FRD - CODEM

What FRD - CODEM does

FRD-CODEM is a French private technology resource center (Centre de Ressources Technologiques) founded in 2009 and headquartered in Rosières-près-Troyes (Grand Est), with operational sites in Breviandes (FRDlab) and Amiens (BATlab). The organization employs 32 people and operates three wholly-owned operational units plus a joint laboratory (4FM) with INRAE and URCA. Its mission is to develop biobased materials and ecomaterials from ligno-cellulosic fractions and agricultural co-products across sectors including construction, automotive, plastics, textiles, and sports and leisure.

The company delivers an integrated portfolio of services spanning the full biosourced materials value chain: custom market and feasibility studies, vegetable fiber fractionation, applied R&D, COFRAC-accredited laboratory analysis and testing (accreditation n°1-7319), and eco-design and life cycle assessment (LCA/FDES) consulting. Revenue is generated through five streams: professional services for R&D, testing, and LCA consulting; publication sales of reference studies (e.g., Mémento, Étude Bétons Végétaux); collaborative R&D projects funded by public bodies (ADEME, France 2030, ANR, INTERREG, Horizon Europe); training sessions; and event revenue from two flagship events (Colloque Fibres Naturelles et Polymères and Du Biosourcé et Géosourcé pour le Bâtiment). Customers include industrial leaders (SNCF, Holcim, Vicat, Bâtilin, Le Relais Métisse), public-sector buyers (SDEA, Amiens Métropole, Region Hauts-de-France), and territorial clusters.

FRD-CODEM's go-to-market is a hybrid sales-led and community-led model: direct B2B engagement for services, supplemented by flagship events that function as demand-generation and thought-leadership platforms (300+ participants and 40+ exhibitors per edition). The company works within a dense ecosystem of public funding agencies, academic partners (INRAE, URCA), sector clusters (B4C, Cluster Eco-Bâtiment, Fibois Hauts-de-France), and industry partners (APM, CSTB, CD2E), positioning itself as a structural coordinator of the French bioeconomy and biosourced construction ecosystem.

Name

FRD - CODEM

Legal name

FRD-CODEM

Website

https://frd-codem.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FRD-CODEM is a French private technology resource center providing R&D, COFRAC-accredited testing, eco-design, and LCA services for biobased materials to industrial clients, governments, and clusters across construction, automotive, and plastics sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Testing & Biobased R&D Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability Testing, Certification & Compliance (LCA, Recyclability/Compostability Testing, FSC/PEFC) (IMALAMAK)

Keywords

• Biobased materials R&D
• Plant fiber fractionation
• Material testing services
• Life cycle assessment
• Ecomaterials consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Troyes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Studies and Market Research: FRD-CODEM conducts and publishes reference studies on biosourced materials markets, including market potential analyses and sector studies available for purchase at tiered pricing.
2. R&D Collaborative Projects: Participation in and leadership of collaborative R&D projects funded by public bodies (ADEME, France 2030, ANR, INTERREG, Horizon Europe, Region Hauts-de-France, Grand Est)
3. Testing and Analysis Services: Laboratory services for biomass analysis, building materials testing, composite/plasturgy testing, and quality control. COFRAC accredited services.
4. Eco-design and LCA Consulting: Eco-design project support and life cycle assessment services for industrial clients seeking environmental compliance (RE2020) and product environmental declarations.
5. Training and Events: Organization of industry events (colloquia, conferences) and training sessions on hemp sector development and biobased materials.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FRD-CODEM is a French Technology Resource Center providing R&D services, laboratory testing, and eco-design consulting for biobased materials and ecomaterials. Its core offerings include custom market and feasibility studies, vegetable fiber fractionation (fibers, aggregates, micronized powders), collaborative R&D for biosourced materials, COFRAC-accredited laboratory analysis (biomass, building materials, composites), and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA/ACV) services for industrial clients across construction, automotive, plastics, and composites sectors.

Product overview

FRD-CODEM is a Technology Resource Center dedicated to eco-materials and bio-sourced materials, offering an integrated portfolio of services across the entire value chain. The core offerings include: custom studies (market studies, plant resource availability, building studies); vegetable fiber fractionation (fibers/aggregates, micronized powders); research and development; laboratory analysis and testing services (accredited by COFRAC); and eco-design/Life Cycle Assessment services. The company also organizes two flagship events: the Colloque Fibres Naturelles et Polymères and the Du Biosourcé et Géosourcé pour le Bâtiment day. Key publications include the Mémento des marchés des fibres végétales techniques, Etude Bétons Végétaux, and a renovation guide for bio-sourced materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Etudes (Studies) Custom market, plant resource availability, and building studies commissioned by industrial clients and public organizations to support development and structuring of biobased material sectors.
• Fractionnement fibres végétales (Vegetable Fiber Fractionation) Industrial processing service that transforms vegetable fibers (flax, hemp, etc.) into fibers/aggregates and micronized powders meeting client raw material and product specifications.
• R&D Services Collaborative and contracted R&D services covering biomass fractionation, composites/plastics, concrete/earth, and insulation/panels, with pathways to industrial transfer and market launch.
• Analyses et Essais (Analysis and Testing) Laboratory analysis and characterization of biomass, building materials, composites/plastics, plus quality control method development and implementation in laboratories or factories.
• Ecoconception – ACV (Ecodesign – LCA) Eco-design consulting and environmental footprint evaluation services for materials and matter, including Life Cycle Assessment (LCA/ACV), FDES Environmental Product Declarations, and ICV support.
• Colloque Fibres Naturelles et Polymères (annual symposium) Annual two-day symposium (with paid exhibitor stands and registrations) co-organized with APM since 2011, providing a recognized European forum on natural fiber developments in plastics and composites.
• Du Biosourcé et Géosourcé pour le Bâtiment (industry day) Industry day with paid exhibitor stands and demonstrations focused on bio-sourced and geo-sourced building solutions, held annually since 2021 (300+ participants and 40+ exhibitors per edition).
• Mémento du Panorama des marchés des fibres végétales techniques Reference publication (sold via tiered subscription pricing) offering an updated overview of agricultural plant fiber resources and their industrial applications across multiple markets.
• Etude Bétons Végétaux (Plant-Based Concrete Study) Sold study analyzing the development potential of plant-based concretes in France, covering insulating concrete, prefabricated concrete, fiber-reinforced concrete, and noise-barrier concrete market segments, with cost-carbon comparison vs. traditional systems.
• Guide de la rénovation de parois à l'aide de matériaux biosourcés Practical guide for renovating walls using bio-sourced insulation materials, structured around practical sheets on insulation materials, wall types, and installation techniques.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 participants per event for flagship 'Du Biosourcé et Géosourcé' days
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 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

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• APM (ex-AFT Plasturgie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025APM co-organizes the annual 'Fibres Naturelles et Polymères' symposium with FRD-CODEM since 2011. APM represents the plastics processing industry and brings industrial perspectives to the collaborative event.
• Cluster Eco-BâtimentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with the Eco-Bâtiment Cluster for co-organizing the 'Du Biosourcé et Géosourcé pour le Bâtiment' event within the annual 'Journée de l'Eco-Bâtiment'. Jointly promoting biosourced solutions in construction.
• Bioeconomy For Change (B4C)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerB4C cluster supports FRD-CODEM's activities in bioeconomy. FRD-CODEM participated in the ADEME market study on biobased products with CERESCO and B4C.
• CD2EsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCD2E partners with FRD-CODEM for regional events including the 'Rencontres Régionales du Bâtiment Durable' combining hemp and wood-straw initiatives.
• Region Hauts-de-FrancecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional government partner supporting the 'Du Biosourcé et Géosourcé pour le Bâtiment' event and various R&D initiatives. Provides funding and institutional support for biosourced materials development.
• ADEMEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) is a major funding body for FRD-CODEM R&D projects including studies on biobased products, hemp concrete, and end-of-life materials.
• 4FM Laboratory (FARE & FRD-LAB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint laboratory between FRD-CODEM and UMR FARE of INRAE and URCA for Future Fibres and Materials. Develops innovative solutions for integrated quality management of biomass and ligno-cellulosic fractions.
• FARE (INRAE/URCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch unit collaborating through the 4FM laboratory partnership, providing academic expertise in agricultural and environmental sciences for biomass valorization.
• Ambition Bioéconomie Hauts-de-FrancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional bioeconomy initiative collaborating with FRD-CODEM on biosourced materials promotion and sector development.
• Fibois Hauts-de-FrancesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional wood construction cluster partnering on events and sector initiatives related to biosourced building materials.
• CERESCOsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with CERESCO on the ADEME market study of biobased products, combining market research expertise with technical capabilities.
• CSTBsecondaryTechnology or IntegrationCSTB (Scientific and Technical Center for Building) collaborates on conferences regarding innovation and insurance framework for biosourced materials.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Greenflex: French sustainability consulting firm advising manufacturers on eco-design, environmental footprint, and biobased material strategy. Comparable buyer base and service overlap, though broader in scope.
• Quantis: International sustainability consultancy specializing in life cycle assessment and eco-design for materials and products. Directly comparable to FRD-CODEM's LCA/eco-design service line and target buyer profile.
• Sphera: Provider of LCA software and consulting for chemicals, materials, and industrial clients. Comparable in LCA/eco-design capabilities and target customer industries, though software-anchored rather than lab-anchored.
• CSTB (Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment): France's flagship building science research and testing center. Highly comparable to FRD-CODEM's building-materials testing and innovation mandate, though larger and broader in scope; CSTB is already a partner but operates in overlapping service categories.
• EcoMundo: French consulting firm providing regulatory compliance, eco-design, and LCA services to industrial clients across chemicals and materials. Closely comparable to FRD-CODEM's eco-design and ACV practice, though without the fractionation/testing laboratory component.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Swiss-headquartered TIC major with material testing and sustainability service lines. Comparable as a supplier of accredited material characterization and environmental testing to industrial clients.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC firm offering sustainability testing, certification, and eco-design services relevant to construction and biobased materials. Larger and broader than FRD-CODEM but addresses the same enterprise buyer.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major with expanding sustainability, eco-design, and biobased material services. Comparable in offering breadth but far larger scale than FRD-CODEM.
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (Sustainability & Climate Change): Big-4 sustainability and climate-change practice serving large industrial clients on LCA, ESG, and biobased strategy. Overlaps with FRD-CODEM's eco-design consulting at the enterprise end of the market.

Others

• CIRAD: French public agricultural research organization working on plant fibers and biomass valorization. Comparable in research scope on lignocellulosic materials, though a public research body rather than a commercial services firm.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frd-codem

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries3 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 FRD - CODEM