A new company shall occur by 2026 in the Éco-parc of Châtel-Guyon: the production unit of Biostructure. This company will produce hemp concrete panels and timber frames. Within two years, a production should start according to the plans. But, this won’t be just any production site...
Sustainable innovation
“A few years ago, when we transformed the industrial zone into an Eco-park, we decided to focus on companies oriented towards innovation with an environmental and sustainable purpose,” recounts Frédéric Bonnichon. He is a president of the Riom Limagne and Volcans (RLV) agglomeration and mayor of Châtel-Guyon.
They had to reject many projects in the meantime to maintain this environmental focus. But, Bonnichon claims that it was worth the wait. After several months of work, a new company has emerged, SAS Biostructure. This company was created by three entrepreneurs from the region. This entity is itself a brand of the Evoluo group, which comprises more than 165 employees and has a consolidated turnover of €28 million, composed of several companies.
Positive ecology project
“A project that ticks all the boxes of positive ecology,” rejoices Frédéric Bonnichon.
Biostructure is supported by Caillaud-Bourleyre Structures and a winner of the Crhos (Construction and Renovation Off-Site) project call by Ademe under the France 2030 framework. The aim of Biostructure is to “meet the needs of current and future generations with durable and high-performing buildings, adapted to climate change and the scarcity of natural resources,” states the new company.
With a clear direction: the use of bio-sourced materials, particularly wood and hemp, to create custom-made construction systems for building and renovation. The idea is to move hemp from artisanal use to construction sites. They see hemp as one of the plants of the 21st century.
Biostrusture: promising figures
The figures seem to support this vision, with a global growth rate of hemp cultivation at +17%. As we know, this plant is addressing numerous issues, including water needs and carbon sequestration. Economically, the development of a hemp industry in Puy-de-Dôme can provide real solutions that sunflower or rapeseed no longer offer to farmers.
The Éco-parc of Châtel-Guyon will be the site for the production unit, aiming to create these hemp concrete panels and timber frames with a “Green Manufacturing” approach. The investment is estimated at €6.2 million. The goal is to produce 50,000 square meters of elements, with the first panels expected to roll out by the end of the first half of 2026.
By 2031, 50 employees should work there. The anticipated turnover of €13.8 million, with the aim of replicating this virtuous system by exporting this Auvergne know-how elsewhere.
Hemp industry development
The Puy-de-Dôme region’s hemp sector development is presently the subject of intensive investigation. Hemp, with its high potential for carbon capturing and its low water requirements, is a versatile and sustainable crop. This program seeks to capitalize on these qualities.
By developing a strong hemp sector, the area hopes to give farmers new economic options. It will also support the region’s broader sustainability objectives by giving substitutes for conventional crops. This calculated action advances sustainable development and environmental goals in addition to helping regional agriculture.