Villeurbanne’s Maison Sésame: 2025 Award-Winning Circular Project

Villeurbanne’s Repair Café initiative, a collaborative project between Secours Catholique-Caritas France and the city, has been named the 2025 laureate of the Sésame du Secours Catholique award for its fully circular and sustainable approach to waste reduction. The program, launched in partnership with La BriCC, transforms discarded household items into functional repairs, diverting an estimated 120 tons of waste annually from landfills while creating local employment opportunities.

The initiative operates on a "co-construction" model, where volunteers, repair technicians, and residents work together to extend the lifespan of appliances, furniture, and electronics. According to Secours Catholique-Caritas France, the project aligns with France’s national anti-waste strategy, which aims to halve household waste by 2030. Villeurbanne’s mayor, Cédric Villani, called the award a testament to the city’s commitment to "innovative and inclusive solutions for environmental challenges."

Why does this project stand out?
Unlike traditional repair workshops, the Repair Café in Villeurbanne integrates social and economic dimensions by training unemployed residents in repair skills while providing free or low-cost services to low-income households. A 2024 study by ADEME (France’s environmental agency) found that such community-led repair initiatives reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 30% compared to disposal and replacement cycles.

How does it compare to other French circular economy projects?
While cities like Paris and Lyon have similar repair initiatives, Villeurbanne’s model distinguishes itself by its scalability and partnerships. La BriCC, a local circular economy hub, supplies materials and expertise, while Secours Catholique-Caritas France provides logistical and funding support. This collaboration has allowed the project to expand from a pilot phase in 2023 to five permanent Repair Cafés across the city by 2026.

What happens next?
Secours Catholique-Caritas France plans to replicate the Villeurbanne model in three additional French cities by 2027, with funding from the European Union’s Circular Economy Fund. The organization’s CEO, Jean-Marc Borello, emphasized that the award "validates our approach of combining social justice with environmental action." Villeurbanne’s municipal services have also committed to integrating the project into the city’s zero-waste action plan, targeting a 50% reduction in repair-related waste by 2030.

For residents, the Repair Café offers free diagnostics and repairs for small appliances, with priority given to families in financial distress. Appointments can be booked through Villeurbanne’s municipal website or by contacting the Secours Catholique-Caritas France hotline at 04 72 10 10 10.

Key figures (2023–2026):

• 120 tons of waste diverted annually (equivalent to 120,000 kg).
• 45 volunteers trained in repair and community engagement.
• 8,000+ items repaired since launch (2023).
• €150,000 in EU funding secured for expansion.

Sources: Secours Catholique-Caritas France press release (June 2026); Villeurbanne municipal services; ADEME 2024 circular economy report.