A pioneer in secondary raw materials for 30 years: Ecotec puts Luxembourg on the map of the European circular economy
“Circular economy” is a term that has been widely discussed for quite some time. The core idea is to reuse materials as efficiently as possible, giving them a second life as so-called secondary raw materials. Ecotec, a company based in Sanem, Luxembourg, has been successfully implementing this concept for 30 years. In the south of the country, Ecotec has established itself as a leading hub for circular economy solutions, serving neighboring countries under the ‘Made in Luxembourg’ label.
Company DNA: ‘Made in Luxembourg’, expertise, and openness
For CEO David Bousrez, the ‘Made in Luxembourg’ label is deeply embedded in Ecotec’s DNA, shaping its operations every day:
“Luxembourg is built on openness in every aspect, and due to the size of our country, we, as entrepreneurs, rely on particularly close cooperation with our neighboring countries. Both factors have contributed to Ecotec’s success as a pioneer in the circular economy, a position we have continuously strengthened since our founding in 1994 within the broader Greater Region.”
Despite its international reach, Ecotec remains firmly rooted in Luxembourg’s industrial landscape. As part of an established local business group, Ecotec benefits from direct access to a wide range of expertise, allowing it to continually enhance its services. The company’s ISO-certified know-how ensures that it consistently meets the needs of its international customer base.
A versatile approach to materials and markets
Ecotec’s international presence extends to a 500 km radius, covering markets in Belgium, the Netherlands, and France’s Grand-Est region, as well as reaching into Germany along the Rhine and beyond. These areas serve as both input and output markets, according to CEO David Bousrez:
“We have both suppliers and customers in a wide variety of industries.”
Ecotec’s suppliers come from various industrial sectors, including Luxembourg’s construction industry, which was the company’s starting point 30 years ago. Additionally, Luxembourg municipalities now partner with Ecotec for household waste processing.
The range of materials handled at the company’s Sanem recycling hub is impressive, covering more than 600 types of waste—from glass and metals to wood, paper, bitumen, and plastic.
Expertise and network: A leader in the circular economy
At its nearly three-hectare facility in Sanem, Ecotec ensures that all materials are processed in a way that makes reuse as simple as possible for buyers. As CEO David Bousrez explains:
“In simple terms, we manually or mechanically separate the waste, clean it, and, if necessary, break it down further. The resulting recyclable secondary raw materials are then prepared for shipping—either packed directly or compressed beforehand, depending on the material.”
In 2022, Ecotec processed over 65,000 tons of waste, achieving a material recovery rate of nearly 75%. The impact of this work is significant:
“Old plastic bottles and cartons, for example, are sent to the packaging industry, while wood chips provide an ideal raw material for chipboard manufacturers. With our expertise and strong network—both on the input and output sides—we have helped establish Luxembourg on the map of the European circular economy.”
