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Circular with Purpose: Social and Solidarity Economy Shaping the Second-Hand Sector (A and B)

Circulaire et engagée : l’économie sociale et solidaire façonne le marché de la seconde main (A et B)

Case 9 70 2025 001A-B
Case published in the International Journal of Case Studies in Management, Vol. 23, No. 3
Languages : 
  • French,
  • English
  • circular economy,
  • third sector,
  • cooperative,
  • value proposition,
  • social business model
  • économie circulaire,
  • secteur tertiaire,
  • coopérative,
  • proposition de valeur,
  • modèle d'entreprise sociale
Year of production : 
2025
Registration date : 
2025-09-04
Teaching notes included : 
Yes
Case document count : 
2

Since its founding in 1949, Emmaüs has helped people experiencing homelessness, financial difficulty, and/or seeking professional reintegration. Part A discusses major issues in the fashion and textile industries, such as water consumption and the release of microplastics, and proposes the circular economy as a possible solution. Label Emmaüs is presented as an example of a company committed to the social and solidarity economy (SSE) that incorporates the circular economy into its business model. Part B discusses the current controversy surrounding Emmaüs and its impact on the organization's value proposition.

Depuis sa création en 1949, Emmaüs vient en aide aux personnes sans domicile fixe, en difficulté financière et/ou en quête de réinsertion professionnelle. La partie A du cas aborde les principaux enjeux des secteurs de la mode et du textile, tels que la consommation d’eau et le rejet de microplastiques, et propose l’économie circulaire comme solution. Label Emmaüs est présenté comme un exemple d’entreprise de l’économie sociale et solidaire (ESS) qui intègre l’économie circulaire dans son modèle économique. La partie B aborde la controverse actuelle autour d’Emmaüs et son impact sur la proposition de valeur de l’organisation.

Primary domain : 
Cooperative and nonprofit sectors
Secondary domain : 
Management  - Third sector management
Sectors : 
  • Consumer goods
Source : 
HEC Montréal
Type : 
Traditional case (Descriptive or analytical case)
Type of data used in the production of the case : 
Factual data that is public and free of potentially litigious content
Event location : 
France
Year of start of the event : 
2023
Year the event ended : 
Not available
Business size : 
Small- and medium-sized
  • Develop and discuss sustainable business models, including the circular and social and solidarity economies
  • Analyze the value proposition of sustainable business models
  • Recognize the interdependence of social justice and environmental sustainability
  • Evaluate organizational practices and recommend ways to enrich the value proposition
  • Concevoir et discuter des modèles d’entreprises durables, notamment dans le cadre de l’économie circulaire et de l’économie sociale et solidaire.
  • Analyser la proposition de valeur des modèles d’entreprise durables.
  • Reconnaître l’interdépendance entre la justice sociale et la durabilité environnementale.
  • Évaluer les pratiques organisationnelles et recommander des moyens d’enrichir la proposition de valeur.