La Glanerie’s logo located outside of its central location in Toulouse. Image courtesy of Dinela Dedic (2025).
Established in 2003 by the Metropolis of Toulouse, La Glanerie is a non-profit reuse center that aims to reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfills while also fostering social inclusion. Unlike thrift stores in the United States like Goodwill and the Salvation Army, La Glanerie features ten workshops alongside its collection centers where products ranging from bicycles to furniture are sorted, cleaned, upcycled, and then priced to be sold at one of its two storefronts in Toulouse.
One of the many items featured on the shelves of La Glanerie!
Image courtesy of Dinela Dedic (2025).
During our visit we got to tour the workshops of La Glanerie’s central location where literal tons of unwanted items are shipped to be upcycled and resold. We walked through fairytale spaces lined from floor to ceiling with bike parts, CDs, clothing, and toys waiting for new life to be breathed into them. Thankfully, between 65-70% of all items donated to La Glanerie are reused and redistributed into the Toulouse community at consistently low prices. Keeping prices consistent despite branding ensures that the recycled products circulate out of the stores fast, reinforcing La Glanerie’s priority of upholding France’s circular economy over generating profit.
All the products that are not accepted or remain unsold are either given to a recycling center with a focus on raw materials or donated to those in need. Curiously, most of the items donated to La Glanerie are clothing, which has been a major issue for the organization with the rise of fast fashion trends. After seeing their railcar filled with clothing that could not be accepted by the organization, it was easy to see that La Glanerie was being overwhelmed with clothing donations. The way in which it was impossible to sell as many items as was received really gave me a perspective as to the scale of fast fashion’s harm while also serving as an inspiration to make better choices as a consumer.
Items being restored to be resold in La Glanerie’s workshops. Image courtesy of Dinela Dedic (2025).
However, in addition to its focus on recycling products, La Glanerie is also dedicated to giving back socially.
Shelves of books being sorted in one of La Glanerie’s workshops. Image courtesy of Dinela Dedic (2025).
The organization features 15 permanent workers that provide hands-on career training for its other 50 temporary employees to help them break into or re-enter the workforce. This training includes both practical experience and workshops where employees receive guidance on creating resumes. The municipality also pays La Glanerie to visit elementary schools to educate children on the importance of reusing material, composting (featuring their dry toilets!), and environmentalism. As a response to the massive amount of clothing donations being received, the organization is currently developing educational materials for older teenagers and young adults on the impacts of fast fashion.
Tee shirt bags created in the workshop! I am quite proud of mine. Image courtesy of Dinela Dedic (2025).
My reusable sponge! Created by weaving together strips of old socks. Image courtesy of Dinela Dedic (2025).
As a class, we were able to have some hands-on experiences at La Glanerie as well! We created reusable sponges using pantyhose and old socks that can be reused for much longer than the usual plastic sponge. Each of us also received a tee shirt that we turned into funky, sew-free tote bags. It was great fun while also serving as a reminder that everything around us has the potential to be given a second life. The social work done by La Glanerie is equally as impactful as the work they do in restoring waste, reflecting the importance of including social justice in sustainable development just as we have emphasized in our classes on the circular economy.
Link to La Glanerie’s Webpage for More Information
Sources
La Glanerie. (n.d.). la-glanerie. https://www.la-glanerie.org/
Raworth, K. (2023.) Donut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist. Chelsea Green Publishing.
