Ecoscience Provence

What Ecoscience Provence does

Ecoscience Provence is a French non-profit scientific association (association à caractère scientifique) founded in 2005 and headquartered in Brignoles, within the Provence Verte territory of the Var department. Its mission centers on environmental preservation across three pillars: circular economy, sustainable consumption, and sustainable tourism. The organization operates as a portfolio of interconnected programs rather than a single product, including La Nomade (a reusable pizza box co-developed with design agency Agence EcoDesign), Ca'bâche (handmade accessories manufactured from upcycled PVC advertising banners in partnership with the social-integration workshop AVAF), La Consigne de Provence (a glass-jar deposit system), and a family of SMB-facing certification labels (Le Commerce Engagé, Le Marché Engagé, Le Restaurant Engagé, Mon Restau Responsable). Supporting activities include zero-waste workshops (Ateliers Zéro Déchet, Réparons!), the STRATUS sustainable-tourism certification co-developed with Italian partner ENEA and Poliste, and applied research such as the 'Le cheveu: nouvelle ressource' study on hair as a circular resource. The association has 11-50 employees and was celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025.

The underlying technology stack is light and non-proprietary in the software sense: the core capability is a 15+ year behavioral-change methodology applied through reusable-container design and territorial stakeholder mobilization. Ca'bâche products (tote bags, pouches, pochettes) are priced at €8-10 per unit and sold through a network of named local retailers across Provence Verte, including Café Passion, La Petite Cave, Biocoop Le relais bio, Mr Bricolage, Jay&Greg Coffee, and others. The La Nomade pilot (September-November 2022) engaged 10 volunteer pizzerias as pilot partners and each offered the reusable box to 10 regular clients for free testing.

The business model is a hybrid of public-grant funding, modest commercial product sales, and donation/membership support. Institutional funders include ADEME, Région SUD, CAPV (Communauté d'Agglomération Provence Verte), SIVED NG (waste management), and the European LEADER program; the Gouvernement Princier de Monaco has also funded studies on plastic alternatives. Memberships and donations are processed through HelloAsso. Governance is led by President Frédéric Capoulade and Director Mikaël Schneider; the legal entity is ASSOCIATION SOUFFLEURS D'ECUME ECOSCIENCE PROVENCE (SIRET 449 804 319 000 43). A 2026 partnership with PTE ASIA signals forthcoming internationalization, while ongoing activity across Italy (ENEA) and Monaco indicates cross-border program rollout.

Name

Ecoscience Provence

Legal name

ASSOCIATION SOUFFLEURS D'ECUME ECOSCIENCE PROVENCE

Website

https://ecoscienceprovence.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ecoscience Provence is a French non-profit scientific association founded in 2005 in Brignoles, running circular-economy, sustainable-consumption, and tourism programs (La Nomade, Ca'bâche, La Consigne de Provence, and SMB certification labels) for local businesses and consumers in the Provence Verte territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Services

NAICS

Administration of Conservation Programs (92412)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Eco-Certification, Auditing & Standards (Green Lodging, Tour Operator Certification) (THAAANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Waste Reduction & Circularity Solutions (Plastics Elimination, Recycling, Composting) (THAAANAF), Sustainability Training, Consulting & ESG Advisory (Operational Playbooks, Staff Training) (THAAANAL)

Keywords

• Circular economy
• Sustainable consumption
• Environmental certification
• Zero waste workshops
• Eco-designed products

Headquarters

HQ city

Brignoles

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding & Grants: Project-based funding from public institutions including ADEME, Region SUD, and local communities (CAPV, SIVED NG, LEADER program) for environmental initiatives
2. Product Sales: Sale of Ca'bâche accessories (bags, pouches, pochettes) made from recycled advertising banners through local retail partners
3. Membership & Donations: Support through HelloAsso platform for membership and donations

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ecoscience Provence is a French scientific association that designs and runs environmental preservation programs in the Provence Verte territory, built around three themes: circular economy, sustainable consumption, and sustainable tourism. It operates certification labels for engaged commerce, markets and restaurants, runs zero-waste and repair workshops, pilots reusable container systems such as La Nomade (reusable pizza box), and sells upcycled accessories under the Ca'bâche brand made from repurposed PVC advertising banners.

Product overview

Ecoscience Provence is an environmental association founded in 2005, operating as a platform of interconnected initiatives rather than a single product. The core portfolio includes three certification labels (Le Commerce Engagé, Le Marché Engagé, Le Restaurant Engagé) that certify businesses and markets committed to sustainable practices, combined with hands-on projects like La Nomade (reusable pizza boxes) and Ca'bâche (accessories made from recycled materials). Supporting services include Les Ateliers Zéro Déchet (zero waste workshops), La Consigne de Provence (glass bottle deposit system), and the STRATUS sustainable tourism certification. The association also produces technical studies and publishes guides like the Guide Solutions Zéro Plastique to promote circular economy principles across the Provence Verte territory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ca'bâche: Eco-designed accessory brand that transforms discarded advertising banners (bâches PVC) into reusable tote bags, pouches, pencil cases, and shopping bags. Products are handmade in Brignoles, France, with a social mission supporting professional insertion through AVAF.

Products and services

• La Nomade Reusable pizza box co-developed with Agence EcoDesign that can transport up to two pizzas while maintaining temperature and taste, and can be washed, stored, and reused by pizza shops and consumers.
• Ca'bâche Sub-brand of handmade accessories (tote bags, pouches, pencil cases, pochettes) made from recycled PVC advertising banners, sold through local retail partners and supporting professional insertion via the AVAF workshop.
• Le Commerce Engagé Label for businesses committed to sustainable practices, reducing waste, and environmental responsibility, adopted by local restaurants and commerce operators in the Provence Verte region and Monaco.
• La Consigne de Provence Deposit system for glass jars and bottles enabling circular economy and waste reduction through reusable packaging, adopted by honey producers in Var and other local producers.
• Les Ateliers Zéro Déchet Zero-waste workshop service teaching sustainable practices and waste reduction techniques to community members and local consumers.
• Le Marché Engagé Label for markets committed to sustainable practices, reducing waste, and promoting local products in the Provence Verte territory.
• Le Restaurant Engagé Label for restaurants committed to sustainable practices and environmental responsibility, adopted by restaurants in Monaco, Marseille, and Provence.
• STRATUS Certification Sustainable tourism certification label developed with ENEA and Poliste for hotels, restaurants, and tourism businesses seeking environmental certification.
• Mon Restau Responsable Program helping restaurants adopt environmentally responsible practices under the Restaurant Engagé framework.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.2 tonnes of waste avoided through Ca'bâche accessory production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PTE ASIAminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026New partnership announced for 2026 related to environmental initiatives
• SIVED NGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWaste management organization for Provence Verte territory, co-developing circular economy initiatives and supporting the La Nomade project
• CAPV (Communauté d'Agglomération Provence Verte)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government authority providing institutional support and funding for environmental initiatives in Provence Verte
• Agence EcoDesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign agency co-developing La Nomade reusable pizza box and other eco-designed products for circular economy
• AVAF (Association Varoise d'Accueil Familial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial integration center in Brignoles providing sewing workshop for Ca'bâche accessory production, combining environmental and social missions
• ENEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian partner co-developing STRATUS sustainable tourism certification label
• PolisteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in STRATUS sustainable tourism certification label development with ENEA and Ecoscience Provence
• Coiffeurs JustesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHairdressers association for whom Ecoscience Provence conducted study on hair as a resource for circular economy

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Green Destinations: Netherlands-based non-profit that certifies and promotes sustainable tourism destinations globally. Directly comparable to Ecoscience Provence's STRATUS sustainable tourism certification programme.
• Travelife: International sustainability certification and training system for the tourism industry. Comparable to Ecoscience Provence's STRATUS labelling and Le Commerce Engagé certification offerings.
• EarthCheck: Australia-based certification body for sustainable tourism and travel operators. Comparable to Ecoscience Provence's STRATUS tourism certification business.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC): International body that sets and manages global standards for sustainable tourism. Directly comparable to Ecoscience Provence's STRATUS certification mission at a global scale.
• Zero Waste France: French non-profit association promoting waste reduction and zero-waste practices. Directly comparable to Ecoscience Provence's Ateliers Zéro Déchet and Guide Solutions Zéro Plastique programmes.
• Label Lucie: French sustainability certification label for organisations committed to CSR. Directly comparable to Ecoscience Provence's Commerce Engagé, Marché Engagé, and Restaurant Engagé labels.
• B Lab (B Corp): Global non-profit certifying B Corporations for social and environmental performance. Comparable to Ecoscience Provence's sustainability-certification business model, though at a global scale.
• Réseau Cocagne: French network of social-inclusion organic farms and gardens. Comparable to Ecoscience Provence's blend of environmental and social-integration activities through AVAF.

Broad incumbents

• Citeo: French eco-organisation managing household packaging recycling nationwide. Comparable to Ecoscience Provence's circular-economy and waste-reduction mandate but at a far larger, industry-funded scale.
• WWF France: Major French environmental NGO running corporate partnerships and conservation programmes. Comparable to Ecoscience Provence's environmental association status and project-based funding model, though at vastly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EcoscienceProvence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecoscience-provence
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecoscience_provence
• Xx.com/Commerce_Engage

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecoscience Provence