Construire en Chanvre

What Construire en Chanvre does

Construire en Chanvre (CenC), founded in 1998 and headquartered in Paris, is the French national professional association (association loi 1901) that secures and standardizes hemp-based construction. The organization operates with a small core staff (8 employees) and a federated network spanning four regional delegations (Grand Est, Île de France, Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Bretagne) plus an event venue at the Espace éco-chanvre in Noyal-sur-Vilaine. Its foundational asset is the Règles Professionnelles — the official technical framework for hemp concrete (béton de chanvre), a mixture of hemp chènevotte, lime-based binder, and water used for walls, floors, roofs, and insulation. The 2024 revision, developed over eight years, materially expanded the application domain to buildings up to 33m height and public-access buildings (ERPs) accommodating up to 1,500 people.

CenC monetizes through three primary streams: membership fees (subscription), training programs (professional services), and publications/documentation (one-time licenses). Training is delivered through partner certified organizations and via the Académie des biosourcés e-learning platform, with the RP3 module priced at 127 EUR HT for members and 157 EUR HT for non-members; technical brochures sell for 7–10 EUR. Supporting products include the Granulat Chanvre quality label, validated binder-aggregate combinations (updated January 2026), three-volume technical training tomes, Fiches REX project documentation, and the annual Prix National de la Construction en Chanvre (PNCC) award launched in 2024.

The customer base is horizontal and fragmented across architects/project managers, applicators/artisans, training organizations, and project owners (maîtres d'ouvrage), with showcase projects spanning government (Médiathèque d'Amiens-Etouvie), social enterprise real estate (La Manuco, Bordeaux), and energy infrastructure (EDF Chinon). CenC's strategic position rests on its regulatory authority — the only reference framework enabling insurance coverage for hemp concrete construction in France — supported by a deep ecosystem of technical partners (CSTB, CEREMA, ENTPE, INSA Rennes, CRDA, CERIB/FCBA) and industry partners (Interchanvre, Académie des biosourcés, Banque des territoires, Ceetrus).

Name

Construire en Chanvre

Legal name

Construire en Chanvre

Website

https://construire-en-chanvre.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Construire en Chanvre is the French national association that owns the official professional rules for hemp concrete construction, enabling insurance coverage and providing certified training, quality labels, and binder validation for architects, applicators, and project owners across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Construction Standards and Bio-based Building Materials

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (813920)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI)

Keywords

• Hemp construction standards
• Professional training programs
• Biosourced building materials
• Construction quality certification
• Sustainable construction rules

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Association membership fees that provide access to professional directory listings, newsletter distribution, and invitations to the National Assembly. Professional membership requires validation by the Board of Directors.
2. Training Programs: Revenue from training programs including MOE (master builders) formation, applicator training, and RP3 e-learning courses. Training is delivered through certified training organizations and partner institutions.
3. Publications and Documentation: Sale of professional rules documents, training manuals (Tomes 1-3), and technical brochures. Professional rules available in PDF or paper format through SEBTP.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Construire en Chanvre is a French non-profit professional association that develops, maintains, and disseminates the official Règles Professionnelles (Professional Rules) and technical framework governing hemp concrete (béton de chanvre) construction in France. It sells certified training programs (Formation MOE, Formation Applicateurs, Formation RP3 e-learning), publishes technical documentation (three training tomes, technical brochures, Fiches REX), and manages the Granulat Chanvre quality label for hemp aggregate and the validated binder-aggregate combinations database. The association also organizes the annual Prix National de la Construction en Chanvre (PNCC) competition.

Product overview

Construire en Chanvre (CenC) is a national association that secures and promotes hemp-based construction in France. The core offering centers on hemp concrete (béton de-chanvre) - a mixture of hemp chènevotte, binder, and water - for walls, floors, insulation, and coatings. The association provides the official Règles Professionnelles (Professional Rules) which establish the technical framework enabling insurability of hemp construction. CenC offers three training programs: Formation MOE for architects and project managers (4 days), Formation Applicateurs for builders (3 modules), and Formation RP3 e-learning (2 hours) covering the 2024 professional rules. Supporting products include the Label Granulat Chanvre for material certification, Couples Liant-Granulat Validés database of tested binder-aggregate combinations, three technical tomes covering introduction, construction technology, and prescription, Fiches REX for project documentation, and an annual Prix National de la Construction en Chanvre (PNCC) award. The organization also provides 3D models and communication materials for member use.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Règles Professionnelles de la Construction en Chanvre (Professional Rules for Hemp Concrete Construction) The official professional rules governing hemp concrete construction in France, defining technical standards, execution methods, and quality requirements that enable insurance coverage for hemp-based buildings.
• Formation MOE (Maître d'Oeuvre) A 4-day training program for architects, project managers, and design professionals covering hemp concrete technology, professional rules, and project supervision. Includes field work and practical exercises.
• Formation Applicateurs Three-module training for construction applicators covering hemp construction basics, advanced hemp concrete knowledge and design, and prescribing/supervising hemp construction projects.
• Formation RP3 (E-learning) A 2-hour online training module explaining the 2024 professional rules updates, featuring 4 sequences, 360° construction site visits, and an evaluation quiz leading to an RP3 attestation.
• Label Granulat Chanvre Construction A quality certification label for hemp aggregate (chènevotte) used in construction, ensuring consistent material characteristics and compliance with professional standards.
• Couples Liant-Granulat Validés (Validated Binder-Aggregate Combinations) Validated binder-aggregate combinations for hemp concrete, verified by accredited laboratories following professional rules protocols. Updated January 2026.
• Tome 1 - Introduction aux Enjeux de la Filière Béton de Chanvre Introductory technical publication covering the basics of hemp concrete construction, addressing technical, cultural, political, and societal challenges facing the industry.
• Tome 2 - Technologies de Chantier Chanvre Technical guide covering construction site technologies for hemp concrete, including methods essential for applicators such as mixing, application, and finishing techniques.
• Tome 3 - Maîtrise et Prescription des Ouvrages en Béton de Chanvre Advanced technical publication for prescription, control, and supervision of hemp concrete construction, helping professionals understand and specify the material correctly.
• Prix National de la Construction en Chanvre (PNCC) Annual award program highlighting outstanding hemp concrete construction projects and insulation projects, recognizing excellence in the industry.
• Fiches REX (Retours d'Expérience) Experience feedback forms for documenting hemp construction projects, updated to align with 2024 professional rules, including essential data collection tools for the industry's technical development.
• Maquette 3D de Construction en Chanvre A 3D model illustrating various hemp construction methods, available for network members to borrow for exhibitions and educational events.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings up to 33m height now possible under 2024 rules
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InterchanvrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998French hemp interprofession created in 2003, grouping producers via FNPC and industrial processors via UTC. Misison to federate sector actors, ensure representation, promote R&D, and highlight environmental qualities.
• CSTBcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment - key technical partner for testing, validation, and professional rules development
• CEREMAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre d'études et d'expertise sur les risques, l'environnement, la mobilité et l'aménagement - partner for hygrothermal performance studies
• ENTPEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcole Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'Etat - academic partner for research and development
• INSA RennescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for R&D in hemp construction
• CRDAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre de Recherche et de Développement en Agriculture - partner for agricultural aspects of hemp
• Académie des biosourcéscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for e-learning platform delivering RP3 training and professional certification
• CERIB/FCBAcoreTechnology or IntegrationTesting laboratories for fire resistance certification of hemp concrete (document AL 056140-A)
• Banque des territoirescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor for publishing booklet of preselected PNCC projects for architects and prescribers
• CeetrusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerReal estate subsidiary of Auchan/Eryo Merlin, providing full-page advertising in Batirama for PNCC laureates

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Alliance HQE: French sustainable building association promoting HQE (Haute Qualité Environnementale) certification. A broader incumbent in sustainable construction standards, comparable in role but covering all building types and materials rather than specializing in hemp concrete.
• FFB (Fédération Française du Bâtiment): The principal French building and construction trade federation. Comparable as a major industry association for French construction, but vastly broader in scope and constituency than CenC's hemp-concrete specialization.

Direct peers

• Agrochanvre: French company specializing in eco-construction with hemp and a Construire en Chanvre partner. Comparable as a hemp construction practitioner operating under the same professional rules and using CenC's validated binder-aggregate combinations.
• La Chanvrière de l'Aube: Major French hemp processing company and Construire en Chanvre partner, producing chènevotte and hemp fiber for construction applications. Operates across the same hemp construction value chain with industrial scale that complements CenC's standards and training mandate.
• Interchanvre: French hemp interprofession representing producers (FNPC) and industrial processors (UTC). Co-developer of the Granulat Chanvre label with Construire en Chanvre and the closest institutional peer, operating as the upstream agricultural and industrial counterpart to CenC's construction-side focus.
• BCB (Blanchard Chanvre Bâtiment): Specialized French hemp construction materials producer (Tradical/Parex group), offering hemp concrete formulations and validated binder systems. Directly comparable as a hemp concrete specialist whose products depend on CenC's professional rules framework for insurability.
• Eurochanvre: European hemp processing company and Construire en Chanvre partner, supplying hemp-based materials for construction across European markets. Comparable as a hemp construction material producer operating within the same technical and regulatory ecosystem CenC helps define.
• France Bois Bâtiment: French timber construction trade association comparable in structure and mission—developing technical rules, training, and quality frameworks for a bio-based construction material. Both associations occupy similar ecosystem roles for adjacent renewable construction materials.

Others

• Cavac: French agricultural cooperative and Construire en Chanvre partner contributing hemp biomass to the construction supply chain. Comparable as an upstream agricultural partner feeding the chènevotte supply rather than as a direct standards or training competitor.

Regional players

• Hempro International: European hemp company with construction material offerings across multiple European markets. Comparable as a hemp construction materials company but operating at a regional (pan-European) rather than purely French level, complementing CenC's standards-based domestic approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CenChanvre
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/construire-en-chanvre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

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 Construire en Chanvre