At Arkel, we like to surround ourselves with organizations that share not only our vision of the world, but also our way of acting for the common good. It is in this spirit that we want to highlight Récupex, a non-profit organization from Sherbrooke, Quebec, that makes a real difference both for the environment and for people seeking to reintegrate into society.
Who is Récupex?
Founded more than 50 years ago, Récupex is a socio-professional integration company that focuses on the recovery and valorization of textiles (clothing, fabrics, accessories) to create real opportunities for skills development among people remote from the labor market.
Rather than seeing used clothing as waste, Récupex turns it into a resource: sorting, processing into eco-designed products, selling second-hand clothes or sewing workshops are just some of the activities she organizes daily.
Double mission that we share: caring for the environment and humans
- Reduce the environmental footprint by keeping thousands of kilos of textiles away from landfills each year, notably through collection campaigns such as L'Estrie met ses culottes, a well-established regional initiative.
- Promote socio-professional integration by creating adapted workstations (sorting center, sewing, cabinetmaking, customer service) where participants develop concrete skills and regain self-confidence.
Each person who goes through their programs benefits from caring support and an environment where learning and progressing are at the heart of the experience.
Why we are proud to work with them
We have integrated people trained at Récupex into our team - and it is no coincidence that this collaboration works so well. Their human approach, centered on support, dignity and respect, deeply connects with our own values. Like us, they believe that taking care of people and the planet goes hand in hand, and that businesses have a role to play in building stronger and inclusive communities.
Their model inspires us: it demonstrates that we can combine concrete environmental impact (recycling, reuse, waste reduction) and sustainable social integration, giving everyone the chance to learn, contribute and thrive. For this very reason, we send them our unusable offcuts to use in their programs.
A virtuous circle
By promoting the reuse of textiles and creating concrete employment paths, Récupex activates a virtuous circle:
- less wasted textiles = less pressure on landfill sites
- more people trained = more chances of succeeding in the labor market
This type of ecological and social action, rooted in the local reality of the Eastern Townships here in Quebec, reminds us why it is essential to build meaningful partnerships.
Yes, we just make bike bags, but we try to do it in a way that reduces harm to our environment and helps people around us. We will only improve.
Thanks for riding with us.
