L'Ameublement français, representing nearly 400 companies in the furniture sector, has made CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) central to its 2022-2027 development plan and aims to become a sector with a positive impact by 2030. Specifically, L'Ameublement français wants to leverage decarbonization to promote local, more virtuous manufacturing by selecting sustainable materials, recycling, and transportation—focusing on domestic furniture rather than imports. This approach will also foster the reindustrialization of the country while contributing to reducing the trade deficit.

An Evolving French Furniture Sector

The companies within the L'Ameublement français sector, primarily small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), face numerous challenges: increased foreign competition, rising energy and raw material costs, and the integration of a more sustainable business model. To remain competitive, companies in the sector must adapt to market changes and meet the growing expectations of customers and consumers, who place increasing importance on how furniture is made and the preservation of natural resources used in the manufacturing process.

L'Ameublement français, however, aims to turn constraints into opportunities, using decarbonization to revive French furniture manufacturing and participate in the reindustrialization effort, also supported by the government.

The furniture sector has not been immune to globalization. A recent study highlights the loss of three-quarters of industrial jobs in France compared to its peak, with nearly a third of this decline occurring since 2009. Today, furniture manufacturing represents just 0.2% of France's GDP but accounts for nearly 5% of the country’s trade deficit.

Nevertheless, the sector persists, with approximately 60,000 direct jobs and €3.6 billion in added value.

L'Ameublement français’ Resilience Strategy

In 2022, the sector conducted a study outlining several future scenarios and evaluating their impact on businesses, as well as the strategies needed to maintain competitiveness. The study shows that CSR can be a real asset for companies in the L'Ameublement français sector, provided it is integrated coherently and effectively into their overall strategy.

Two scenarios are presented:

• The first scenario, where manufacturers do not undertake any transformation, would result in continued deindustrialization, with a projected 11% decline in production between 2020 and 2030. While emissions from the French sector would decrease by 40%, imports would increase by 25%, leading to a loss of 10% of sector jobs.
• LThe second scenario, focusing on reindustrialization, would lead to an 11% reduction in total carbon emissions by 2030, while also creating nearly 11,000 jobs.

Beyond the environmental impact, the green reindustrialization scenario predicts an 18% increase in the sector’s revenue, compared to an 11% loss if deindustrialization continues.

This proactive approach thus engages the sector in a long-term, economically profitable, structured, and motivating sustainable project aimed at reclaiming lost ground in French furniture manufacturing.

RSM Supports the Companies of L'Ameublement français

of CODIFAB, to assist its member companies in their industry decarbonization strategy. Following a successful pilot phase with 5 companies, L'Ameublement français launched a CSR training program at scale in November 2022 for 80 companies in the sector.

To support all these companies on their decarbonization journey, we offer operational training-action, ready-to-use tools, and personalized coaching. The companies participating in the program are guided toward a structured, ambitious, and context-specific CSR approach tailored to their CSR priorities and will be able to publish an annual CSR report upon completing their CSR deployment.