Created in 2000 at the initiative of the wood heating industry and ADEME and managed by the Renewable Energy Syndicate, Flamme Verte labels all independent wood heating appliances (type inserts, closed fireplaces, wood stoves or pellets, stoves) as well as manual and automatic domestic boilers (with logs, pellets or chips). Now a member of the PEP ecopassport® program, this voluntary certification label strengthens more than ever its commitment to the standardization of these products in the sector. With more than a hundred national and European member brands and 5,000 referenced models, Flamme Verte demonstrates its 20 years investment in an effective environmental policy. Meeting with Axel Richard, in charge of the administrative management of the label.

How would you define your current environmental policy?

The very essence of the Flamme Verte label is to hoist the profession towards greater performance, whether in terms of environmental emissions or performance. Indeed, yield also has this environmental aspect : for individuals, consuming less wood that also means emitting fewer particles, less CO2, etc.
Our policy is based on constant improvement. Since 2020, in the context of label developments, we have in particular eliminated the six-star class to keep only the seven-star class, the most efficient.

Why did you join the PEP ecopassport program and what are your expectations?

Membership of the program was part of the project to make collective PEPs for the wood heating profession, in particular for independent appliances (nb : for boilers, these works were carried out by UNICLIMA). It was quite obvious and logical for Flamme Verte to become a member of PEP ecopassport®. Several works have been put in place at the level of the European Commission in order to integrate new environmental requirements into product standards, starting in particular with wood-burning appliances.
Today, the unification of these methods is essential for all sectors. Thus be part of PEP ecopassport program allows professionals in the sector who were involved to promote the methodology used in France. For once that France is ahead of the curve on these works, it would be good if Europe followed and we could take advantage of this lead. Our expectations are simple : that Flamme Verte should become a support to this approach and the actions to defend them at European level.

Ideally, what would your environmental policy be in 5 years?

Within 5 years, we would like to see what emerges from European work be compatible with everything that France has done, including the PEP ecopassport® program. It would be difficult to undo and then redo what has already been initiated ...
Our ambition is also to turn to something more European. The French wood heating market is one of the largest in Europe. French today, we are working with partners to become a European label.
The sector is also facing the challenge to integrate environmental requirements into the ecodesign regulations.. Changes will certainly see the light of day at this level. Indicators such as CO2 have not yet part of ecodesign. One of the European Commission's plans is to integrate all these new indicators. When we talk about environmental requirements, they are all those present in a PEP, from raw materials to use. It is a new challenge to impose this on all products in Europe, an important development in the long term.
It’s a great satisfaction to have done this work on PEPs. All the the industrialists who could participate and all the members of the Flamme Verte label have got a step ahead in fact on this subject.