What Emmaüs Défi does

Emmaüs Défi is a French non-profit association (association à but non lucratif, SIREN 494 867 856) founded in 2007, headquartered at 6 Rue Archereau in Paris's 19th arrondissement, and operating as a social-innovation laboratory fighting extreme exclusion through circular-economy channels. The association runs five physical second-hand boutiques across the Paris region (Riquet, Centquatre, Forum des Halles, Censures, and La Venelle in Montreuil) supplemented by the Label Emmaüs online marketplace, through which it sells donated furniture, clothing, books, electronics, and household items at affordable prices. It complements retail with the Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement (BSE), which since 2012 has furnished over 5,000 households exiting homelessness with new equipment at subsidised prices, and the Premières Heures device (launched 2009) which provides gradual work reintegration pathways for homeless individuals. Operational volume includes approximately 5 tonnes of donations processed daily and a 5,500+ m² main logistics/sales platform, the largest re-employment site in Paris. The workforce comprises 90+ permanent staff plus 300+ employees on professional-insertion contracts, reflecting a dual social-mission and operational-retail model.

The association is structured around multiple sub-brands tied to its mission: Les ReCréateurs (upcycling sewing and woodworking ateliers creating fashion and furniture from offcuts), Emmaüs Campüs (youth/student-focused stores with -30% discounts for under-30s), L'Équipage (an insertion-company logistics arm handling BSE delivery), and Amistocks (40+ volunteer-run drop-off points across Paris). Revenue is generated through unit-pricing transactions on second-hand goods and subsidised BSE sales, supplemented by EU FSE+ institutional grants (€630,150 secured for 2024-2025), corporate philanthropy, and gifts-in-kind from partners including FM Logistic, Galeries Lafayette, Carrefour, SONGMICS HOME, and Société Générale Foundation. Long-term corporate relationships underpinned the 2024 Olympic Village furniture reuse operation, which routed 12,000+ pieces of furniture through Emmaüs Défi facilities.

There is no proprietary technology platform: core infrastructure consists of standard web properties, data management tools, logistics vehicles, and storage facilities. GTM motion blends community engagement (donation drives, volunteer networks, social-worker referrals) with event-driven retail (Super Noël toy sales, Super Rentrée school supplies, Fashion Week défilés) and direct-to-consumer physical and online retail in the Paris region.

Name

Emmaüs Défi

Legal name

Emmaüs Défi – Fondateur Abbé Pierre

Website

https://emmaus-defi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Emmaüs Défi is a Paris-based non-profit social-innovation association that combats extreme exclusion by collecting, refurbishing, and reselling donated goods through five boutiques in the Paris region while running integration-employment programmes (300+ insertion employees) and equipping households exiting homelessness via the Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social insertion and second-hand retail services

NAICS

Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562219)

SIC

Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Product Take-Back & Reverse Logistics Programs (EUAIANAA)

Keywords

• Social insertion programs
• Second-hand retail
• Circular economy
• Work integration
• Homelessness support

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail sales of second-hand goods: Emmaüs Défi collects donated objects from individuals, sorts and refurbishes them with insertion employees, and resells them at affordable prices in four Paris-area boutiques. Revenue from sales finances the social mission and insertion wages.
2. Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement (BSE) sales: New household equipment donated by corporate partners is sold at symbolic, subsidised prices to households exiting precarity. This is a mix of product subsidisation and modest transaction revenue, enabling dignified furnishing of first homes.
3. ReCréateurs upcycled creations: Salaries in insertion create fashion and furniture items from textile and wood offcuts. These are sold through Emmaüs Défi boutiques and at partner retailers (Galeries Lafayette, Label Emmaüs online), generating modest revenue while providing vocational training.
4. Institutional funding and grants: EU FSE+ funding (€630,150 for 2024–2025), regional council grants, and foundation support supplement earned revenue for insertion wages and programme costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Emmaüs Défi is a non-profit social insertion organisation that collects donated second-hand goods, sorts and refurbishes them through insertion employees, and resells them at affordable prices in five physical boutiques in the Paris region and via the Label Emmaüs online marketplace. It also operates the Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement (BSE), which subsidises new household equipment to people exiting homelessness, the Les ReCréateurs upcycling ateliers, the Emmaüs Campüs youth-focused stores, and the Premières Heures work-integration programme, all supported by EU FSE+ grants and corporate partnerships.

Product overview

Emmaüs Défi is a social insertion organization operating as a laboratory of social innovation with multiple interconnected programs. The core offering consists of four physical second-hand stores (Riquet, La Venelle, Centquatre, Westfield Forum des Halles) that fund social programs through retail sales. These are complemented by La Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement (BSE) providing household equipment to recently housed precarious individuals, Les ReCréateurs upcycling workshops for insertion workers, Emmaüs Campüs stores targeting youth, and the Label Emmaüs online marketplace. Supporting infrastructure includes Amistocks collection points, L'Équipage logistics company, Premières Heures work integration program, and seasonal events like Super Noël and Super Rentrée.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement (BSE): Program providing new household equipment at low prices to people in great precarity who have recently accessed stable housing.
• Les ReCréateurs
• Emmaüs Campüs
• Premières Heures en Chantier
• L'Équipage
• Amistocks

Products and services

• Emmaüs Défi Second-Hand Boutiques (Ressourceries) Five physical second-hand stores in the Paris region (Riquet, Centquatre, Westfield Forum des Halles, Césure, La Venelle in Montreuil) selling donated furniture, clothing, electronics, books, bicycles, and household items at affordable prices. Open to the general public; open Wednesday–Saturday with location-specific hours. Retail revenue funds the social insertion mission.
• Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement (BSE) Social programme that provides new household equipment (mattresses, tables, chairs, crockery, appliances) at symbolic, subsidised prices to households exiting homelessness or emergency housing. Beneficiaries are referred by social workers and validated by social services. BSE has equipped 5,000+ households since 2012 and 3,500+ households in 2025 alone.
• Les ReCréateurs Upcycling Ateliers Upcycling ateliers offering sewing and woodworking vocational training to insertion employees, producing unique fashion items (kimonos, bags) and furniture from textile and wood offcuts. Products are sold in Emmaüs Défi boutiques and at partner retailers (Galeries Lafayette, Label Emmaüs).
• Emmaüs Campüs Youth Stores Second-hand stores targeting young people and students, combining affordable second-hand clothing, accessories, décor, and books with social support. -30% discount for under-30s and students. Locations at Westfield Forum des Halles (Porte Lescot niveau -4) and Césure (13 Rue Santeuil, 75005 Paris).
• Premières Heures en Chantier (Work-Integration Programme) Work-integration programme allowing people experiencing homelessness to begin employment gradually, providing a pathway back to stable work and housing. Insertion employees receive socio-professional accompaniment and access to social rights, healthcare, and housing support.
• L'Équipage (Insertion Logistics Company) Insertion logistics company handling collection, inventory, storage, and delivery of donated equipment for the BSE programme. Provides employment opportunities in logistics with insertion contracts.
• Amistocks Volunteer Drop-off Network Network of 40 volunteer-operated drop-off points across Paris for small item donations, hosted in shops, businesses, public buildings, and private homes. Items are periodically collected and sorted by Emmaüs Défi insertion teams.
• Label Emmaüs Online Marketplace Cooperative online marketplace belonging to the Emmaüs movement, selling second-hand items from multiple Emmaüs structures including Emmaüs Défi. Features curated clothing, furniture, and ReCréateurs upcycled products.
• Super Noël (Annual Toy Sale Event) Annual end-of-year event selling new and second-hand toys at solidarity prices to families, with exclusive access for BSE beneficiary households (50% sales increase recorded at the event). Corporate partners donate new toys (e.g., Carrefour's 18,000 toys for the 2019 edition).
• Super Rentrée (Back-to-School Sale Event) Back-to-school solidarity sale event offering new school materials (cartables, supplies) at affordable prices to families and children at the start of the academic year. Targets precarity families and students.
• Home Collection Service for Bulky Donations Free home collection service for bulky donations (minimum 2 m³) in Paris. Pickup within 7–10 days with dismantling assistance provided by insertion workers. Provides convenient donation access for individuals unable to transport items themselves.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ people in integration employment supported per year (2025)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, major and minor.

• SONGMICS HOMEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Third year of partnership (2023–2025). SONGMICS HOME donated €4,500 in 2025 to fund Emmaüs Défi's year-end banquet for ~300 insertion employees, and previously donated furniture and funds to the Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement. Annual banquet participation and tombola donations reinforce long-term commitment.
• FranprixsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with Convergence device enabling 13 insertion employees to progressively work hours in Franprix stores, with the goal of securing a 35-hour CDI. An innovative bridge from insertion to mainstream employment.
• FAGE (Fédération des Associations Générales Étudiantes)supportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Student union partnering with Emmaüs Défi to launch solidarity sales targeting student poverty during the 2021 university year.
• Fnac DartysupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Donated sewing machines, a washing machine, and dryer to support Emmaüs Défi's face-mask production workshop during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling mask laundering for staff safety.
• Fondation EiffagesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2020Facilitated contact between Emmaüs Défi and Réavie volunteers during the COVID-19 mask production initiative, expanding the volunteer sewing network.
• FM LogisticcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2019Five-year logistics partnership (since October 2019) supporting Emmaüs Défi's collection, storage, and distribution operations. FM Logistic provided 12,000+ pieces of Olympic Village furniture storage capacity, donated equipment (banderoller, circle machine, stacker, pallet trucks), funded an electric truck, and provided skills sponsorship and expertise sharing. Culminated in the monumental 2024 Olympic furniture reuse operation.
• FM Logistic FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2019FM Logistic's corporate foundation co-funds and supports Emmaüs Défi's logistics, equipment donations, and skills-sharing programmes. A key pillar of the five-year partnership providing financial and in-kind resources.
• CarrefourmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Corporate partner donating new goods (18,000 toys for Super Noël; school supplies for Super Rentrée) and supporting the Banque Solidaire de l'Équipement. Part of long-term social responsibility programme.
• AsmodéesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Board game publisher that donated 18,000 new toys for the 2019 Super Noël event.
• Blackrock GamessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Game publisher donating new toys for Super Noël 2019 charitable sales.
• FranprixsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2019Host of a Super Rentrée pop-up in 2021 for solidarity school supply sales targeting students.
• Electro PrestosupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Donated major household appliances (large white goods) to the BSE for redistribution to FSL-access households.
• Cartes VitalessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Partner supporting Emmaüs Défi's social mission through solidarity fundraising campaigns.
• Farinez'Vous (boulangerie artisanale)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2018Artisan bakery in Paris 13e serving as an Amistocks drop-off relay point since May 2018, receiving small item donations from the public.
• Galeries LafayettemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnership since 2014. Galeries Lafayette has donated nearly 100,000 products to BSE over 5 years, offered skills sponsorship in logistics, and hosted ReCréateurs fashion shows and pop-up sales at Haussmann and Montparnasse. Part of the 'Go for Good' socially/eco-positive movement.
• BaluchonsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Social caterer partnering with Emmaüs Défi on the RADIS project ('restaurant anti-gaspi à double impact social'), preparing 300+ daily meals from rescued food for distribution to vulnerable people. Also catered the BSE Aubervilliers inauguration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Emmaüs France: National umbrella of the 291 Emmaüs communities across France. Emmaüs Défi is part of this movement and shares brand, peer-learning, and advocacy infrastructure. Emmaüs France operates at federation rather than direct-insertion level, making it a broader incumbent in the same space.
• Secours Catholique: French Catholic federation for social assistance, addressing poverty and exclusion through accompaniment, material aid, and insertion support. Comparable mission focus on extreme precarity and operates as a referral source for Emmaüs Défi's BSE and insertion programs.
• Croix-Rouge Française: Major French humanitarian and social-services organization operating across emergency shelter, food aid, and insertion programs. Overlaps with Emmaüs Défi on the beneficiary population (homelessness, precarity) and on certain insertion activities, but at much broader national scale.
• Fondation Abbé Pierre: Sister organization within the Emmaüs family, focused on housing advocacy and homelessness research. Not a direct service provider like Emmaüs Défi but addresses the same beneficiary population and is a natural referral partner for BSE; comparable mission focus on severe exclusion.
• Les Restos du Cœur: Iconic French food-aid and insertion organization serving low-income and homeless populations. Comparable on beneficiary population and the model of using earned activity (food distribution) to fund insertion pathways, though focused on food rather than household equipment.

Emerging players

• Back Market: Well-funded commercial refurbished-electronics marketplace. Not a social-insertion organization, but competes for the same consumer demand for affordable second-hand goods and for corporate product-donation/reverse-logistics flows. A useful benchmark for the commercial scale of the circular economy Emmaüs Défi operates in.

Direct peers

• Label Emmaüs: Cooperative e-commerce marketplace of the Emmaüs movement, of which Emmaüs Défi is a member and contributor. Operates the digital channel (label-emmaus.co) for second-hand goods and ReCréateurs upcycled products from across the Emmaüs network — directly comparable online retail and upcycled-product offering.
• Réseau National des Ressourceries: French national federation of reuse/recycling centers (ressourceries), many of which are themselves social-insertion organizations. Directly comparable on the reuse/repair/refurbish-and-resell model, the donation collection network, and the integration-by-economic-activity framework.
• Envie: National French network of insertion organizations that refurbish and resell donated household appliances and electrical equipment. Closely comparable circular-economy + insertion model, with similar beneficiary cohort, retail footprint, and reliance on corporate product donations.
• Le Relais: French social-insertion organization that collects, sorts, and resells donated textiles through insertion-employee-staffed operations. Operates an almost identical economic model (donation-driven circular economy funding professional reintegration) and serves overlapping beneficiary populations in northern France.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/emma-s-d-fi
• Instagraminstagram.com/emmausdefi
• Xx.com/emmaus_defi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

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 Emmaüs Défi