What Groupe Barbier does

Groupe Barbier is a French family-owned polyethylene film manufacturer founded in 1955 by Abel Barbier in Sainte-Sigolène, Haute-Loire, and remains wholly owned by the founder's descendants. The company operates as an integrated film transformer and recycler, producing 135,000–155,000 tonnes of polyethylene film annually across 5 production sites in France, with 550–700+ employees, and is described as the national leader in its sector and one of the five European leaders in PE film production. Its product portfolio is organized into three business units: Agricultural films (silage covers, mulching, greenhouse, low-tunnel), Industrial films (stretch hood tubes, shrink films, multipack films, and specialty barrier films), and Retail bags (biodegradable, T-shirt, gusseted, and waste bags).

The company's technology platform centers on multi-layer co-extrusion (up to 5 layers), flexographic printing (up to 10 colors), and integrated recycling at two dedicated sites (Les Taillas since 1980, Chavanon 5 since 2015) that process post-consumer agricultural, industrial, and household plastic waste. Notable proprietary innovations include FLEX'EAU® (world's first water-based ink multipack film, 8 years of R&D), Recyplast®50 (50% post-consumer recycled content), BIOPACK (bio-based PE), Barstrech XT (30µm to 20µm thickness reduction), and SILOSTAR 115µ (5-layer agricultural silage film). R&D investment exceeds 10% of revenue.

The business model is direct B2B sales with quote-based pricing configured to customer specifications (thickness, size, material composition, recycled content ratio), multi-year contracts, and no public price list or e-commerce. Distribution is direct from French production sites to enterprise customers in industrial, agricultural cooperative, large retail, and municipal channels, supplemented by trade show prospecting (EMPACK UK, ExpoPack Mexico). Certifications across ISO 9001 (~30 years), ISO 14001, IFS/DPH (10 consecutive years), EcoVadis Silver (top 7%), UN Global Compact membership, and the first French MPR recycled-content certification (2022) anchor the company's sustainability positioning.

Name

Groupe Barbier

Legal name

Société d'Extrusion du Polyéthylène A. Barbier et Cie, SAS

Website

https://barbiergroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Groupe Barbier is a French family-owned manufacturer and integrated recycler of polyethylene films, serving agricultural, industrial, and retail customers with 135,000–155,000 tonnes of annual production capacity across 5 sites in France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Polyethylene Films

NAICS

Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (326112), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)

SIC

Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Film & Flexible Plastics Recycling (LDPE/LLDPE, Multilayer) (EUAIAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging Waste Sorting & Recycling Technologies (Mechanical/Chemical Recycling, Sorting Systems) (IMALAMAL), Rigid Plastics Recycling (HDPE/PP, Injection/Blow Molded) (EUAIAKAF), Recycled & Reprocessed Polymer Resin Manufacturing (rPET, rPP, rPE; PCR/PIR resins) (IMANAAAH)

Keywords

• Polyethylene film manufacturing
• Agricultural plastic films
• Industrial packaging films
• Recycled plastic products
• Retail biodegradable bags

Headquarters

HQ city

Sainte-sigolène

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Polyethylene Film Products — Agriculture: Sale of polyethylene films for agricultural applications including greenhouse films, silage covers, mulching films, and low-tunnel films. Sold directly to agricultural operations and distributors.
2. Polyethylene Film Products — Industry: Sale of industrial packaging films including stretch hood tubes, shrink films, multipack films, and specialty films for various industrial sectors.
3. Retail Bags and Sacherie: Sale of retail bags including biodegradable bags, T-shirt bags, gusseted bags, and waste bags to large retailers, municipalities, catering, hygiene and health sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Groupe Barbier manufactures and sells polyethylene films (agricultural films, industrial packaging films, and retail bags) and operates as a fully integrated recycler with two recycling sites processing post-consumer agricultural, industrial, and household plastic waste. The company processes 135,000-155,000 tonnes of polyethylene per year across 5 production sites in France, producing multi-layer films (up to 5 layers), stretch hood tubes, shrink films, agricultural films, biodegradable bags, and bio-based films, with proprietary innovations such as FLEX'EAU® water-based ink printing and Recyplast®50 with 50% post-consumer recycled content.

Product overview

Groupe Barbier is a manufacturer of polyethylene films for agriculture, industry, and retail distribution, producing over 135,000-155,000 tons annually across 5 production sites in France. The company operates a diversified product portfolio organized into three main sectors: (1) Agricultural Films including Silostar silage films and mulch films for crop protection; (2) Industrial Films including Barflex stretch hood tubes, Recyplast recycled-content films, MONOSTRETCH high-performance films, FLEX'EAU water-based printed shrink films, and Barstrech XT micro-tear-resistant films; and (3) Retail Bags including biodegradable T-shirt bags and gusseted bags. The company positions itself as both a film transformer and integrated recycler, with over 35 years of recycling experience and two recycling facilities that process post-consumer agricultural, industrial, and household plastic waste back into production, enabling eco-design products like Recyplast®50 (50% recycled content) and BIOPACK (bio-based materials).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Recyplast®50: Innovation label guaranteeing 50% post-consumer recycled raw material incorporation in shrink film, hood, bottom and top sheet products.
• Recyplast® Film
• BIOPACK
• MonoStretch® Film
• FLEX'EAU®
• Barstrech XT
• SILOSTAR
• Barflex™
• Stretch Multipack

Products and services

• Recyplast®50 Sustainable film product line incorporating 50% post-consumer recycled raw material, covering shrink films, hood tubes, and pallet bottom/top sheets. Part of eco-design strategy transitioning from linear to circular economy. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers and retailers.
• BIOPACK Bio-based polyethylene film products made from renewable raw materials. Reduces carbon emissions through plant growth carbon capture, is 100% recyclable using standard processes, and can achieve TUV Austria certification for renewable content. Target customers: industrial and retail buyers seeking bio-based alternatives.
• STRETCH MULTIPACK Stretchable multipack film for overwrapping individual or grouped packaging. Operates without need for retraction oven, achieves up to 40 cycles/min, reduces thickness, and provides cost savings up to 15%. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers, beverage and consumer goods companies.
• RECYPLAST® Film Industrial shrink film incorporating 20% post-consumer recycled granules from regenerated plastic films. Features '+' selection of regenerated material for best product appearance and consistency. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers.
• MONOSTRETCH® Film High-performance stretch film bridging conventional films and OPP films with improvements in productivity, resistance, and eco-design. Enhanced mechanical properties (tensile, puncture, stiffness), improved optical properties (transparency, gloss), and better barrier properties. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers.
• FLEX'EAU® World's first multipack shrink films printed with water-based inks. Eliminates solvents from the printing process, improving environmental friendliness and facility safety. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers, beverage and consumer goods companies requiring printed shrink films.
• Barstrech XT Stretch film with specifically developed formulation that limits micro-tear propagation and allows significant thickness reduction from 30µm to 20µm without compromising functionality. Awarded Packaging OSCAR 2023. Enables wrapping up to 80 pallets per hour. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers.
• Barflex™ Stretch Hood Tube Stretch hood tube designed to guarantee impermeability, load resistance, and unitization for industrial pallet packaging. Target customers: industrial packaging buyers, logistics and warehousing operations.
• Silostar 115μ New generation 5-layer agricultural silage film meeting 7 performance criteria. Designed for high-nutrition silage preservation in dairy and beef production systems. Target customers: agricultural cooperatives, dairy and beef farms.
• Gusseted Biodegradable Bags in Roll Fruit and vegetable gusseted biodegradable bags in roll format for large retailers. Designed for produce packaging with biodegradable properties. Target customers: large retailers, mass distribution.
• Green Biodegradable T-shirt Wicketed Bags T-shirt wicketed bags for fruits and vegetables used in mass distribution. Features biodegradable properties for sustainable retail packaging. Target customers: large retailers, mass distribution.
• Barbier Group Industrial Films Wide range of polyethylene packaging solutions for various industrial sectors including stretch hoods, shrink films, and specialty films. Target customers: industrial companies requiring packaging for pallet unitization, load containment, and product protection.
• Barbier Group Agricultural Films Film products for agriculture including silage covers, mulch films, low-tunnel films, greenhouse films, and perforated films for crop protection and productivity improvement. Target customers: agricultural cooperatives, farms, horticulture operations.
• Barbier Group Retail Bags Innovative retail bags and distribution products with 'Made in France Guarantee' for large retailers, municipalities, catering, hygiene, and health sectors. Includes biodegradable bags, T-shirt bags, gusseted bags, waste bags, strap bags, and fruit and vegetable bags.
• Barbier Biobags Biodegradable bags for bio-trays, allowing water evaporation and odor reduction. Target customers: retailers and food service operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Film thickness reduced from 30µm to 20µm with Barstrech XT while maintaining functionality
• +7 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CIMPA Collaborative Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023European collaborative project consortium bringing together European plastics technical centers, industrial processors, waste collectors, and recyclers. Objective: improving recyclability of complex materials (PE/PA, PE/EVOH, PE/PET). Barbier Group hosted consortium partners at its recycling site in Monistrol sur Loire.
• SRP (Syndicat des Régénérateurs de Matières Plastiques / Union of Plastics Regenerators)coreOthers · 1 June 2023Barbier Group joined the SRP as a member, distinguishing itself as one of the rare members that are both a recycler and a processor. With two recycling sites, the group transforms plastic waste into resources and integrates increasing amounts of recycled materials into its films.
• IPC (Centre Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Barbier Group was audited for MPR (Materials Plastiques Recyclées / Recycled Plastic Materials) certification using standards jointly developed by IPC and LNE. IPC provided technical framework and audit standards for certifying recycled content incorporation in Barbier's process and products.
• LNE (Laboratoire National de métrologie et d'Essais)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022National metrology and testing laboratory that co-developed the certification standard with IPC for objectively attesting to recycled plastic material quantities used by manufacturers.
• Opération CleanSweep (OCS)minorOthers · 1 December 2021Barbier Group was audited and certified compliant with French decree on prevention of plastic granule losses under the Operation CleanSweep voluntary initiative. One of the first integrated PE transformers and recyclers in France to receive this certificate for all its facilities.
• APE (Agriculture Plastique et Environnement)minorOthers · 1 January 2019Association of agricultural film manufacturers including Barbier Group. APE finances and organizes collection of used agricultural films in France, enabling Barbier to capture post-consumer agricultural film waste for recycling.
• EcoVadiscoreOthers · 1 January 2019Barbier Group participates in regular EcoVadis CSR assessments, receiving Silver level rating and placing among the top 7% of rated companies in plastic product manufacturing globally.
• UN Global Compact (Pacte Mondial des Nations Unies)minorOthers · 1 January 2018Barbier Group signed the UN Global Compact in 2018, renewing its commitment each year with the UN Secretary-General. Contributes to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and publishes regular progress communications (COP).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Berry Global (now part of Amcor): Global plastics packaging giant with extensive PE film and rigid packaging portfolios, including recycled-content films — a much larger broad incumbent competing across all of Groupe Barbier's end markets.
• Amcor: Global packaging conglomerate with flexible and rigid plastic packaging offerings, including sustainable/PCR film solutions — operates at significantly larger scale across multiple geographies and end markets.
• RPC Group (Berry Superfos / rpc bpi): European rigid and flexible packaging producer with recycled-content films and bags — comparable in PCR film strategy and European customer overlap, though with a much broader product portfolio.

Direct peers

• Polifilm: German PE film extruder producing protective films, laminating films, and packaging films with multilayer co-extrusion technology — directly comparable in industrial PE film production.
• Manuli Film: Italian PE-based stretch film and packaging producer with agricultural and industrial film product lines, serving European markets with comparable multilayer extrusion technology.
• Trioplast: Swedish PE film manufacturer serving agriculture (silage, mulch), industry (stretch hood, shrink), and hygiene markets with integrated recycling — highly comparable in product mix and vertical integration to Groupe Barbier.
• RKW Group: German-headquartered producer of PE and polypropylene films for hygiene, agricultural, and industrial packaging applications, with comparable multilayer extrusion capabilities and European scale.
• Coveris: European packaging films manufacturer offering stretch, shrink, and agricultural films, plus rigid and flexible packaging — a close competitor in industrial and agricultural PE film segments.
• Armando Álvarez: Spanish plastics group producing films for agriculture (silage, greenhouse, mulch) and industrial packaging — direct competitor especially in Iberian and southern European markets.

Emerging players

• Novamont: Italian bioplastics company producing Mater-Bi (starch-based) and bio-based films for bags and packaging — competes at the substitution frontier as an alternative to PE films in retail and agricultural applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupebarbier

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groupe Barbier