It has now been 20 years since the company asserted itself as the European leader on the wood composite market. Silvadec has a story to tell you... its own history.
SILVADEC – a passion for innovation since 2001
1997: The meeting
For Silvadec, it all starts with a meeting: between its co-founders, Bénédicte Jézéquel, a graduate of the ENSCR (Rennes School of Chemistry) and Philippe Crez, a graduate of the ESCP Business School in Paris. The two meet while at British Vita PLC (now The Vita Group), world leader in the transformation of plastics. They very quickly become friends with their colleague Bruno Teysseyre, now Silvadec's Technical Director
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2000 : first steps
Their pioneering spirit, coupled with a desire to act, soon leads the friends to the other side of the Atlantic, where they approach Strandex, a Wisconsin-based engineering firm specialising in wood composite.
Bénédicte and Philippe, convinced of the application potential of this new material and technology that are still non-existent in Europe, sign the licensing agreement, and Silvadec is born in 2001. They explore a number of options, from window surrounds to technical components for skis, before stepping out into the deck boards market.
2001: Beginnings of the adventure in Arzal, Brittany, in a business start-up incubator
From two to three, and then 10 people, Silvadec's story gradually becomes a collective adventure.
Silvadec has to overcome many industrial and technical challenges before mastering its technology perfectly
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First extrusion test at the company's headquarters in Arzal, Morbihan
The first extrusion machine is purchased in Austria, and then imported into France. The first profiles are produced : Now we are true pioneers.
It will take a few years of R&D before reaching the optimal formulation, wellspring of the success met by Silvadec's products today.
2003 : Recognition
Winning the gold medal at Batimat, the quintessential international trade exhibition all about building and architecture, enshrined Silvadec's pioneering spirit.
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2004 : Committed construction
Creation of the first HQE (High Quality Environmental – worldwide standard for green building) construction site using Silvadec Elegance deck boards | School for Nature and Man (Branféré, département 56).
Commissioning of a second production line.
2005 : Innovation award, Garden & Landscaping fair (Paris)
Societal commitment: being mindful about including workers with disabilities, in 2005 Silvadec set up a partnership with ESATs (French organisations helping disabled people back into work) near its industrial site.
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2009 : Moving out and setting up a new factory
We're investing in creating a new site at Arzal.
The production site will be able to accommodate up to 10 extrusion lines. The site also features a new administrative building, plus all the necessary buildings for order preparation and for storage.
2011 : 10 years already!
Europe's number-one manufacturer of wood composite, Silvadec continues its success story as it celebrates 10 years of innovation and ecological commitment, now with a 45-strong team turning over €18 million/year.
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The Batimat exhibition features a bold street marketing move by Silvadec to celebrate its 10th birthday
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2013 : PEFC certification is obtained, validating our CSR approach
Silvadec becomes PEFC-certified (European label providing consumers with a guarantee that the wood or the wood-based products bearing this label come from sustainably managed forests).
We are the first PEFC-certified composite manufacturer in Europe. Our suppliers are also working towards gaining the certification.
2014 : Silvadec Fibres is born
Preoccupied by the environmental issues of our time, Bénédicte and Philippe decide to link up with JOSSO, one of the largest sawmills in Brittany located close to Silvadec's headquarters, to create a joint venture called C2J, which became known as Silvadec Fibres a few years later.
A genuine circular economic loop is established as a result, the aim being to secure Silvadec's supply of wood flour from the waste wood chips and sawdust produced by a local sawmill. Because ecological sense is common sense, first and foremost!
Silvadec also becomes Europe's first independent composite manufacturer to hold ISO 14001 certification !
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Bénédicte Jézéquel, co-founder of Silvadec Fibres (formerly C2J), Carole Delga, Deputy Secretary of State for Trade, Crafts, Consumer Affairs and the Social and Solidarity Economy, and Thierry Huiban, Mayor of Roc Saint-André – Official opening
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2015 : Launch of the Atmosphere deck board made from co-extruded wood composite
The company stands out from the rest with its strategy of bold, continuous innovation that reinvents itself constantly to stay a step ahead and adapt to market developments.
2016 : EcoBox by Silvadec, a genuine circular economy model
Since Silvadec was created, we have had an ambitious strategy in place regarding sustainable development, which led us to introduce the EcoBox recycling programme. Thanks to this programme, offcuts of Silvadec® wood composite deck boards can be reintegrated into the production process. The only initiative of its kind in Europe!
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2017 : Germany, a new venture
In 2017, Silvadec Deutschland springs into action in the Bavière region, 70 km from Munich in the town of Schierling. The goal is to increase the production capacity of the main site in Brittany and also serve Eastern European markets more easily. About ten people now work at the Schierling site
2018 : The year of awards!
At the Carrefour International du Bois trade show, we win the innovation prize for our recycling system. The fencing range is also spotlighted, receiving the "Mon jardin & Ma maison" Grand Prix for House and Garden.
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[Women in Industry awards]
Bénédicte Jézéquel receives the Female Entrepreneur prize, awarded by French business and technology magazine l'Usine Nouvelle.
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2019 : Our environmental commitment continues!
We are the first French composite supplier to produce an EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) for decking and cladding.
2020 : A new signature
Silvadec reveals a new brand identity, in alignment with the project led by its founders. It reflects the company we have become, and which we mean to continue to grow.
Silvadec buys the specialist metallurgy company 2JTECH and steps up its social and regional commitment.
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Silvadec receives the MoRE label – MObilised for REcycling – for the first time. This is the first European label awarded to industrial companies that integrate recycled plastic in their production.
2021 : The 20-year milestone – a key moment!
On 29 October 2021, Silvadec's employees and partners join together to celebrate their collective success, a gathering shared with their proud, moved company director, Bénédicte Jézéquel.
On this day, Bénédicte is honoured with the title “Knight of the National Order of Merit”, enshrining her commitment that has carried the company beyond Brittany's borders.
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Bruno Teysseyre celebrates his 20 years of business and commitment at the heart of Silvadec's adventure!
Jean-Baptiste Fortin and Ruben Mignon, who were instrumental in Silvadec's construction, respectively become Director of the company's Commercial and Marketing Department and Director of the production site in France.
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Our environmental approach is recognised once again as we obtain ISO 50001 certification. We have set up a low-carbon energy management system, with our sights set on reducing our energy use.
2022 : boosting our production capacity and ramping up our strategy on sustainable development
Silvadec is proud to employ more than 100 people and to be the French and European leader on the wood composite manufacturing market.
We are achieving an annual turnover of €40 million. With our commercial presence in more than 20 countries, we are a true independent international SME.
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Our environmental approach is recognised once again as we obtain ISO 50001 certification. We have set up a low-carbon energy management system, with our sights set on reducing our energy use.
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2023: A Boost for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Since 2022, Maud Jézéquel has joined the Silvadec group as CSR Manager. Her work has enabled us to enhance our business model through the achievement of two significant distinctions:
- The Bretagne 26000 Label, a regional certification that recognizes both our business model from a social and environmental perspective, and our CSR strategy for the coming years.
- The Ecovadis Silver Medal, a demanding international certification that marks the first step towards advanced monitoring of our social and environmental indicators, as well as the implementation of extra-financial accounting.
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2024: EcoVadis Gold Medal, an international recognition
In October 2024, Silvadec reached a major milestone by earning the EcoVadis gold medal. This distinction places the company in the top 5% of 130,000 companies evaluated worldwide. The certification, which measures CSR performance through environment, social aspects, ethics and responsible purchasing, confirms Silvadec's historical commitment to reasoned and local resource management.
...2025: towards 100% recycled material!
Silvadec is partnering with Acteco Recycling to create Heuliad Environnement, a plant dedicated to plastic waste recycling. This ambitious project will lead to the opening of a fourth production site in Elven (56) in spring 2025, spanning 20,000 m² and benefiting from the support of ADEME and Bpifrance.
Our goal is to secure a supply of recycled polyethylene.
In addition to our wood flour production site, Silvadec Fibres, we aim for production entirely made from recycled and local raw materials.
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Future facing
Setting a new course...
Silvadec is about to set out in a new direction : towards ETI status (Intermediate-Sized Enterprise). How far we have come, since our beginnings as craftspeople.
Taking steps towards 100% recycled composite by 2030
Guided by the spirit of the times and the challenges of our modern world, we are working to set up a plastic recycling unit. This strongly reinforces our efforts to be environmentally responsible.
Let's continue composing the Silvadec adventure together