Upcyclea, based in Paris, is a specialist in the circular economy for the real estate and construction sectors. The organisation was formed in 2019 through the merger of the start-up Upcyclea SAS and EPEA France, which had been a leading consultant for Cradle-to-Cradle® principles in France since 2007. Upcyclea’s founders, Christine Guinebretière and Eric Allodi, aim to shift how companies and territories manage resources by treating buildings and assets as pools of reusable materials rather than sources of waste.
The core of Upcyclea’s work is its digital platform, myUpcyclea®. This system enables construction professionals to inventory materials, calculate environmental impacts, and manage assets as digital material banks. The platform uses Circular Passports® to detail the composition of products and employs AI to match supply and demand for reusable resources. Upcyclea’s approach is designed to help decarbonise real estate portfolios and reduce reliance on virgin materials.
Upcyclea’s activities include advising on eco-design, calculating environmental and economic indicators, and facilitating the reuse of construction materials. The organisation’s services are used by developers, contractors, real estate owners, and local authorities. Upcyclea’s work is focused on making circular resource management accessible and practical for the construction industry, aiming to make the concept of waste obsolete in the sector.