CIRCOLAB
CIRCOLAB is a French non-profit association that develops the circular economy in real estate and construction, operating a dual certification framework (Label Circolab for construction and Label Circolab Exploitation for operations) audited by BTP Consultants, supported by working groups, publications, and a student competition for real-estate owners, contractors, architects, and manufacturers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CIRCOLAB does
CIRCOLAB is a French non-profit association (loi du 1er juillet 1901), founded in 2017 and headquartered at 22 rue du Docteur Lancereaux, Paris (75008), that develops the circular economy in the real estate and construction sector with a particular emphasis on material reuse. Its core offering is a dual certification framework: the Label Circolab® for construction projects and the newly-launched Label Circolab Exploitation® for building operations, both structured around five performance levels and audited exclusively by BTP Consultants under a designation formalized in October 2021. Supporting the labels is an extensive methodological library — a diagnostic technical referential co-developed with CSTB, reuse-operation logistics methodology, deconstruction and traceability tools, BIM practices for preserving circular-performance information, a circular real-estate contract template, and fiscal/legal guides for material-reuse transactions — produced through a network of more than fifteen thematic working groups.
The organization operates a community-led go-to-market model. Revenue is generated through recurring membership fees paid by real-estate and construction companies, supplemented by label certification fees priced by project surface area and tiered between a single-audit and dual-audit (with Option) structure. Its customer base spans real-estate investment managers (AEW, Generali Real Estate), insurers (Covéa), major contractors (VINCI Construction), developers (Rabot Dutilleul, Grand Paris Aménagement), and material manufacturers (Tarkett, Armstrong), supported by partnerships with CSTB, Upcycléa, ANRU, OID, and Alliance HQE. The Trophée Etudiants program, which grew from 100+ students across 7 schools in 2022 to nearly 150 students across 28 teams from 9 schools in 2024, builds a pipeline of trained circular-economy practitioners and extends the association's brand among future architects and engineers.
With five employees and no disclosed funding or revenue, CIRCOLAB runs as a lean association whose reach is amplified by member volunteer time, working-group outputs, and institutional co-development partners. Governance is led by President Thierry LAQUITAINE (representing AEW). The association's strategic posture is standards- and community-building rather than software-product commercialization, and its moat rests on ecosystem participation, codified methodology, and third-party audit credibility rather than proprietary technology.
CIRCOLAB firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIRCOLAB
- Legal name
- CIRCOLAB
- Website
- https://circolab.eu
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CIRCOLAB is a French non-profit association that develops the circular economy in real estate and construction, operating a dual certification framework (Label Circolab for construction and Label Circolab Exploitation for operations) audited by BTP Consultants, supported by working groups, publications, and a student competition for real-estate owners, contractors, architects, and manufacturers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIRCOLAB industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Circular Economy Certification Services for Real Estate and Construction
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)
Keywords
Where CIRCOLAB is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
CIRCOLAB business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from companies and organizations in the real estate and construction sector who join the CIRCOLAB community.
- Label Certification Fees: Revenue from the Label certification process, including audit fees through BTP Consultants. Cost depends on the surface area of the operation and choice of labeling with or without Option.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Labeling without Option - single audit at end of Realization phase |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Labeling with Option - dual audits at Conception and Realization phases |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
CIRCOLAB product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIRCOLAB develops and promotes circular economy practices in the French real estate and construction sector. It sells the Label Circolab® (certification for construction projects) and Label Circolab Exploitation® (certification for building operations), supported by working groups, publications, and a student trophy. Its core commercial activity is certification services combined with membership subscriptions.
Product overview
CIRCOLAB is an association (Laboratoire de l'Economie Circulaire) focused on developing the circular economy in real estate and construction in France. The organization operates around a dual-label system: Label Circolab® for construction projects and Label Circolab Exploitation® for building operations. Both labels evaluate and certify circular economy performance with multiple levels, assessing material reuse, resource efficiency, and sustainability practices. Supporting these core certification products are working groups addressing technical, legal, fiscal, and methodological aspects of circular construction, a student competition (Trophée Etudiants) fostering innovation, and a library of publications including methodologies, diagnostic references, and traceability tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Label Circolab® Circular-economy certification label applied to construction projects; verifies that a project meets CIRCOLAB's circular-economy methodology and is intended for real estate owners, developers, architects, and construction firms running building projects in France.
- Label Circolab Exploitation® Circular-economy certification label applied to the operation of buildings; verifies ongoing circular-economy performance of an asset in use, and is intended for real estate owners, operators, and facility/property managers of French building portfolios.
- Circolab Association Membership Annual membership of the CIRCOLAB association that grants organizations access to the methodology, working groups, and the community; intended for owners, architects, engineering offices, construction companies, material manufacturers, recyclers, and research/training institutions active in French real estate and construction.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50 million tonnes of BTP sector waste annually (source for intervention)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CIRCOLAB
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CIRCOLAB technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
CIRCOLAB partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BTP ConsultantscoreBTP Consultants designated as exclusive independent auditor for Label Circolab nationally in France. Role includes conducting all conformity controls on different projects and providing detailed audit reports ahead of labeling phase by CIRCOLAB. BTP Consultants is a precurso control office engaged in circular economy.
- CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment)corePartnership with CSTB for developing technical referential for diagnosing reusable material potential in existing buildings, and for defining environmental indicators and socioeconomic indicators to quantify reuse benefits.
- UpcycléaminorPartnership for complementary reuse solution integrated with Tarkett's upcycling process for vinyl, linoleum and textile floor waste.
- ANRU (Agence Nationale pour la Rénovation Urbaine)minorPartnership on publications including 'Circular economy in neighborhoods undergoing urban renewal - Tools to promote reuse in the context of urban renewal projects'.
- OID (Observatoire de l'Immobilier Durable)minorPartnership on publications including 'Real estate enters the loop - Circular economy opportunities and experiences for real estate'.
- Alliance HQEminorPartnership on publications including 'Circular economy as a springboard for sustainable building for all - 15 levers to act'.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CIRCOLAB competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Observatoire de l'Immobilier Durable (OID): OID is the French sustainable real estate observatory and a confirmed CIRCOLAB publication partner on circular economy opportunities in real estate. It addresses the same building owner audience with benchmarking, indicators and thought leadership, partially overlapping with CIRCOLAB's mission.
- Orée: Orée is a French multi-stakeholder network for circular economy and material reuse with a dedicated Deconstruction working group. It is a CIRCOLAB member and directly comparable in mobilizing actors, publishing referentials and convening industry working groups around circular construction.
- Cerway (HQE certification body): Cerway is the certification body that delivers HQE, E+C- and other sustainability certifications for buildings in France. It is a direct competitor to BTP Consultants/CIRCOLAB's labeling offering, addressing the same maître d'ouvrage and developer audience with established certifications.
- BBCA (Bâtiment Bas Carbone Association): BBCA operates the French low-carbon building label covering new build and renovation. It directly competes with Label Circolab for construction project certifications aimed at environmentally committed owners and overlaps on lifecycle carbon and material performance dimensions.
- Les Canaux: Les Canaux is a French association operating the Maison des économies solidaires et innovantes as a showcase of circular economy renovation, and is a CIRCOLAB member. It is directly comparable as a community-based circular economy actor with showcase real estate assets.
- Alliance HQE: Alliance HQE is the French reference body for sustainable building certification (HQE, E+C-), a co-publication partner with CIRCOLAB on circular economy building levers. It competes for sustainability mindshare among French maîtres d'ouvrage while addressing an overlapping portfolio of certification, methodology and working group activities.
- France Green Building Council (France GBC): France GBC is the local GBC chapter administering LEED adoption and sustainable building advocacy in France. It competes for the same project-owner audience seeking credible sustainability certifications and is comparable as a membership-driven sustainability network.
Broad incumbents
- BRE Group (BREEAM): BRE Group operates BREEAM, one of the world's most established green building certifications with circular economy modules. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with Label Circolab on construction certification, addressing international real estate owners with a more mature global framework.
- U.S. Green Building Council (LEED): USGBC administers LEED, the global benchmark for green building certification that includes materials and resources credits addressing reuse. As a broad incumbent, it competes with CIRCOLAB's label for projects seeking internationally recognized sustainability credentials.
Regional players
- CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment): CSTB is the French national scientific and technical center for buildings, and CIRCOLAB's core scientific partner on technical referentials and reuse indicators. It is comparable as a producer of authoritative building methodology but operates at significantly larger scale as a public scientific institution.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CIRCOLAB social profiles
Digital presenceCIRCOLAB financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIRCOLAB leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CIRCOLAB funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CIRCOLAB M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CIRCOLAB
What does CIRCOLAB do?
CIRCOLAB develops and promotes circular economy practices in the French real estate and construction sector. It sells the Label Circolab® (certification for construction projects) and Label Circolab Exploitation® (certification for building operations), supported by working groups, publications, and a student trophy. Its core commercial activity is certification services combined with membership subscriptions.
Is CIRCOLAB a public or private company?
CIRCOLAB is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was CIRCOLAB founded?
CIRCOLAB was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CIRCOLAB based?
CIRCOLAB is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does CIRCOLAB make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are label Certification Fees.
Who are CIRCOLAB's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Observatoire de l'Immobilier Durable (OID), Orée, Cerway (HQE certification body), BBCA (Bâtiment Bas Carbone Association), Les Canaux, Alliance HQE and France Green Building Council (France GBC). Broad incumbents are BRE Group (BREEAM) and U.S. Green Building Council (LEED). CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment) is listed as a regional player.
Does CIRCOLAB have an API?
No public API is recorded for CIRCOLAB.
What industry is CIRCOLAB in?
CIRCOLAB's product category is Circular Economy Certification Services for Real Estate and Construction. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMALAMAK, Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC).