Paris, Dec. 29, 2025 -- Recent developments in France's coffin industry have seen simultaneous progress in the signing of major commercial contracts and the advancement of environmental transformation, outlining a modernization path for the traditional funeral supplies sector. According to authoritative industry sources, French local coffin manufacturer SOCIETE EUROPEENNE DE FABRICATION INDUSTRIELLE DE CERCUEILS (SEFIC) officially confirmed on December 15 that it had won a funeral supplies supply contract from Avenue-Web Systemes. The contract covers coffins, cushions and related funeral accessories, with a performance period from 2026 to 2030 and a total value of 3.87311 million euros. Only five days earlier, another French enterprise, PRODUCTIONS HYODALL, also successfully won a funeral supplies contract from the city of Marseille, with coffin supply as one of the core targets. Although the specific amount of the contract was not disclosed, the successive signing of large-value contracts reflects the stable demand in the French coffin market.
While developing commercial scale, the environmental transformation trend of France's coffin industry has become increasingly prominent. Since cardboard coffins were officially approved for use in France in 2009, this environmentally friendly alternative has gradually gained market recognition due to its advantages of resource conservation and low cost. The recycled cardboard coffins designed by Martine Saussol, an entrepreneur in Arles in southern France, adopt a honeycomb structure and decorative environmentally friendly wood veneer, using non-polluting glue made from corn and potato starch. The price is only about 360 euros, far lower than the starting price of 1,000 euros for traditional oak coffins. Currently, about 30 coffins are supplied to the whole of France every month. Data shows that cardboard coffins emit fewer toxic substances during cremation and have a degradation cycle of only one year. Compared with the 10-15 year degradation cycle of traditional wooden coffins, they have obvious environmental advantages and have become one of the mainstream choices in French crematoria.
The development of the industry is driven by both strict regulatory norms and the upgrading of market demand. France clearly requires coffins to meet core standards such as resistance, waterproofness, biodegradability or combustibility, and has formulated the AFNOR NFD-8001 series of standards to regulate product technical parameters. For consumers who insist on choosing wooden coffins, wood from ecologically managed forests certified by PEFC has become the first choice, and the use of harmful materials such as solvents and synthetic adhesives must be avoided. In addition, the digital transformation of the funeral industry has also brought new opportunities to the coffin industry. Some start-ups have entered the market through innovative models such as personalized coffin customization and online service docking, forming collaborative complementarity with traditional funeral enterprises. Industry insiders said that with the improvement of environmental awareness and policy guidance, France's coffin industry will further balance commercial value and ecological responsibility, promoting the comprehensive upgrading of product and service systems.
