Co-products: a promising new market for the agri-food industry?
The principles of the circular economy applied to food industry waste
The food waste upcycling industry offers companies the opportunity to create new economic and ecological value.
By transforming these co-products into useful products such as fertilizers or animal feed, these processors not only reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, but also create value from what would otherwise be considered waste.
In fact, the market for products derived from food waste is currently estimated at $55 billion. This is a booming sector with a growth rate of 5% over the next 10 years.
Meeting new regulatory requirements: a major challenge for manufacturers
The regulatory framework, while varying from country to country, incentivizes valorization:
On the one hand, tax and economic incentives represent a major lever for upcycling co-products. The incentive tax on biofuel incorporation (TIRIB) serves as a key driver for blending bioethanol into gasoline.
On the other hand, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requires manufacturers and producers to take responsibility for managing the waste generated by their products.
Environmental certifications, such as ISO 14001, also encourage companies to implement more sustainable co-product management practices, in order to obtain certifications and strengthen their brand image and market access.
Eggshells: high-value-added co-products at the intersection of multiple markets
Among the co-products generated by the food industry, Circul'Egg is initially focused on valorizing eggshells from egg-breaking facilities (plants that separate whites and yolks for industrial use).
In Europe, 200,000 tonnes of eggshells are generated annually across 7 countries.
A costly waste, since treatment costs can reach up to €120,000 per year for a single facility. It's also a waste that runs counter to society's shift toward a circular economy—a shift now codified in France's Anti-Waste Law for a Circular Economy (known as the AGEC law), which mandates systematic recovery of organic waste starting in 2024.
Until now, egg-breaking facilities had no economically viable and sustainable way to valorize the eggshells generated by their operations. In France alone, these facilities crack millions of eggs every day: of the 40,000 tons of shells discarded annually by the industry, most were either simply spread on fields or directly incinerated.
The revalorization of eggshells can interest the dietary supplements industry, clinical and sports nutrition, as well as high-potential materials (paint, flooring, rubber, and glass).
So how can this waste stream be optimally exploited? That's precisely the mission Circul'Egg has set for itself.
Giving value to what had none: eggshells
A technological innovation enabling the valorization
The Circul'Egg team has developed a unique, patented industrial process combining decontamination, separation, and optimal fine grinding of eggshells—100% mechanical—enabling the extraction of two high-value products that unlock vast market opportunities.
The outer shell composed of 97% calcium carbonate, and the inner membrane, containing collagen, hyaluronic acid, and chondroitin sulfate.
The external shell powder and membrane powder are thus sold as innovative ingredients to industries seeking sustainable, recycled, low-carbon, and local supply sources.
A complementary team
Photo: Le Parisien
It is led by Yacine, CEO (ENS - AgroParistech); Justine, heading financial strategy and operations, from ESCP; and Samuel as product director, following a dual background in biotechnology at Saclay and business at Neoma. Their market penetration and feedstock securing strategy ensures rapid international deployment starting in 2025-26. This collaborative process demonstrated their commitment to being supported and their ability to listen.
Stated ambitions to broaden the scope of upcycling
Ultimately, Circul'Egg doesn't plan to stop at eggshells and wants to explore other undervalued waste streams. Their goal? To upcycle other industries and further extend their social and environmental impact.
A solution with already proven impact
Circul'Egg demonstrates that there are numerous waste streams that can be valorized by promoting circularity and local employment—while having a positive environmental impact at scale.
A startup with an environmental mission through a technology that delivers recycling with 14 times lower CO2 emissions than traditional recycling.
The incineration and lack of valorization of shells leaving egg-breaking facilities tarnishes the sector's environmental footprint. Some are recycled as lime, which can be used for spreading (spreading without conversion to lime is prohibited and has no agronomic value). As a result, the recycling and reuse of eggshells generate significant environmental impacts in terms of marine ecotoxicity, freshwater ecotoxicity, freshwater eutrophication, and human toxicity.
The valorization process offered by Circul'Egg emits 14 times less CO2 eq/year (t) for the same quantity processed, thanks to technological advances that eliminate chemical inputs and the use of electricity rather than gas as an energy source.
An obvious impact for the global food, construction, and cosmetics industries
On a global scale, 600,000 tonnes of eggshells come out of egg-breaking facilities each year and are incinerated or spread on fields… Circul'egg recycles them to create bio-sourced calcium carbonate—made in France and vegetarian—as an alternative to quarry extraction, along with non-lethal collagen for a market with strong demand for natural products.
Circul'Egg: a strong societal impact benefiting the entire value chain
Circul'Egg operates with an "on-site" model at egg-breaking facilities, creating jobs that cannot be offshored and contributing to the revival of local supply chains. The company aims to employ around fifty people, more than half of whom will be based on-site in rural areas. Priority will also be given to reintegration positions to promote sustainable employment access for individuals facing social and professional challenges.
Once the industrial process is stabilized and deployed at scale, Circul'egg aims to compensate the entire egg value chain: not only breaking facilities but also farmers could receive royalties based on their contribution to this new industry. This circular approach will create value across the entire supply chain while securing local jobs.
For all these reasons, we are very proud to support Circul'Egg on this round, which will enable them to fund an initial industrial demonstrator and the hires needed to support their growth.
We're in the press:
Circul'Egg wants to make eggs the new white gold of industry, Les Échos
Circul'Egg closes a €5 million funding round, Maddyness