What Tersen does

Tersen is a French circular-economy company specializing in the collection, treatment, recycling, and valorization of construction and demolition waste (C&DW). A wholly-owned subsidiary of Colas France (itself part of the international Colas Group), Tersen was formed in September 2021 through the merger of five predecessor firms (Picheta, Cosson, SMS, CNT, and Varea) and operates a dense territorial network across Ile-de-France and Normandy comprising 30+ ECO TRI professional waste centers, ~15-20 recycling platforms, 3 quarries, 9 storage sites, 4 commercial agencies, and 10 mobile crushing installations. The company processes over 1.6 million tonnes of C&DW per year with an 80% material recovery rate, treats 80,000 tonnes of asbestos annually, and runs 250+ construction sites per year.

Tersen's core product portfolio centers on recycled and natural aggregates (sablon, sand, gravel, grave béton recyclée) and a proprietary range of low-carbon circular-economy materials: the ECOSOL range (LH, Chaux, Béton, and Fertile — with ECOSOL Béton delivering a 47% carbon reduction vs. self-placing concrete), Urbalith cold-mix permeable coating (no-VOC, applicable in ZNIEFF and Natura 2000 zones), Valor Bloc modular interlocking prefabricated blocks, and Colstab Compaxem low-carbon hydraulic-binder coating. The platform integrates on-site mobile crushing, fixed and mobile concrete batching (including the 400 T/h Marcoussis La Folie plant), pollution remediation engineering, asbestos containment and storage (Saint-Martin-du-Tertre ISDND), quarrying, and territorial development (land rehabilitation, biodiversity projects, renewable-energy site preparation).

Tersen's revenue model combines (i) one-time sales of recycled and natural aggregates and prefabricated products to construction firms, public authorities, and individuals; (ii) transaction fees for waste acceptance and treatment at ECO TRI centers and recycling platforms; (iii) professional services revenue from demolition, asbestos removal, earthwork, and public-space development contracts; and (iv) managed services from territorial development projects (quarry rehabilitation, agricultural and ecological land development, solar/cogeneration site preparation). Go-to-market is sales-led through dedicated account managers, four regional commercial agencies, and a secure digital client portal (espace-client.tersen-env.com), supplemented by participation in B2G trade events (AMIF Salon, Ensemble 91 Forum). Customer segments span construction companies, public authorities and local governments (anchor segments), industrial site operators, real-estate developers, and a long tail of artisans and individuals. Quality and environmental credentials include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, UNICEM Environmental Charter membership, and FRTP Ile-de-France Charter of Public Works Recyclers founding-signatory status.

Name

Tersen

Legal name

Colas France, Société par Actions Simplifiées (S.A.S.)

Website

https://tersen-env.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Tersen is a French Colas Group subsidiary that processes 1.6 million tonnes of construction and demolition waste annually across Ile-de-France and Normandy, selling 2.5 million tonnes of recycled aggregates to public and private sector clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Services

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

C&D Transfer Stations & Consolidation (BPALAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Solvent Recovery & Hazardous Waste Recycling/Reclamation (Distillation, Reuse) (BPALAFAH), Waste & Hazardous Materials Management (incl. HazMat) (BPAHAJAK), C&D Fines & Mixed Inerts Processing (Screening, Beneficiation) (EUAIAHAI), C&D Recycling Brokerage, Compliance & Reporting (LEED diversion, documentation) (EUAIAHAM)

Keywords

• Construction waste recycling
• Demolition material recovery
• Circular economy construction
• Asbestos removal services
• Recycled aggregates supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Louvres

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Recycled and natural material sales: Tersen processes over 1,600,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste annually and sells approximately 2.5 million tonnes of recycled and natural materials (sablon, sand, gravel, crushed aggregate, treated materials, ready-mix concrete). Revenue is generated through sale of materials to construction companies, distributors, local authorities, and individuals. The company operates roughly 20 recycling platforms and multiple concrete batching plants producing treated road materials and concrete.
2. Waste treatment and disposal fees: Professional construction companies, local authorities, and individuals pay fees to deposit construction waste at ECO TRI professional déchetteries, recycling platforms, and ISDI/ISDND storage sites. Fees cover acceptance, sorting, mechanical and manual triage, and dispatch to appropriate recycling or disposal streams. Tersen processes approximately 80,000 tonnes of asbestos waste per year.
3. Public works and construction services: Tersen performs deconstruction, demolition, asbestos removal, earthwork, public space development, and ecological works as a contractor for public and private project owners. Services include engineering studies, site preparation, and full project execution with waste traceability documentation.
4. Territorial development projects: Tersen Développement acts as a land developer for agricultural, landscape, ecological, and urban development projects, creating new spaces through valorization of excavation materials. Also develops renewable energy projects (solar farms, cogeneration) and manages quarry rehabilitation and ISDI/ISDND facilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tersen is a construction and environmental services company that collects, sorts, recycles, and valorizes construction and demolition waste (BTP waste) across Ile-de-France and Normandy. It operates a dense network of approximately 30 professional waste centers (ECO TRI), ~20 recycling platforms, 3 quarries, mobile crushing units, and materials treatment plants to produce recycled aggregates, ready-mix concrete, low-carbon coatings, and prefabricated concrete blocks. The company also performs deconstruction, asbestos removal, earthworks, and territorial development projects as a contractor for public and private clients.

Product overview

Tersen is a construction and environmental services company operating primarily in Ile-de-France and Normandy, organized around three integrated business lines: Travaux (construction services including demolition, asbestos treatment, earthwork, public space development, and ecological works), Environnement (environmental services including ECO TRI waste collection network, Valormat recycling platforms, mobile crushing, quarrying, pollution remediation engineering, and prefabrication), and Aménagement du territoire (territory development including land development for agricultural, landscape, ecological, and urban projects). The company offers specialized product lines including ECOSOL (fertile substrates and concrete alternatives), VALOR BLOC (prefabricated recycled concrete blocks), Urbalith and Colstab Compaxem (low-carbon coatings), and natural/recycled aggregates. With 600 employees across 30+ ECO TRI facilities, 4 commercial agencies, 3 quarries, 9 storage sites, and 10 mobile crushing installations, Tersen processes over 1.6 million tonnes of materials annually with an 80% recovery rate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ECO TRI Professional Waste Centers Network of approximately 30 professional déchetteries (waste collection centers) across Ile-de-France accepting hazardous waste, wood, plaster, tires, rubble, asbestos, inert waste, and green waste from construction professionals, artisans, and individuals.
• Valormat Recycling Platforms Recycling platforms for the treatment and recovery of construction and demolition waste, producing materials for road construction. The Marcoussis La Folie site features a 400 T/h capacity plant.
• ECOSOL Product Range Product range of circular-economy materials made from inert excavated earth for road or landscaping applications. Includes ECOSOL LH, ECOSOL Chaux, ECOSOL Béton (47% lower carbon footprint than self-placing concrete), and ECOSOL Fertile (fertile substrate meeting NF U 44-551 standard).
• Valor Bloc Prefabricated Concrete Blocks Modular, stackable prefabricated concrete blocks made from recycled components with male/female interlocking ergots for dry stacking without glue. Available in dimensions 160x80, 120x80, 80x80, and 40x80 cm. Available for sale or rental. Applications include storage areas, road closures, anti-intrusion barriers, decorative walls, noise barriers, and retaining walls.
• Urbalith Cold-Mix Coating Permeable, natural, and recyclable cold-mix surface coating manufactured at Gennevilliers. Reduces CO2 emissions through cold mixing, preserves natural material color with transparent binder, combats urban heat islands by increasing solar reflectance, and contains no volatile organic compounds. Applicable in ZNIEFF and Natura 2000 zones.
• Colstab Compaxem Low-Carbon Coating Low-carbon aesthetic coating stabilized with hydraulic binder providing durability, natural environment integration, and reduced urban heat island effects.
• Natural Materials (Sand, Gravel, Grave) Natural silico-calcareous or limestone materials including sand, gravel, and grave produced and commercialized by Tersen for construction applications.
• Mat'Express Rapid Delivery Materials Product line of construction materials available through rapid delivery service for time-sensitive construction projects.
• Earthworks and Excavation Services Earth moving, excavation, transport (road, river, rail), treatment, and reuse of materials for construction and infrastructure projects across Ile-de-France.
• Deconstruction and Demolition Services Deconstruction and demolition services for buildings and infrastructure, including on-site material recovery via mobile crushing equipment.
• Asbestos Removal and Treatment Services Complete asbestos removal, packaging, transport, and certified storage services for class 2 conditioned asbestos waste. Tersen processes approximately 80,000 tonnes of asbestos waste per year.
• Public Space Development Services Public space development and VRD (Voirie Réseaux Divers) services including road construction, networks, and infrastructure development for public and private clients.
• Depollution Engineering Services Pollution remediation engineering services including site diagnosis, treatment of polluted soils, and certified rehabilitation of impacted land.
• Quarry Operations Extraction and sale of natural materials from 3 quarries in Ile-de-France, with rehabilitation and biodiversity programs aligned to ISO 14001 or UNICEM Environmental Charter standards.
• Mobile Crushing and On-Site Recycling Deployment of mobile crushing equipment directly at deconstruction sites, enabling on-site material recovery without transport to fixed facilities. 10+ mobile crushing installations available.
• Territorial Development Projects Land development for agricultural, landscape, ecological, and urban projects via Tersen Développement, creating new functional spaces through valorization of excavation materials. Also develops renewable energy projects (solar farms, cogeneration) and manages quarry rehabilitation and ISDI/ISDND facilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000,000+ tonnes of inert earth managed annually
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• VEKA recyclagenotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with VEKA recyclage for the collection and valorization of PVC waste (windows and shutters) from demolition and rehabilitation sites. Waste PVC is recycled into new windows or shutters, extending the circular economy chain and reducing consumption of fossil raw materials. Collected at Tersen ECO TRI sites across Ile-de-France.
• Partnership for used tire recyclingnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn partnership with a tire recycling specialist, Tersen recovers the stream of used tires collected at ECO TRI platforms and gives them a second life in the form of wheels for rubbish bins or high-pressure cleaners, closing the loop on tire waste.
• ALISEA, OGE, Ecosphère (ecological engineering consultancies)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTersen collaborates with specialized ecological engineering firms (ALISEA, OGE, Ecosphère) for biodiversity studies, ecological impact assessments, and the design and implementation of ecological mitigation, reduction, and compensation measures (ERC sequence) on construction sites and operational sites.
• LPO (Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux for annual monitoring of sand martin colonies at Tersen's quarry at Le Déluge, Marcoussis. Part of Tersen's commitment to biodiversity monitoring and ecological integration on industrial sites.
• FRTP Ile-de-France (Fédération Régionale des Travaux Publics d'Ile-de-France)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTersen is a founding signatory of the Charter of Public Works Recyclers, promoted by FRTP Ile-de-France. The charter aims to promote the expertise of companies in circular economy among project owners and stakeholders in Ile-de-France. Tersen's Sébastien Cornu serves as Regional Delegate of the charter.
• UPGE (Union Professionnelle du Génie Ecologique)notableStrategic or Co-development PartnerTersen joined the UPGE, the federation of ecological engineering companies, to participate in federating the industry, representing collective interests to institutional actors, and developing training and communication about ecological engineering careers and practices.
• GéoL'Essonne (geological association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the GéoL'Essonne association during European Heritage Days site visits at the Le Déluge quarry in Marcoussis, providing geological interpretation of the quarry's 30-million-year-old sea sediment formations.
• Colas FrancecoreOthersColas France SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiées, registered capital €54,134,933, RCS PARIS 329 338 883) is the parent company and owner of Tersen. Tersen is one of the Colas Group's subsidiary companies operating in Ile-de-France and Normandy.
• Colas Group (technical and R&D support)coreOthersTersen operates within the Colas Group, leveraging group-wide technical resources, R&D capabilities, commercial synergies (shared project pipelines from Colas construction agencies), and group purchasing power. The group provides access to specialized engineering support (Colas Guyancourt technical service), quality control laboratories, and standardized procedures.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Holcim: Global cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete leader (formerly LafargeHolcim) with significant French operations. Comparable to Tersen through aggregate and recycled-material supply; Holcim operates at vastly larger scale and is pushing into low-carbon cement and circular-economy products that may compete with ECOSOL.
• Colas: International road construction and materials group that owns Tersen. Operates quarries, aggregates, and recycling infrastructure across France and globally; Tersen functions as its circular-economy / C&D recycling arm in the Paris basin, so they share materials markets and downstream customers.
• SUEZ: Global environmental services group operating waste collection, recycling, and treatment infrastructure across France and internationally. Comparable to Tersen as both operate C&D and hazardous waste collection/treatment networks; SUEZ is far broader and not specialized in inert C&D recycling.
• Heidelberg Materials: Global aggregates, cement, and ready-mix concrete producer with French operations (formerly HeidelbergCement/Granulats). Comparable to Tersen on aggregate supply and increasingly on recycled-content construction materials; significantly larger and globally diversified.
• Veolia: Global environmental services major with significant French waste collection and treatment operations, including hazardous waste. Comparable to Tersen in offering integrated waste management to industrial and municipal clients; broader portfolio spans water, energy, and municipal solid waste beyond C&D specialization.
• Eiffage: French construction and concessions group with a substantial materials division (Eiffage Route) producing aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and road-building products. Comparable to Tersen through overlapping activities in aggregate supply, demolition, and earthworks; much larger group with national coverage.
• Eurovia (Vinci): Vinci subsidiary specializing in road construction, aggregate production, and recycling. Comparable to Tersen's recycling-platform and aggregate-supply activities; Eurovia operates at much greater national and international scale and is also developing recycled-material product lines.

Regional players

• Spie batignolles: French construction group active in public works, earthworks, and environmental engineering with a multi-regional footprint. Comparable to Tersen on construction and environmental services, but operates more broadly outside Ile-de-France and has less specialization in inert C&D recycling platforms.

Direct peers

• NGE: French independent public-works and environmental services group operating earthworks, demolition, recycling platforms, and material production. Comparable to Tersen as a direct competitor in regional C&D waste recycling, demolition, and aggregates supply, though NGE is multi-regional and somewhat larger.
• Charier: French family-owned group operating earthworks, public works, quarries, and environmental services in western and northern France. Comparable to Tersen as a direct regional competitor in C&D recycling, demolition, and aggregate production, with similar multi-site business model though with weaker Ile-de-France density.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Tersen