Paper Division: Papyrus Prize for Paprec founder

A “successful recycling entrepreneur” has become the latest winner of the Papyrus Prize awarded by the BIR Paper Division in recognition of outstanding service to the sector. Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, founder and President of the France-based Paprec group, was hailed by Paper Division President Ranjit Baxi of the UK’s J & H Sales International as a “role model” and “ambassador for the recycling industry”.

Over the course of 18 years, Mr Petithuguenin has overseen the transformation of Paprec from a company with one plant, 45 employees and an annual turnover of Euro 5m into an organization with 80 plants in France and Switzerland, employing 3500 people and turning over around Euro 700m per annum - equivalent to an annual growth rate of more than 20%. Each year, the group now produces some 5m tonnes of recycled raw materials.

Noting that Mr Petithuguenin is a Vice President of the BIR Paper Division, Mr Baxi said the organization should be proud of this “in-house talent”.

Mr Petithuguenin was not able to attend the latest BIR Paper Division meeting in Barcelona and so the Papyrus Prize was accepted on his behalf by his son Sébastien, Joint Director General of Paprec. Describing the group’s growth from its small beginnings as “unbelievable”, he reflected on his father’s belief that “recycling is a very big industry for the 21st century”.

Last week, Jean-Luc Petithuguenin was also named Entrepreneur of the Year in France in an award hosted by Ernst & Young, Company Edmond de Rothschild and “Express” magazine.