Paprec was founded in 1994 by Jean-Luc Petithuguenin, who bought the company from Compagnie générale des eaux. Initially focused on paper recycling, it expanded into plastics, wood, metals and industrial waste through organic growth and acquisitions (Coved in 2016, Dalkia Wastenergy in 2021). The group has about 16,000 employees and reported 3 billion euros in revenue in 2024.
In offshore racing, Paprec backed Jean-Pierre Dick in IMOCA and MOD70 from 2004, then Yann Elies in the 2014 Route du Rhum. With Arkéa it then supported Sébastien Simon, before creating a racing team and building the IMOCA Paprec Arkéa with Yoann Richomme, launched in 2023 and second in the 2024-2025 Vendée Globe. A Vendée Globe 2028 project was announced in June 2025.
Since 2022 Paprec has also been main sponsor of La Solitaire du Figaro and title partner of the Transat Paprec.
