The Story: How did it all start?
Jules Coignard and Raphaël Masvigner met in Mexico in 2013 when they were working for Airbus. Both passionate about the environment, they quit their job one year later to do the first circular economy world tour. The idea was to prove that people have all the solutions to live in a sustainable way without damaging the environment. After traveling for 17 months in 22 countries and meeting with 150 local activists about circular economy, Jules and Raphaël came back to France to launch the Circul’R startup in 2017. They aim to build the first global network of circular economy startups to accelerate the transition from a linear (take-make-dispose) to a circular economy model which is respectful of the people and the planet. In 2019, the Circul'R family has grown to be a 6- person team to continue to impact the world.
Why we believe in circular economy
Circular economy simply rethinks the way we do things. It invites people to use natural resources in a smart way to no longer produce waste. Nature is a perfect circular economy model because nothing is lost, and everything is transformed to create new values for the natural ecosystem.
Significant improvements can be achieved quickly through a circular economy because it creates positive impacts on both the environment and the economy. We firmly believe that it is the essential economic model we need because it will transition toward a sustainable economy respectful of the people and the planet. It will be a win-win situation.
Circular economy simply rethinks the way we do things. It invites people to use natural resources in a smart way to no longer produce waste. Nature is a perfect circular economy model because nothing is lost, and everything is transformed to create new values for the natural ecosystem.
Significant improvements can be achieved quickly through a circular economy because it creates positive impacts on both the environment and the economy. We firmly believe that it is the essential economic model we need because it will transition toward a sustainable economy respectful of the people and the planet. It will be a win-win situation.
Family Members
Jules Coignard
Co-founder
After his graduation at Toulouse Business School (2012), Jules joined the Airbus Group for 3 years in France and Mexico as a sourcing manager. He co-founded Circul’R in 2014 to promote circular economy around the world. Jules is also passionate about the ocean and traveling.
Raphaël Masvigner
Co-founder
After his graduation at La Sorbonne and Sciences Po Paris (2011), Raphaël joined the Airbus Group for 3 years in Brazil and in Mexico as the CEO's assistant. He co-founded Circul'R in 2014 to promote circular economy around the world. Nature lover, Raphaël, is also passionate about traveling.
Pierre Georgin
Training Leader
Pierre specialised in city and regional development at Sciences Po Paris and the London School of Economics. He worked as an analyst for the OECD for 2 years, advising policy-makers around the world. He joined Circul’R in 2018 to help businesses, public authorities, and startups to create local loops in cities and regions. Pierre loves hiking in wide open spaces and never misses any opportunity to cycle such as the field mission of Cycle for Mediterranea in the summer of 2018.
Matthieu Witvoet
Innovation and Club Leader
Matthieu studied International Business at Loughborough University. After graduation, he joined Ashoka to further develop the Changemaker Schools network. Then he cycled the world with his cousin to promote circular economy for plastics. Within one year, they cycled 18 000kms on 5 continents to promote local solutions (check out the web-series 'Cycle to Recycle Plastic': 500,000 + views on social media). Matthieu joined Circul'R after he got back to France in 2018.
Stéphanie Talevis
Consultant
After graduating from ESSEC Business School in Paris (2013), Stéphanie joined the BNP Paribas group for 5 years in Paris, Mumbai, and Lisbon. She joined Circul'R in 2018 to launch the Club. Stéphanie is passionate about sports and nature. With her Circul'R colleague Pierre, she traveled across Europe by bike in summer 2018 to meet local entrepreneurs and NGOs developing solutions in the circular economy.
Genia Oganian
Consulting Leader
During her studies in environmental economics in Montréal and Toulouse TSE (2012), Genia gained a strong conviction for circular economic model. She worked for 2 years at the OECD on environmental policies assessment, then for 5 years in consulting mostly at Deloitte in sustainability services and joined Circul’R to speed up the transition to a circular economy through its large network of solutions. Genia is also passionate about dance, mountains and languages around the world.
Our Values
Optimism
We believe passionately in the power of positive ideas to change attitudes, lives, and, ultimately, the world. Optimism is what allows us to persist, to be resilient, and to inspire those around us.
Creativity
Use our imagination to drive innovation and challenge the "business- as- usual" global mindset. We believe in the power of "thinking out of the box" to create new solutions to the environmental crisis.
Sharing
True collaboration can only exist in an environment of trust. We have no fear of relying on others for support because we see how collaboration could dramatically improve outcomes. We celebrate one another's success and look forward to taking those successes to the next level together.
Do Good
Use business to inspire and implement solutions to build a sustainable economy respectful of the people and the planet. We are doers and passionate about what we are fighting for.
Family
We are a part of the same family where people can build strong relationships and value each other. We listen, we ask questions, and we approach our collaborations with compassion, empathy, and trust. The success of one is the success for all.