Le Relais Metisse

What Le Relais Metisse does

Le Relais Métisse manufactures the Métisse® range of thermal and acoustic insulation products from recycled cotton fibers (principally discarded denim) collected by its parent group, Le Relais, which controls roughly 65% of French textile collection across 14 sorting centers. The company operates two French production sites and offers panels (45-200 mm), rolls (50-120 mm), loose-fill Flocon for blown-in attic applications, and the [eko] acoustic correction line (panels, rolls, baffles, dividers); performance specifications include λ = 0.039 W/mK, 6–8 hour phase shift, and up to 68 dB sound reduction (SAD180 partition). A proprietary in-core full-bath fire-retardant treatment differentiates the product, supported by nearly 30 CSTB-certified fire test reports developed in partnership with Placo® (Saint-Gobain) that yield B-S1-D0 classification and EI30–EI120 partition ratings.

Revenue is generated through one-time product sales via a two-tier B2B distribution network of French specialty building-materials distributors (négoces et magasins de matériaux) served by regional technico-commerciaux, with Belgium and the Netherlands served exclusively through channel partner VRK Isolatie. Customer segments span building professionals and specifiers, individual homeowners undertaking renovation projects, public-sector bodies (municipalities, schools, social-housing landlords), and commercial buyers needing acoustic correction; end demand is supported by French/Belgian energy-efficiency subsidies (CEE, MaPrimeRénov, CITE, ECO-PTZ, reduced VAT). Pricing is not publicly disclosed but the company pursued a 2015 price-reduction strategy to broaden adoption and offers a value-tier 45 mm panel.

The entity is a private French cooperative (SCOP au capital variable) within the Social and Solidarity Economy, headquartered at Bruay-la-Buissière and producing at Billy-Berclau; it has no external venture capital or private equity investors, is not publicly listed, and reports no standalone revenue. Its differentiation rests on a certification stack (ACERMI, Label Produit Biosourcé – Filière Française at 70–73%, FDES A2, AFAQ eco-design confirmed, HQE) that enables public-procurement access for sustainable construction under RE2020, HQE, and BBC frameworks.

Name

Le Relais Metisse

Legal name

LE RELAIS France

Website

https://isolantmetisse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Le Relais Métisse manufactures the Métisse® range of recycled-cotton thermal-acoustic insulation panels, rolls, loose-fill, and acoustic baffles in France. It sells to building professionals, homeowners, and public-sector buyers through a national specialty-distributor network and via VRK Isolatie in Benelux.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Insulation Materials

akta.pro primary industry

Thermal & Acoustic Insulation Textiles (Insulation Felts/Soundproofing) (IMAOADAL)

Keywords

• Recycled cotton insulation
• Thermal acoustic insulation
• Biosourced building insulation
• Acoustic correction baffles
• Recycled textile manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruay la Buissière

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sale of Métisse® thermal-acoustic insulation products: Le Relais Métisse generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of a full range of recycled cotton thermal and acoustic insulation products, sold to building professionals and private individuals via a network of specialized distributors. Product formats include panels (RT), rolls (RT), and loose-fill (Flocon) for blown-in loft insulation. The company also sells complementary accessories: vapor barrier (pare-vapeur PV18M), rain barrier (pare-pluie PPL60), adhesive tape (RA PRO), rodent repellent (PPM01), and recessed spotlight protective cap (SECU-SPOT).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Le Relais M\u00e9tisse manufactures and sells the M\u00e9tisse\u00ae range of thermal and acoustic insulation products made from recycled cotton fibers sourced from end-of-life denim and cotton garments collected in France. The product portfolio covers panels (RT, 45\u2013200mm), rolls (RT, 50\u2013120mm), loose-fill blown insulation (Flocon), the [eko] acoustic correction range, and installation accessories. Customers are building professionals, individual homeowners, and public-sector buyers across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, served via specialized distributors and the exclusive Benelux partner VRK Isolatie.

Product overview

Métisse® is a bio-sourced thermal and acoustic insulation product range made from recycled cotton, manufactured by Le Relais (a social enterprise in the French Solidarity Economy). The product portfolio includes: (1) Métisse RT - panels and rolls for thermal-acoustic insulation of walls, roofs, and floors; (2) Métisse Flocon - loose-fill insulation for blowing into lost attics and floors; (3) Métisse RT 45mm Panel - entry-level panel for interior fit-out; (4) Métisse [eko] - acoustic correction range including panels, rolls, and baffles (Select, Premium, Mute, Divider) for sound absorption and reverberation control; plus accessories (vapor barriers, rain barriers, adhesive tape, rodent repellent, spot protectors) and tools (knives, sharpeners). The entire range is manufactured in France using short French supply chains, with cotton sourced exclusively from Le Relais's French textile collection network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Métisse RT: Thermal and acoustic insulation panels and rolls for walls, roofs, and floors. Available in panel thicknesses: 45mm to 200mm, and roll thicknesses: 50mm to 120mm.
• Métisse Flocon
• Métisse [eko]

Products and services

• M\u00e9tisse RT (Panneau et Rouleau) Thermal-acoustic insulation panels (45\u2013200mm) and rolls (50\u2013120mm) made of recycled cotton fibers with polyester binder, for walls, roofs, and floors in construction and renovation. Sold to building professionals, individual homeowners, and public-sector clients through distributors.
• M\u00e9tisse Flocon Loose-fill recycled cotton insulation for blowing application on lost attic floors and floors. Packaged in 10kg bags, 35 bags per pallet; lightweight with low dust emission; fills all thermal bridges. Sold to installers and homeowners undertaking loft insulation.
• M\u00e9tisse RT 45mm Panel (PRT45) Entry-level 45mm recycled cotton panel specifically developed for interior fit-out and the cheapest bio-sourced panel in its category. Non-irritating, dust-free installation; CSTB and ACERMI certified; eligible for renovation subsidies.
• M\u00e9tisse [eko] Acoustic Panel 45mm recycled cotton acoustic correction panel for reducing interior reverberation in schools, halls, offices, and public venues. Part of the [eko] acoustic range.
• M\u00e9tisse [eko] Acoustic Roll 20mm recycled cotton acoustic correction roll for reducing interior reverberation in occupied spaces. Part of the [eko] acoustic range.
• M\u00e9tisse [eko] BAFFLE Recycled cotton acoustic baffles for professional sound correction in public establishments (schools, canteens, sports halls, theaters, recording studios). Up to 95% sound absorption. Sold as Select, Premium, Mute, and Divider variants.
• M\u00e9tisse PLUS Range Fire-safety insulation solution for construction sites, with flame-retardant treatment added during production. Sold to building professionals requiring higher on-site fire protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% savings on energy bills through loft insulation
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers15 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

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Placo® (Saint-Gobain group)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 July 2022Métisse® partnered with Placo®, the French leader in interior comfort and plasterboard, to conduct extensive fire testing. Nearly 30 fire test reports (PV) and extensions were certified by the CSTB, validating various partition wall configurations combining Métisse® insulation and Placo® plasterboard. Fire ratings achieved: EI30 to EI120 for partitions, EI45 to EI120 for counter-partitions. The partnership enables compliance with fire safety requirements for Établissements Recevant du Public (ERP).
• VRK IsolatiecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVRK Isolatie is the exclusive channel partner for Métisse® insulation products in Belgium and the Netherlands. They handle all sales, distribution, technical support, and customer guidance for the Benelux market. Contact: [email protected], Tel: +31 (0)13 570 23 14.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gutex: German manufacturer of wood-fiber insulation boards for roofs, walls, and floors. Direct peer in the biobased thermal-acoustic insulation category with similar ACERMI-equivalent certifications and a comparable distributor-led GTM in European markets.
• Pavatex (Soprema Group): Swiss-origin manufacturer of wood-fiber insulation, now part of Soprema. Direct peer in biobased insulation with broader group backing (Soprema) that competes with Métisse across thermal, acoustic, and roof applications in European markets.
• Biofib': French manufacturer of hemp and flax fiber insulation products (panels, rolls, loose-fill). Direct French peer in the natural/biobased insulation niche, addressing the same artisan and prescriber segments with competing ACERMI-certified products.
• Steico: German manufacturer of wood-fiber thermal and acoustic insulation panels and rolls. Closest direct peer: similarly positioned biobased insulation producer serving building professionals through specialty distributors across Europe with comparable certifications and product breadth.
• Isonat: French manufacturer of wood-fiber and hemp insulation panels and rolls. Direct French biobased insulation peer competing in the same distribution channel (négocies) and same RE2020-driven specification environment.

Broad incumbents

• Knauf Insulation: Major European insulation manufacturer (glass mineral wool, stone wool, wood fiber via Heraklith). Broad incumbent with extensive product range and well-established distributor relationships across France and Europe that compete with Métisse in standard thermal-acoustic applications.
• Rockwool: Global leader in stone wool insulation with strong European presence. Broad incumbent offering overlapping thermal and acoustic insulation products across residential and commercial segments, competing on performance, certifications, and price.
• Isover (Saint-Gobain): Saint-Gobain's mineral wool (glass and stone) insulation brand, the dominant French insulation incumbent. Provides overlapping thermal-acoustic insulation but at much larger scale, broader portfolio, and with much larger R&D and distribution budgets than Métisse.
• URSA Insulation: European manufacturer of glass and extruded polystyrene (XPS) insulation products. Broad incumbent with mineral wool and foam-based offerings that overlap with Métisse in residential and commercial thermal-acoustic insulation segments.
• Soprema: French-headquartered waterproofing and insulation group that owns Pavatex and offers a broad envelope solutions portfolio. Broad incumbent with adjacent biobased insulation assets that competes with Métisse in France and Benelux on integrated building envelope specifications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC
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Compliance8 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 Le Relais Metisse