THE A LAB SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

What THE A LAB SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION does

The A Lab Sustainable Innovation is a Bordeaux-based boutique consulting and training firm (SARL structured as a Société à Mission) that helps French and international organizations integrate responsible purchasing and corporate social responsibility (RSE) into their operations and supply chains. Founded by Sabine Jean-Dubourg after 25 years of procurement leadership at Laboratoires Sarget, MEDA, and Mylan, the firm delivers day-rate professional services including RSE maturity diagnostics, regulatory compliance support (Loi Sapin 2, Loi sur le Devoir de Vigilance, Loi AGEC), supply chain risk mapping, and end-to-end assistance with RSE labels such as Label Lucie, Label Numérique Responsable, Label Relations Fournisseurs Responsables, and B Corp. Custom training programs are delivered in French, English, and German, and the firm co-created with Kedge Business School the first online certified Responsible Purchasing diploma. Pricing is structured as a Mean Daily Rate in euros excluding taxes with a 0.5-day minimum, billed monthly at end of month with 30-day payment terms.

The underlying technology is principally human expertise and proprietary diagnostic frameworks developed from the founder's industry experience, supplemented by an integration with Tennaxia's sustainability reporting tools; the firm does not operate a software platform. Its go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales, channel-led demand generation through training partners (BuyYourWay, CDAF Formation), and an academic distribution channel via Kedge Business School, with thought-leadership content and LinkedIn advocacy supporting top-of-funnel activity. Revenue is generated across three professional-services streams — consulting, custom training, and RSE/RFAR certification support — with an asset-light model that leverages a curated network of specialist expert partners (eco-design, QSE, change management, graphic facilitation) to scale scope without proportional headcount growth.

The firm is entirely founder-owned and bootstrapped, with €24,000 registered capital, Qualiopi training certification (number 75331372433), and a registered French verbal trademark licensed from the founder. The customer base spans pharmaceutical (Viatris, Mylan), medical (Efort France), packaging (Amcor), and professional development (CDAF, BuyYourWay) sectors, with several multi-year recurring engagements concentrated in the founder's prior corporate network.

Name

THE A LAB SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

Legal name

The A Lab Sustainable Innovation®

Website

https://thealab.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The A Lab Sustainable Innovation is a Bordeaux-based boutique consultancy founded by Sabine Jean-Dubourg that delivers day-rate RSE and responsible purchasing consulting, custom multilingual training, and RSE certification support to French and international enterprises, primarily in pharmaceutical, industrial, and packaging sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Responsible Procurement and CSR Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Value Chain Development & Supplier Upgrading (BPADAMAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA)

Keywords

• Responsible procurement consulting
• CSR maturity diagnostics
• Corporate sustainability training
• Regulatory compliance advisory
• Sustainability label support

Headquarters

HQ city

Bordeaux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Day-rate based consulting engagements covering RSE maturity diagnostics, responsible purchasing strategy, regulatory compliance (Loi Sapin 2, Loi Vigilance, AGEC), and supply chain risk mapping. Minimum engagement of 0.5 days, invoiced monthly at end of month, payment at 30 days.
2. Custom Training Programs: Tailored training programs delivered in French or English, developed in partnership with BuyYourWay, CDAF Formation, and Kedge Business School. Training covers responsible purchasing, RSE integration, and sustainability topics, accounting for organizational maturity and sector specifics.
3. RSE and Responsible Purchasing Certification Support: Expert support for obtaining RSE labels including Label Lucie, Label Numérique Responsable, and Label Relations Fournisseurs Responsables, co-delivered with Agence Lucie and other independent certification bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The A Lab Sustainable Innovation provides organizations with consulting, custom training, regulatory monitoring, CSR and responsible-procurement maturity diagnostics, and bespoke implementation tools. It also supports sustainability-label acquisition and offers project methods and an online certified Responsible Procurement program co-developed with Kedge Business School.

Product overview

The A Lab Sustainable Innovation is a consulting and training firm (SARL and Société à Mission) offering integrated services for sustainable procurement and CSR transformation. Their portfolio includes bespoke training programs (in French and English), regulatory monitoring, CSR maturity diagnostics, custom tools development, and CSR label acquisition support. They developed the first online certified Responsible Procurement certificate with Kedge Business School, and offer project management methodologies. The company operates as a unified service offering rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Training Programs Bespoke training programs for organizations, delivered in French or English and tailored to CSR and environmental maturity and sector-specific requirements.
• Regulatory Monitoring Services Regulatory watch services that help organizations comply with French and European laws including the Sapin 2 Law, Duty of Vigilance Law, and AGEC Law.
• Maturity Diagnostics CSR and responsible-procurement maturity assessments that evaluate organizational readiness and identify areas for improvement.
• Custom Tools Development Development of bespoke tools and methodologies for organization-specific CSR and responsible-purchasing integration requirements.
• CSR/RSE Labeling Support Advisory support for obtaining CSR and responsible-procurement labels, including Label Lucie, B Corp, Positive Company, Numérique Responsable, and Relations Fournisseurs Responsables.
• Online Responsible Procurement Certificate An online certified Responsible Procurement diploma program developed in collaboration with Kedge Business School.
• Project Management Methods and Tools Methods and tools for implementing responsible transformation projects within organizations.

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• BuyYourWaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuyYourWay is a key strategic partner for co-producing and co-delivering responsible purchasing and RSE training programs. The two companies also conduct joint consulting missions in the field of responsible purchasing, including supply chain risk mapping and opportunity assessment (referenced via plan-vigilance.org). The relationship is described as a 'gagnant-gagnant' (win-win) partnership.
• CDAF FormationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDAF Formation collaborates with The A Lab to co-produce and co-facilitate training programs on responsible purchasing and RSE. The A Lab animates training courses designed by CDAF, extending CDAF's program reach with specialized expertise.
• Kedge Business SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn collaboration with Kedge Business School, The A Lab co-created and co-delivered the first online certified Responsible Purchasing program (Certificat Achats Responsables on-line et diplômant). The A Lab also delivers bespoke training programs for Kedge's Grande Ecole de Commerce student body, establishing academic credibility and a pipeline of future sustainability-aware professionals.
• AseacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe A Lab and Asea conduct joint consulting missions in responsible purchasing, including supply chain risk and opportunity mapping (cf. plan-vigilance.org).
• CCI Landes (Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie des Landes)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerThe A Lab and Christophe Robin of CCI Landes co-deliver eco-design consulting engagements, helping organizations understand, adopt, and benefit from eco-design concepts and tools.
• Agence LuciecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConsultants from The A Lab are referenced by Agence Lucie to accompany organizations in assessing maturity for Label Lucie, Label Numérique Responsable, and related RSE labels. The labels are awarded by independent experts distinct from The A Lab consultants, ensuring impartiality in the certification process. The A Lab also supports organizations in obtaining the Label Relations Fournisseurs Responsables (RFAR), drawing on experience with the RFAR charter since 2012.
• JRCS conseil (Juan Crespo)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerJuan Crespo, via JRCS conseil, is an expert partner offering responsible purchasing consulting services as part of The A Lab's extended network of specialists.
• Arktos Conseil (Bertrand Auneau)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBertrand Auneau of Arktos Conseil is an expert partner providing QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment) and RSE consulting as part of The A Lab's partner ecosystem.
• Iddeo Conseil (Laurence Gomez)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLaurence Gomez of Iddeo Conseil is an expert partner specializing in change facilitation through creativity and collective intelligence, complementing The A Lab's transformation advisory services.
• B Leader (Valentin Bouteiller)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerValentin Bouteiller of B Leader is an expert partner providing RSE and Impact consulting services within The A Lab's extended network.
• Raconte! (Elsa Landais)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerElsa Landais of Raconte! is an expert partner providing graphic facilitation services to support organizational change and communication of RSE commitments within The A Lab's ecosystem.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AFNOR: French standards body and certification/consulting organization with RSE/ISO 26000-related services. A broad incumbent in the RSE standards and certification space that touches the same French enterprise buyer.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection and certification company with a sustainability services practice (audits, certifications, ESG advisory). A broader incumbent that overlaps with The A Lab's certification-adjacent work but operates at significantly larger scale.
• EcoVadis: Global sustainability ratings platform widely used by procurement teams (Efort France referenced an EcoVadis assessment supported by The A Lab). A broader, platform-based incumbent that overlaps with The A Lab's responsible purchasing advisory at the ratings and supply-chain transparency layer.

Direct peers

• Carbone 4: French independent consultancy specializing in carbon strategy and broader sustainability/CSR advisory. Comparable as a French boutique advising organizations on sustainability strategy and transformation.
• Utopies: Paris-based independent sustainability strategy and CSR consulting firm founded in 1993. Directly comparable as a French boutique advising large organizations on CSR, responsible purchasing and sustainability strategy.
• GreenFlex: French sustainability consulting and energy/CSR services firm serving industrial and commercial clients across responsible purchasing, energy efficiency, and CSR transformation — directly overlapping with The A Lab's core offerings.
• BeCitizen: French CSR/RSE consulting firm providing sustainability strategy, reporting, and responsible purchasing advisory to enterprises — directly comparable in services, geography and target buyer.
• BuyYourWay: French responsible purchasing consultancy and training firm that co-produces and co-delivers training with The A Lab. Operates in the same niche (responsible purchasing consulting and training) for the same French enterprise buyer.
• Agence Lucie: French organization behind the Lucie 26000 RSE label, partnering with The A Lab to support client certification. Overlaps directly in RSE labeling advisory for French enterprises.
• Ecoact: French carbon and sustainability consultancy (now part of Schneider Electric) advising enterprises on climate strategy, carbon footprinting, and broader sustainability transformation — adjacent to The A Lab's RSE and regulatory compliance work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thealab

Compliance2 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 THE A LAB SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION