Translations

TchaoMegot cleans and recycles cigarette butts to protect the environment.

4. Environment

Sector

Year 2025

Country France

Transmitter

Context

TchaoMegot (also known as Tchao Mégot / Tchaomegot Collecte) is a French startup founded in 2020 by Julien Paque, originally as a graduation project. Its mission: to collect, decontaminate, and recycle cigarette butts to give them a second life.
The initiative was born from an awareness that cigarette butts are among the most widespread and toxic types of waste, containing more than 4,000 harmful substances in a single filter.
Based near Beauvais, in the Oise region, TchaoMegot has developed its operations throughout France.

Objectives

Reduce pollution caused by cigarette butts in streets, beaches, waterways, and sewage systems.
Offer an eco-friendly alternative to traditional waste treatment methods (incineration, illegal dumping) by developing a water- and solvent-free decontamination process.
Transform waste (the fiber recovered after cleaning) into useful materials such as building insulation or textile padding, thus creating a circular economy.

APPROACH

TchaoMegot installs collection bins in businesses, public organizations, and events. These bins are durable, weather-resistant, and often connected to monitor fill levels, optimizing collection routes.
Once collected, the cigarette butts go through a patented decontamination process that uses no water or toxic solvents. The process removes 99.7% of harmful substances while preserving the useful fiber. The remaining 0.3% of toxins are recovered and processed in specialized laboratories.
The company has invested in a high-capacity machine capable of treating up to 300 tons of butts per year.
After cleaning, the purified fiber is transformed into thermal insulation for buildings or padding for clothing (such as jackets). The company strives to keep the production chain as local as possible.
TchaoMegot also carries out awareness campaigns, informing smokers, companies, and municipalities about the impact of cigarette butts, organizing cleanup events, and distributing reusable or branded ashtrays to encourage responsible behavior.

CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Innovation and differentiation: the patented, solvent-free process is a major competitive advantage in the GreenTech and waste management sectors.
Growth and industrial capacity: a €3.6 million fundraising round enables TchaoMegot to expand and increase its treatment capacity significantly.
Economic impact: job creation, partnerships, and the development of high-value recycled materials.
Visibility and credibility: certifications such as GreenTech Innovation and validation by organizations like INERIS build trust among clients, municipalities, and investors.

Benefits

Environmental: reduction of cigarette waste, decreased contamination from toxic substances, preservation of biodiversity, and contribution to the circular economy.
Social: public awareness (smokers, businesses, communities), creation of local jobs, and staff skill development.
Governance: use of certified processes, compliance with environmental and safety standards, and transparency in the waste management chain (collection, decontamination, recycling).