The glass deposited in the supply terminals is not the only source of material available. There are others in professional circles. It is these small cumulative deposits that Mathieu Troubé, founder of Glass Ter Nature, intends to exploit it to offer three previously imported products.
It’s an understatement to say that Mathieu Troubé has a smile. His project, slowed down due to the health crisis, got back on track thanks to France Relance. State aid of 600,000 euros paves the way for the financial arrangement of the investment (around four million euros). This is the penultimate step before the construction of the production unit in Saint-Benoît starting next September. The objective is to be able to start the activity during the first quarter of 2022. All the lights are therefore green for this beautiful project which has convinced us of its relevance and viability, not only the state, but before all the competition juries which examined it. It was first, in 2018, the jury of the Assises de l’Outre-Mer competition, seduced by the idea of Mathieu Trouvé. Then the Total Réunion Startupper competition of which he is one of the winners in 2019. He is also a winner of the Indian Ocean Youth Synergy competition., then the call for regional circular economy projects Ademe-Région.
From Guyana to Reunion
“My goal, it’s about valuing humans by valuing materials” declares Mathieu Troubé who defines Glass Ter Native as an “ecological project, economic and social ». Coming from a modest background, the young entrepreneur finds a vocation there. The story of Glass Ter Nature begins on the banks of the Maroni, in Guyana, when Mathieu Troubé's dog injures her paw on a piece of glass. The indignation turns into a reflection which leads him to take an interest in the work of a scientist, Rachida Idir, on the multiple possibilities of valorizing glass. The initial idea became an industrial project upon the arrival of Mathieu Troubé in Réunion in 2018. Barely arrived, he knocks on the door of Medef-Réunion which offers him support from Mentorlab, typically designed for young entrepreneurs with no experience like him. And it is with the support of his two “mentors”, Rémi Voluer and Julie Blanchard, from the digital and innovation consulting agency Seyes, that the project has reached maturity.
An import-substitution project
“It’s about proposing an additional solution and not replacing what already exists” emphasizes Mathieu Troubé. The deposit of glass waste is estimated in Reunion at 40,000 tonnes per year. It mainly consists of deposits from individuals in voluntary contribution terminals. This glass is exported to South Africa where it is melted and recycled. More, next to this main deposit, there are unexploited or unvalued deposits. In particular construction glass from demolition work, or glass from CHR bottles for which collection is chargeable. Without forgetting the wild glass... The whole is estimated between 7 and 10,000 tonnes per year. What to feed, without bothering anyone, the unit of Glass Ter Native. The project consisted of identifying these sources and ensuring the technical feasibility and commercial outlets of three products currently imported : filtration glass granulate (for swimming pools in particular) ; sandblasting abrasive (glass microbeads for stripping industrial parts, bodywork, boat hulls…) ; glass powder (for precast concrete used for curbs, banks, paving…). The project is now secure on all levels.
