Born in 2021 from a simple observation – the massive waste of materials in the construction sector – Articonnex is deploying a hybrid model between trading and the circular economy. Already firmly established in Western France, the company is accelerating its development with the ambition of democratizing access to anti-waste products and structuring a genuine reuse sector, particularly in wood.

Articonnex is part of a broader trend: reducing waste in the construction industry, which is the largest producer of waste in France with nearly 46 million tonnes per year. Against this backdrop, the company offers an operational alternative to landfill disposal by valorizing new overstocked, downgraded, or reused materials through an original concept: a network of warehouse-stores accessible to both professionals and individuals. Outdoor timber, OSB panels, plywood, flooring, and hardware are offered at competitive prices, up to 50% lower than traditional channels. The offer is also supported by a digital platform allowing users to view and reserve available stock. “We operate like a traditional retailer, with an online reservation website showing real-time stock, sales outlets, in-store pickup, and delivery solutions. The circular approach should not be more complex; our goal is to make access to anti-waste materials as simple as possible,” explains Raphaël Morel, one of the company’s three co-founders. With more than 48,000 customers across France, Articonnex confirms the appeal of its model in a market increasingly focused on finding economic and sustainable solutions.

Circular economy

Beyond distribution, the company positions itself as a facilitator for construction professionals and industrial players, with a clear objective: to provide a concrete solution for clearing surplus stock (end-of-series items, order errors, production offcuts, etc.), while avoiding disposal. “As a former joinery manager and president of a building materials trading company, I myself faced stock issues—order errors, surpluses, it happens to everyone,” adds Jean-Clair Le Floc’h, co-founder. “With Articonnex, we found that these issues were common across the entire sector, for companies of all sizes. The challenge was to find a solution to free up professionals’ stock and quickly bring it back to the market.” This virtuous approach aligns with a growing awareness among professionals of reuse issues, and fully fits within the guidelines of the AGEC law and public policies aimed at accelerating the transition to a circular economy. By multiplying collection and redistribution points, the company helps reinject thousands of tonnes of materials into the market, while reducing the environmental footprint of construction sites.

Grand Ouest

Already established in several key cities in the north-west of France – Nantes, Vannes, Rennes, Angers, La Roche-sur-Yon, Orléans, Le Mans and Saint-Brieuc – the company is continuing to expand its territorial network with a proximity-based strategy. The goal: to meet local needs, reduce logistics flows, and strengthen synergies with regional stakeholders. With ten operational sales points, Articonnex is planning new openings in 2026. This on-the-ground expansion is accompanied by increased collection capacity in order to boost processed volumes and broaden the available offer. “Articonnex is a different way of sourcing materials for both professionals and individuals looking for common sense, both economically and environmentally,” says Emmanuel Morel, the company’s third co-founder. “We make existing materials available locally and enable French customers to find good deals for their projects. We are especially proud that our activities align with and support local and national circular economy policies.”

Wood objective

As an extension of its commercial development, Articonnex is also investing in industrial capacity. The opening of a workshop-factory north of Nantes marks a key milestone in its strategy. This site is dedicated to remanufacturing and production using downgraded or reused wood. The initiative aims to meet the needs of professionals handling large volumes or seeking responsible sourcing, while helping to structure an emerging circular wood sector. In the long term, the company aims to scale up reuse and establish itself as a leading player in the redistribution and transformation of materials. By combining a physical network, a digital platform, and industrial capabilities, it is building an integrated model at the crossroads of trading and the circular economy, aligned with the ongoing transformation of the construction sector…

By Adèle Cazier

Photo credits: Articonnex

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