IRICE | Grow the future

What IRICE | Grow the future does

IRICE SAS (Independent Reference Infrastructure for Certification and Evaluation) is a France-based accreditation and certification body founded in 2009 and headquartered in Aix-en-Provence, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the NORMAXIS group. The company holds Cofrac accreditation No. 5-0655 under ISO/IEC 17065, making it the only accredited certification body in France specifically dedicated to biodiversity performance for real estate and urban development projects. Its flagship Effinature program evaluates 110+ criteria across 6 requirement families under three standards (NCO for new construction, EVO for renovation, HOR for urban development) plus an HVE addendum for operational phase, with reference framework governance provided by a 36-member Biodiversity Standard Council organized in three equal-vote colleges.

The product portfolio extends beyond Effinature to include BPS (Biodiversity Performance Score) for quantitative portfolio-level assessment feeding CSRD ESRS E4 and SFDR reporting, Efficarbone for ISO 14044-aligned construction site carbon measurement, CBCA Low Carbon Construction Site label, and BREEAM New Construction certification delivered as an authorized body for BRE Global in France. IRICE monetizes primarily through per-project certification fees (Effinature from €7,500 excl. VAT for projects up to 2,500 m², BPS at €3,500 flat) and partner training programs delivered with Qualitel Formation, with pricing stated at approximately 0.06% of project turnover.

Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales, a qualified Biodiversity Partners network (architects, engineering firms, ecologists), and self-service certification request platforms. The company serves enterprise real estate developers (Kaufman & Broad, Eiffage Immobilier, Altarea Cogedim), REITs and asset managers, social housing providers, urban development agencies, local authorities, and CSRD-subject corporations, with 200+ ongoing certified projects and a flagship mandatory Effinature requirement at Europolia (Toulouse Metropole). The team is small (6 total employees with 3 qualified accreditation resources), reflecting the asset-light nature of certification services, while demand is positioned to accelerate ahead of the September 2026 EU Directive 2024/825 enforcement deadline.

Name

IRICE | Grow the future

Legal name

IRICE: Independent Reference Infrastructure for Certification and Evaluation SAS

Website

https://irice-certification.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IRICE is a France-based Cofrac-accredited (ISO/IEC 17065) certification body delivering biodiversity performance certification (Effinature), assessment tools (BPS), carbon measurement (Efficarbone), and BREEAM certification to real estate developers, social housing providers, REITs, and public authorities across 200+ ongoing projects.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Certification Services

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Permitting & Impact Assessment (EIA/NEPA) (BPAIAMAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG/Sustainability Reporting & Disclosure Platforms (EUABAEAB), Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO)

Keywords

• Biodiversity certification
• Real estate certification
• Environmental assessment
• Carbon measurement
• Sustainability certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Aix-en-Provence

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Effinature Certification Fees: Accredited biodiversity certification for real estate and development projects. Pricing based on project surface area, with minimum fee for projects up to 2,500 m² and per-square-meter charges beyond.
2. BPS Assessment Fees: Biodiversity Performance Score diagnostic tool providing quantitative assessment. Flat fee pricing model.
3. BREEAM Certification: International environmental certification for new buildings delivered as accredited certification body for BRE Global in France.
4. Training Programs (Biodiversity Partners): Qualification training delivered by Qualitel Formation in partnership with IRICE, eligible for corporate OPCO funding. Multiple levels: BP-N1 (awareness), BP-N2 (NCO/EVO), BP-N3 (HOR), BP-N4 (HVE), BP-BPS.
5. Efficarbone Carbon Measurement: Construction site carbon measurement tool. Complementary to Effinature biodiversity certification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IRICE is an independent certification body providing accredited biodiversity and carbon performance certification for real estate and urban development projects. Its core offerings include Effinature biodiversity certification (Cofrac accredited under ISO/IEC 17065, covering NCO, EVO, HOR, and HVE standards), the BPS (Biodiversity Performance Score) assessment tool, Efficarbone construction site carbon measurement, and BREEAM New Construction certification delivered as an authorized body for BRE Global in France.

Product overview

IRICE is an independent certification body dedicated to biodiversity in real estate and urban planning, offering a portfolio of four interconnected programmes. The core offering is Effinature Certification (Cofrac accredited No. 5-0655 under ISO/IEC 17065) for biodiversity performance across three standards: NCO for new construction, EVO for renovation, and HOR for urban development, with an HVE add-on for operational phase. This is complemented by the BPS (Biodiversity Performance Score) assessment tool for quantitative biodiversity diagnostics that feeds ESRS E4 and SFDR reporting, and the Efficarbone construction site carbon measurement tool aligned to ISO 14044. IRICE also serves as an authorized BREEAM certification body for France and offers the CBCA Low Carbon Construction Site label. All services are delivered through dedicated web platforms with a network of qualified Biodiversity Partners trained through IRICE's OPCO-funded training programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Effinature: Biodiversity performance certification program: ISO/IEC 17065 accredited by Cofrac. 110+ criteria across 6 requirement families. Three standards: NCO (new construction), EVO (renovation), HOR (urban development). HVE addendum for operational phase.
• BPS (Biodiversity Performance Score)
• Efficarbone

Products and services

• Effinature Certification Accredited biodiversity performance certification delivered by IRICE under Cofrac accreditation No. 5-0655, covering 110+ criteria across 6 requirement families. Three standards: NCO (new construction), EVO (renovation), HOR (urban development), with HVE addendum for operational phase. Targeted at property developers, REITs, local authorities, social housing providers, and large corporations subject to CSRD.
• BPS (Biodiversity Performance Score) Assessment Quantitative biodiversity performance diagnostic assessment tool with 70+ criteria across 6 themes, producing ratings A to G. Consolidable at portfolio level and feeds ESRS E4 and SFDR reporting. Priced at EUR 3,500 excl. VAT flat fee. Available for state-of-the-art baseline, design, or both.
• Efficarbone Construction site carbon measurement tool for measuring and rating construction site carbon emissions with traceable, comparable data aligned to ISO 14044. Complementary to Effinature biodiversity certification. Targeted at real estate developers and construction site operators.
• BREEAM New Construction Certification International environmental certification for new buildings delivered by IRICE as an authorized BREEAM certification body in France, covering multi-criteria assessment across 9 domains: management, health/wellbeing, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, ecology, and pollution. Certification is delivered by BRE Global under the international standard.
• CBCA Label (Chantier Bas Carbone) Low Carbon Construction Site label for measuring and certifying construction site carbon performance. Complementary to the Efficarbone carbon measurement tool.
• Biodiversity Partner Training Programme Qualification programmes for architects, engineering firms and ecologists delivered by Qualitel Formation in partnership with IRICE, eligible for OPCO funding. Includes BP-N1 (Awareness), BP-N2 (NCO/EVO), BP-N3 (HOR), BP-N4 (HVE), and BP-BPS tracks. Targeted at qualified professionals who prepare and submit certification dossiers on behalf of clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 200+ ongoing certified projects as of 2025/2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered parent_company, core, minor and flagship.

• NORMAXIS Groupparent_companyOthersNORMAXIS is the parent company and sole shareholder of IRICE. NORMAXIS holds the Effinature trademark (formerly AB NOVO, then ARKORIS). The trademark was licensed exclusively to IRICE for management of Effinature certification. IRICE is a subsidiary operating under the NORMAXIS group ecosystem.
• BRE GlobalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRICE is an authorized certification body for BREEAM New Construction evaluations in France, operating in collaboration with the Building Research Establishment (BRE). BREEAM covers 9 domains: management, health/wellbeing, energy, transport, water, materials, waste, ecology, pollution. Certification is delivered by BRE Global under the international standard.
• Qualitel FormationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQualitel Formation (Qualiopi-certified) delivers Biodiversity Partner qualification programs in partnership with IRICE. Programs are eligible for corporate OPCO funding. Curriculum includes common foundation (BP-N1 Awareness) and specialized tracks for Effinature (BP-N2 NCO/EVO, BP-N3 HOR, BP-N4 HVE) and BPS (BP-BPS).
• AFOCERTminorOthersIRICE is referenced by AFOCERT (Association Française des Organismes de Certification des Produits de Construction), which lists certification bodies in the construction sector.
• Europolia (Toulouse Metropole)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropolia (urban development agency of Toulouse Metropole) has made Effinature certification mandatory for all its projects. This represents a flagship reference client relationship that sets precedent for public procurement biodiversity requirements.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Swiss-based testing and certification multinational with established sustainability and ESG assurance services. Comparable as a potential accredited biodiversity certification competitor leveraging existing European real estate client relationships.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification giant offering sustainability and environmental certification services across multiple sectors. Likely to enter French biodiversity certification for real estate ahead of EU Directive 2024/825, posing the principal competitive threat to IRICE.
• AFNOR Certification: French national standards body and certification operator offering environmental and sustainability certifications. Comparable as a domestic French incumbent that could expand into biodiversity-specific accreditation.
• TÜV Rheinland: German global testing and certification organization with growing sustainability services portfolio. Comparable as a potential European-wide entrant into biodiversity certification for real estate projects.
• BRE Global (BREEAM): UK-based originator of BREEAM, for which IRICE serves as an authorized French certification body. Comparable as the broader international environmental building certification standard that frames the regulatory landscape IRICE operates in.

Direct peers

• Certivéa: French certification body for office and commercial buildings (HQE, BREEAM In-Use), part of the Cerqual group. Directly comparable for the commercial real estate developer and asset manager segments where IRICE competes.
• ECOCERT: French-headquartered certification body specializing in environmental and sustainability standards across multiple sectors. Comparable as a domestic French peer offering accredited environmental certification to enterprises.
• Cerqual: French certification body for social housing (NF Habitat) with deep relationships with the same social housing providers (e.g., Immobiliere 3F, Toulouse Metropole Habitat) that IRICE serves. Most direct competitor in the French residential certification market.

Emerging players

• Carbon Trust: International climate and sustainability consultancy providing certification and advisory for real estate and infrastructure. Comparable as an emerging player in building-related environmental certification and carbon measurement adjacent to IRICE's Efficarbone offering.
• OIKOS: France-based ecological construction certification body focused on bio-sourced materials and environmental building performance. Comparable as a French niche player with overlapping customer base of property developers and architects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irice-certification

Compliance4 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 IRICE | Grow the future