Charolles. The Solif group offers a second life to objects and a new start to people.

Since 2010, Solif has been organized around two activity centers: the environmental teams, in Charolles and Le Creusot, which work on the maintenance of green spaces, the recovery of plant waste or the management of trails; and the recycling centers (Gueugnon, Charolles, Chauffailles, Saint-Bonnet-de-Joux and soon Montceau-les-Mines), specialized in the collection, sorting, repair and resale of second-hand objects.

Today, the association employs more than 50 employees on integration contracts (28 to 30 hours/week) and 16 permanent staff, including two professional integration advisors (CIP). "We support each person throughout their journey, with individualized monitoring to address barriers to employment, including mobility, housing, health, isolation, and addictions," explains Benoît Chambonnière, director since 2024 after 12 years of involvement in the project.

Shauna Moret, 31, joined Solif in January 2023 as a technical supervisor at the Gueugnon recycling center. "My role was to supervise transitioning employees, organize production flows, provide real-life training, and help define career paths with the CIPs."

Since July 2025, she has been responsible for the recycling center, in charge of operational management of the five sites, HR management, budget monitoring and coordination of commercial actions (shops, online sales on Label Emmaüs). She also works closely with institutional partners: France travail, Department, DEETS (Directorates of the Economy, Employment, Labor and Solidarity), local authorities, social landlords. This is to ensure the relevance of the actions carried out in the region.

The Solif model is based on a triptych: social support, concrete production, and local development. The items resold in recycling centers raise public awareness about reuse while also covering some of the costs. "We are developing a circular economy that directly serves people. The goal remains autonomy and the stabilization of pathways," insists Benoît Chambonnière.

With the upcoming opening of new sites, notably in Montceau-les-Mines, and the strengthening of local partnerships, the Solif group is asserting its ability to combine social inclusion, environmental performance and local development.