite that, these three portraits prove that women’s entrepreneurship can be a powerful driver of independence, social innovation and life-changing opportunities! Supporting France Active and the associations that contribute to it also means supporting this!”
 
Anne-Claire Roux, Chief Executive of the Mirova Foundation
Advisory support plays a key role in ensuring the enterprises’ long-term viability. We believe that female entrepreneurship is a societal issue, which is why, for over 15 years, with the support of the Ministry for Gender Equality, we have been supporting women by facilitating their access to business start-ups. Any woman who wishes to start a business must have the same opportunities as her male counterpart. This is a duty that must concern society as a whole.

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Europe: for a stronger social and solidarity economy

In 2026, the social and solidarity economy (SSE) has established itself as a key player in the ecological and social transition in Europe. With 11.5 million jobs and a key role in the inclusion and resilience of territories, the SSE enjoys massive support from citizens: 80% of Europeans are in favour of direct public funding for SSE organizations, according to the Special Eurobarometer 567*.

However, access to financial resources remains a challenge for many enterprises. How are SSE actors, and France Active in particular, mobilizing European and national levers to respond to these challenges? Which role will the SSE play in the future European budget for 2028-2034?

The figures speak for themselves: 80% of Europeans believe that SSE organizations should receive public funding. In France, 78% of citizens consider the SSE to be important for the society, and 88% of Europeans support the development of public strategies for the SSE.
How can this public support be transformed into concrete financial leverage for social entrepreneurs?

European funding: a lever for the social and solidarity economy

Since the creation of the European Union, promoting social, economic, and territorial cohesion has always been the cornerstone of European policies and budgets.

European funds, such as the European Social Fund (ESF+) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), as well as European programs such as InvestEU, Erasmus+, and Horizon Europe, are pillars that have sustained over the years the development of the social and solidarity economy in line with the needs of local areas and their inhabitants.

These fundings have contributed to promote job creation and skills development, social inclusion, innovation, SMEs’ competitiveness. Through its work, France Active contributes to the achievement of European policy objectives in France, particularly in terms of social, economic, and territorial cohesion. Working closely with the European Commission and the managing authorities in charge of the European funds at the national and local level, the France Active network supports structural projects in the regions, mobilizes financial instruments that promote financial inclusion, and deploys innovations in the fields of solidarity-based financing and business support with other European partners.

The Social Economy Action Plan, adopted by the European Commission in 2021, has set a European framework to promote the development of the social and solidarity economy in the Member States. This document recognizes the role of the social and solidarity economy as a local economy that promotes territorial and social cohesion, creates sustainable jobs, and responds to the major challenges faced by our societies.
In 2025, the European Commission has launched a mid-term review of the Plan to assess progress and identify recent developments. France Active has submitted a contribution to the public consultation launched by the European Commission underlining the importance of providing the SSE with financial resources commensurate with its needs, to innovate in the financing of SSE and to adapt adapt regulations to promote financing for the social and solidarity economy

France Active: a key player in financing the social and solidarity economy in Europe

In Europe, the social and solidarity economy is financed through a mixed financial ecosystem combining public funds, solidarity savings, and private partnerships. Thanks to its regional roots and expertise, France Active plays a central role in mobilizing these levers, supporting social entrepreneurs toward inclusive and sustainable growth.

A comprehensive support model

With 135 local offices spread throughout the country (metropolitan France and overseas territories), France Active offers local support. In 2025, it has mobilized €465 million benefiting 40,500 underserved entrepreneurs and the most committed enterprises. These results are possible thanks to a model combining public, private, and European resources.

An active European advocacy

France Active is a member of the European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA) and participates in the European Commission’s working groups on the social and solidarity economy, particularly in relation to the Social Economy Action Plan 2021-2030.

The objective: based on its experience on the ground, contribute to design new European policies on the SSE improving access to financing for SSE associations and enterprises and enhancing its visibility at the European level.

Challenges and perspectives for the next programming period

With the current European programming period coming to an end in late 2027, new challenges are emerging around the place of the SSE in the future European budget. In a rapidly changing economic and geopolitical context, which is giving rise to new priorities, France Active reaffirms the importance of taking full account of the realities of the regions and their needs in the future budget. A twofold ambition: to preserve the place of social, economic, and territorial cohesion at the heart of the budget and to develop committed entrepreneurship as a driver of European competitiveness through European fundings that maximize leverage.
A few first concrete action proposals are:

• Maintaining and strengthening European policies and financial resources allocated to supporting entrepreneurship in the regions (microbusinesses/SMEs) and promoting the development of the social and solidarity economy.
• Promoting a model of committed entrepreneurship that provides social and environmental solutions, reduces territorial inequalities, and promotes the creation of local and sustainable jobs.
• Increasing the use of financial instruments for the benefit of territories and their inhabitants.
• Recognizing and strengthening the role of solidarity-based financial intermediaries as operators of European policies in the territories.

Faced with social and environmental challenges, France Active reaffirms its commitment to an economy that serves the society, where economic performance goes hand in hand with social and environmental impact. In Europe, this vision translates into active advocacy for ambitious public policies that integrate the social and solidarity economy as a pillar of cohesion and transition. By acting collectively with local and European stakeholders, France Active proves that the economy can be a driver of social justice and environmental resilience to build a “desirable future” accessible to all.

Some concrete examples

La Cravate Solidaire is an association that fights against inequalities in access to employment by offering personalized support (coaching, workshops, networking) to people who are excluded from the job market. Thanks to a participatory loan and support from France Active, it has been able to develop its activities into several regions, helping thousands of beneficiaries each year to regain confidence and find a job.

“France Active has been a key partner in structuring our business model and raising the funds needed for our national development. Their participatory loan has enabled us to professionalize our team and support 5,000 job seekers in 2025, compared to 2,000 in 2020. Their network has also connected us with big companies committed to inclusion. “ — Yann Lotodé, Head of the development at La Cravate Solidaire.

Le Fournil Bio, in Guadeloupe, is a cooperative that promotes organic and local agriculture by transforming agricultural products into organic flour and bread. Thanks to France Active’s support, the project has been able to secure its economic model and develop its activity, thereby contributing to the region’s food sovereignty.
“Magali Lacambra, our France Active advisor, was immediately very invested in our project. She guided us, introduced us to the right people, and helped us move forward. And beyond that, her answers were always concrete, simple, and effective.” — Fanny Simonin, manager of Fournil Bio.

* SOURCE: Special Eurobarometer 567 report – Social economy in the life of Europeans (October 2025, European Commission – DG EMPL and DG COMM)

The article on the Special Eurobarometer on the European Commission’s website

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France Active gives entrepreneurs a voice

Bold and committed – season 3

Creating a more socially conscious and environmentally friendly world requires a combination of boldness and commitment. That’s why France Active has chosen to give a voice to entrepreneurs who have taken on this challenge. Discover their inspiring stories. Supported by our network, they put people at the heart of their business model and tell us about their journeys in this 3rd series of videos entitled ‘Bold and committed’.

Espoir 73 – Esat Le Haber – Savoie

Espoir 73 helps people who have experienced a break in their career due to mental illness by offering them the opportunity to rebuild their lives and regain their self-confidence through a rewarding professional activity. Located in Entremont-le-Vieux, the organisation comprises a dairy farm, a cheese dairy and a restaurant, providing an environment promoting personal development and reintegration. https://vimeo.com/1158302793?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Mineka – Auvergne Rhône-Alpes

Joanne Boachon, an architect by training, faced the same difficulties as her colleagues: sourcing second-hand materials often proved to be complex. To meet this need, she created Mineka, an association that gives both individuals and professionals easy access to reusable materials. Open several times a week, the workshop offers them the opportunity to come and stock up with ease. https://vimeo.com/1136142586

Nomade Coiffure – Franche-Comté

Nomade Coiffure’s mission is to reach out to residents who are unable to move around. To do this, the entrepreneur has converted a van into a fully-fledged mobile hairdressing salon. She travels around the small villages of Franche-Comté, offering a local service while enjoying greater freedom in her work. This innovative initiative meets the needs of residents while reinventing the hairdressing industry. https://vimeo.com/1158302727

Défi production – Occitanie

Offering hope and passing on genuine expertise in the film industry: this is the mission that Défi Production has set itself for young people in the Reynerie neighbourhood on the outskirts of Toulouse. To achieve this, the association has launched the first film school in south-western France dedicated to teaching film production skills, offering 500 hours of free training. This unique initiative opens new career prospects for these talented young people. https://vimeo.com/1158302474

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The solidarity funds 90/10: a French model that inspires Europe

Thirty years ago, a discreet and innovative financial tool was born: the 90/10 solidarity funds. Long overlooked, these funds have become a pillar of the employee savings schemes in France, while financing the development of the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). Today, their success extends beyond borders and is attracting interest from our European neighbours.

With the support of the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC), France Active was behind the creation of the first 90/10 fund in 1994, the “Insertion Emplois Dynamique” fund, which is now managed by Mirova. Since then, we have been mobilising French citizens’ solidarity savings through France Active Investissement, thereby supporting companies and associations with a social or environmental mission.

A unique mechanism, a social ambition

Since 2001, companies are legally bound to offer at least one solidarity fund as part of their employee savings schemes. The principle? To allocate between 5% and 10% of the assets to SSE projects. The rest is invested in traditional assets (shares, bonds) or responsible management. It is a winning formula that allows employees to combine returns with social impact, and that was reinforced by the 2019 “Pacte” law.

The French Social and Solidarity Economy is a diverse ecosystem including associations, work integration social enterprises, cooperatives, social landlords, microfinance actors and more. They all share a common mission: to reduce inequalities, promote inclusion and place people at the heart of the economy.

A dual commitment for businesses

By investing capitals coming from profit-sharing or incentive schemes into these funds, business owners offer their employees the opportunity to give meaning to their savings. It also represents a powerful act for the company: engaging in a solidarity-based approach, supporting projects rooted in the ground and demonstrating a true commitment to social responsibility.

With such compelling advantages, 90/10 funds have a bright future ahead of them. What if their current success is only the beginning?

All citizens are concerned

These 90/10 funds are not only available to employees with a savings plan but even to individual savers directly through their bank or mutual insurance company via FCPs (mutual funds), SICAVs (open-ended investment companies) or FIPs (local investment funds).

Further reading:

• The French Social Finance 2025 (infographic by Fair)
• 23rd Edition of the Social Impact Finance Barometer by FAIR-La Croix: With over €2 billion in assets, 2024 marks a year of market consolidation for social impact finance, leaving its mark on the French savings landscape. (press release on the Social Impact Finance Barometer)
• The 2025 Solidarity Finance Barometer (in French)

https://vimeo.com/1143884421
https://vimeo.com/1143884398

Faced with uncertainty, saving continues to grow and is becoming a civic act among young people.

Solidarity Finance Week from 10 to 16 November 2025

To mark the Solidarity Finance Week 2025 (10–16 November 2025), France Active and FAIR are publishing the 4th edition of their annual OpinionWay survey, ‘The French and solidarity-based savings’. Against a backdrop of economic and political instability, French people are stepping up their savings efforts and increasingly want their money to contribute to creating benefits for the society and the environment.

• 62% of French people plan to save as much or more in 2026 than in 2025 (+7 points vs. 2024)
• 29% of those concerned say that the pension reform is encouraging them to save more (+15 points)
• 24% say that their savings are primarily intended to finance solidarity projects (+4 pts), including 37% for the Generation Z.
• 37% consider their savings choices to be a form of ‘voting’, 65% for the Generation Z.

The fear of the future is increasingly driving the French to save

Four out of five French people plan to save in 2026 (78% of respondents, +5 points compared to 2025), a record high. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents plan to save as much or more than in 2025 (62%, +7 points).

Surprisingly, this trend is also very strong among 18–24-year-olds: 71% say they want to save as much or more.

The fear of the future is the main reason cited by those who plan to save more in 2026 (50%, +4 points), a trend reinforced by political and economic instability in France.

Similarly, the current context surrounding the pension reform and the resulting uncertainties are driving French people to save even more (29%, +15 points).

In this tense economic climate, nearly 70% of the French people favour short- or medium-term profitability targets: 28% between 0 and 3 years, and 41% between 3 and 8 years (+7 points).

Solidarity savings are gaining ground, driven largely by young people

Despite this widespread concern, one in four French people say that their savings are directed towards financing social and environmental projects (24%, +4 points). This proportion rises to 37% among the Generation Z and 31% among Millennials.
The selection criteria confirm the difference in sensitivity: while capital security remains a priority (53% ‘overall’; 31% ‘first’), social and environmental impact is much more important to young people (28% of 18–24-year-olds cite impact among their criteria, compared to 8% of those aged 50+).
In terms of project types, savers would like to prioritise investing their savings in ecological transition (26%), preserving social ties and reducing inequalities (20%), on a par with the economic development of regions, particularly those located in priority or disadvantaged areas (20%).
Despite this interest, around 2 in 3 French people say they are poorly informed about solidarity-based savings products, returns and projects (65%), hence the importance of continuing and stepping up efforts to educate savers.

Pierre-René Lemas

President of France Active

These results confirm two realities: on the one hand, French people are saving more to protect themselves against uncertainty; on the other hand, they want their money to have meaning. This is precisely France Active’s mission: to enable every saver to become a player in a more socially responsible future by supporting entrepreneurs who are responding to our country’s social and environmental challenges. To achieve this, we are campaigning to ensure that everyone has access to all types of investments, including life insurance, and can thus contribute to solidarity-based savings. We also defend the idea of universal employee saving schemes: currently reserved mainly for large companies, in future they should benefit all employees.

Saving is voting’: a generational reflex

For the first time this year, FAIR, France Active and OpinionWay surveyed French people on their perception of saving as a civic act. The result: 37% are aware that their savings choices have an impact on the future of the society, and that saving is voting, provided that it is invested in socially responsible products.
This belief is particularly strong among the Gen Z (65%) and nearly one in two Millennials (47%).

Patrick Sapy

Chief Executive Officer of FAIR

Savings intentions have never been so high in our country. Young French people have also understood that saving is no longer just about coping with uncertainty, it is about taking action. Today, nearly 40% of them want to give meaning to their money by supporting projects that respond to the challenges of our time – ecological transition, social cohesion, regional development. For them, saving is no longer just an investment, but a tool for building tomorrow’s society.
Solidarity finance has been drawing on this energy for 40 years: every saver has the power to become an agent of change by choosing where to invest his money. Because saving, tomorrow, will also mean voting for the world we want to live in.

Methodology
The survey ‘The French and solidarity-based savings’, conducted for France Active and FAIR by OpinionWay, aims to understand and analyse French people’s opinions on solidarity-based savings investments. This study was conducted among a sample of 1,009 people, representative of the French population aged 18 and over, selected using the quota method based on criteria such as gender, age, socio-professional category, type of urban area and region of residence. The interviews were conducted on 11 and 12 September 2024 using a self-administered online questionnaire on a CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) system.

Any publication, in whole or in part, must include the following full reference:
‘OpinionWay survey for France Active and FAIR’ and no part of the survey may be reproduced without this reference.

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Global Social and Solidarity Economy Forum GSEF Bordeaux 2025

The Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy (GSEF) gathers together local governments and civil society from all over the world to make the SSE a driving force for inclusive development. After Seoul, Montreal and Dakar, the Forum will take place at the end of October in Bordeaux.

The GSEF (Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy) is an international organisation bringing together local governments and civil society networks to promote the social and solidarity economy (SSE) as a lever for local, inclusive and sustainable development. The network has 84 members coming from 37 countries and gathers local governments, territorial networks and civil society representatives.

Every two years, the GSEF organises a Global Forum on the Social and Solidarity Economy, one of the largest international gatherings in the sector. This year, the latest edition will bring together 4,000 participants from five continents, who will meet in Bordeaux, France, at the end of October 2025.

A space of exchange and commitment

The Global SSE Forum has two objectives:

• To bring together leaders and stakeholders from around the world – elected members, experts, representatives of development agencies, networks and grassroots actors – to jointly devise more humane and sustainable economic models.
  A final declaration will translate these discussions into political commitments and a roadmap for the next two years.

• To encourage the sharing of experiences and ideas from all continents. Designed in collaboration with the Scientific Committee and enriched by numerous contributions, the programme will highlight inspiring initiatives in the social and solidarity economy, through formats that encourage dialogue and diversity of views.

In this context, France Active, the leading funder of SSE in France, will be present with a delegation and will speak:

On 30 October from 11h30 to 12h30, during a round table organised in partnership with Caisse d’Epargne entitled: “Joint financing: a catalyst for cooperation and regional impact”.

Panelists:

• Caisse d’Epargne Aquitaine Poitou Charente
• European Federation of Ethical and Alternative Banks (FEBEA)
• France Active Nouvelle Aquitaine
• Carrefour Insertion Développement Initiatives Locales (CIDIL): an association promoting integration in rural areas, funded by France Active.

A conference moderated by Marie Leclerc-Bruant, Head of SSE at Caisse d’Epargne.

On 30 October from 16h30 to 18h00, FEBEA, of which France Active is a member of the Board of Directors, will represent European ethical finance at the plenary session on SSE financing entitled: “What are the challenges involved in consolidating SSE financing stakeholders?”

Panelists:

• Grameen Foundation – Crédit Agricole, microfinance credit, France
• SVSFund, Korea
• Aéma Group, France
• FEBEA

This plenary session will be moderated by Mr Dominique Lesaffre, Member of the GSEF Advisory Committee.

On 31 October from 10h15 to 11h15, during a round table discussion entitled “Citizen participation and territorial revitalization: towards the co-construction of public policies” with the participation of Margot Aubaret, project manager Fabrique à Initiatives at France Active Nouvelle Aquitaine.

For more information on the GSEF
and the Global SSE Forum

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La Venelle: the temple of the re-use opens its doors in Montreuil

On the 3rd of September, 1,800 m² of shops opened their doors in Montreuil. This project brings together 9 associations willing to promote responsible consumption while offering people excluded from the job market an opportunity to reintegrate it. It is a fine example of cooperation around the re-use sector within the Social and Solidarity Economy, to which France Active is fully committed.

Site internet

On the 3rd of September 2025, 1,800 m² dedicated to re-use opened their doors. 9 shops will offer passers-by the opportunity to consume responsibly while enabling people who are excluded from the job market to return to work. It is not just about sales, as there are also co-repair workshops offered by La Recyclerie Sportive, sewing workshops offered by La Collecterie, and a café-canteen where you can have lunch.

Come to discover the structures present at La Venelle (six of which have benefited from the advisory support and funding of France Active) at 198 Rue Robespierre in Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis).Atelier R-ARE creates solid wood objects and furniture from materials recovered during the demolition of buildings. This association, legally recognized as an “atelier chantier d’insertion” , designs and manufactures unique pieces and layouts, making use of wood escaped from landfill. The other materials recovered during demolition are carefully sent to partners specialized in recycling.Emmaüs Coup de Main promotes access to sustainable employment by offering employees personalised social support and a suitable professional environment within its reintegration path. Teams of employees in the reintegration process, supervised by permanent staff, manage daily the 7 “ressourceries” and 3 logistics centres located in eastern Paris. At the same time, the association is developing a specific programme, designed to support families facing precarious situations, aiming to foster reintegration through housing.Emmaüs Défi is an atelier chantier d’insertion whose mission is to support people in extremely precarious situations to find a job, housing and access to healthcare, so that they can find their place in society. In its shop, this organisation proposes second-hand clothing and accessories.Envie sells reconditioned household appliances at reduced prices, takes back old appliances and runs introductory workshops on repairing and on best practices to use and maintain the devices. The equipment is collected and repaired locally in the Île-de-France region, thus promoting short supply chains. The goal is to sell 2,500 appliances per year, which would avoid 125 tonnes of waste.La Collecterie is a Montreuil-based ressourcerie created in 2012 that collects, sorts, repairs and transforms items that would be thrown otherwise to give them a second life. These objects are reintroduced into the cycle of solidarity-based and ethical consumption, while providing people in professional reintegration programmes a chance to work.

A look back at our reportage at La Collecterie: 

https://vimeo.com/1121576745La Ressourcerie Du Spectacle was created in 2014 by entertainment professionals. The project comes out from a clear finding: in the entertainment industry, the equipment is frequently replaced and rarely re-used while others struggle to have access to it. In La Venelle, it offers audio-visual materials, sound, lighting, stage equipment and scenographic elements waiting for a new lease of life, as well as a self-repair area equipped with a toolbox.La Recyclerie Sportive is the first organisation dedicated to restoring and reselling sport equipment and materials. It collects items from individuals and professionals that are resold after repairing or transforming them.Neptune is an actor of the solidarity-based re-use sector located in Montreuil since 1994, working on the professional reintegration of more than 90 employees within its local ressourceries. The association collects, recycles and sells a wide variety of second-hand items, while also running workshops to raise awareness on more responsible consumption. True to its social commitment, Neptune will be opening a solidarity thrift shop at La Venelle.Le REFER, the Île-de-France region’s Re-use Network, brings together social re-use organisations, including ressourceries, recycled goods shops and specialized workshops. Based on a mutualist approach, it supports the growth of initiatives focused on mutual aid, sharing and cooperation to respond to contemporary social and environmental challenges. Advocating for a non-profit and non-competitive vision of re-use, the network now brings together nearly 70 member organisations committed to waste reduction and local solidarity.

You can also enjoy a delicious lunch at Parelle, the cafeteria run by La Collecterie.

France Active supports the circular economy and the post-first-life sector

France Active’s objective is to structure solidarity-based sectors, from collection and sorting to re-use, in order to increase the volumes of materials and objects processed. This approach also aims to preserve the value created for the benefit of local areas by supporting the local economy and the development of local employment.
To achieve this, France Active supports industrial business models that do not create waste, activities that promote repair and re-use, and solutions for waste recycling.
France Active invests to support the growth of organisations in this sector by financing the development of their volumes, their cooperation and their integration into the value chain. At the same time, it facilitates their access to the market and to a wider customer base, thereby contributing to a more inclusive, local and sustainable economy.

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When citizens give meaning to their savings

How savers position themselves

A major contribution to France Active’s investment activity, solidarity-based savings could be further developed as part of our fellow citizens’ investment solutions. What vision do the French have of savings? What purpose do they want it to serve ?

France Active has gone out to meet them and given them the chance to have their say. According to the latest France Active Fair barometer, one French person in five (20%) would like to see solidarity-based savings, combining financial profitability where possible with a contribution to general interest projects, a figure that rises to 30% among 25-34 year-old.

Take a look at what savers have to say on video.

What role would you like your savings to play?

‘People’s mindsets are changing, and there’s a growing desire to see savings as something meaningful’ expresses a saver in this video.

https://vimeo.com/1106419751

Do you think your savings can have an impact close to home?

‘Savings can have an effect on my area, it can benefit local businesses or associations […] our savings can have an effect on a local scale’, says another saver.

https://vimeo.com/1106419785

People want to save so that social and ecological projects can be developed close to home or anywhere in France to serve the local community and the common good. To find out more, visit the website of our partner Fair.

Despite these positive testimonies about solidarity savings, the 2024 barometer ‘The French and solidarity savings’ carried out by Opinionway for France Active and Fair in October 2024 shows that almost 70% of French people say they are poorly informed about this type of savings, whether in terms of how it works, its aims, the products on offer or the players who manage it.

With France Active, a different kind of savings is possible

Thanks to solidarity-based savings, citizens can use their money to finance projects with a strong social and ecological impact as close to home as possible, which really meet the needs of their area.

Where can I invest my money in solidarity savings products?

• Via your bank or insurance company, by choosing solidarity savings products. Simply contact your banker/insurer for more information.
• Via your company, by directing your employee savings towards solidarity funds. You can find more information on the Fair website.

And what about France Active?

Once your savings have been entrusted to an investment institution (not on a short-term basis here), they are invested in a ‘90/10’ fund.

90% of funds are channelled into the financial markets (Socially Responsible Investment)

5 to 10% of savings are channelled into socially responsible investment companies such as France Active.

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Solidarity savings allow your money to grow while helping to tackle the challenges facing our society: ecological transition, employment, social innovation and regional development, etc. 

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Accès +: the enhanced support programme for the most fragile entrepreneurs

Since 2021, France Active has continued its support for the most fragile entrepreneurs, via its dedicated Accès+ programme.

Supported by the Ministry of Labour through the Inclusion through Self-Employment call for projects, Accès+ has helped to support more than 6,800 entrepreneurs since the programme was launched in 2021.

Half of the beneficiaries are women and the average age of the entrepreneurs is 33.

The programme includes webinars, workshops and games on four main themes:

• financial education,
• digital awareness,
• protecting entrepreneurs and securing their business,
• impact awareness

To amplify this support, France Active also relies on strengthened partnerships with banks, in conjunction with the French Banking Federation and Accès+ operators, in particular La Ruche.

France Active has also enhanced its support offer with a webinar designed to provide the keys to starting up a business with peace of mind and to understand the various procedures in partnership with URSSAF.

This programme could continue over time, thanks to renewed support from the Ministry of Labour.

She benefited from it

Léa Caron – Creator of “Le Clos fleuri”

After some experience in retail, Léa Caron became passionate about the profession of florist. At the age of 22, she decided to take over a shop in the heart of a small town in the Ain department: Nantua (a town that benefits from the ‘Small town of tomorrow’ regeneration programme run by the French Agency for Territorial Cohesion).

Read the full story here

He supported her

Franklin Witham – Advisor at France Active Ain, head of the Haut-Bugey branch

“Léa Caron was referred to us by her chartered accountant, her lawyer and her banker. She was in great need of support and funding. She’s very young and had very little professional experience before taking the plunge. We helped her through the Accès + programme, and she received the Accès + grant as well as a FAPE EDF grant and, of course, a guarantee. The bank would not have taken her on without our support.
For the beneficiaries of this programme, we offer enhanced support with a meeting at 3 months and a meeting 6 months after the start-up. And the ‘Managing your cash flow’ workshop made all the difference in terms of monitoring her business. We’ve also set up a mentoring system for her with one of our volunteers, a former director of an employment cooperative.”

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