Summary

The asbestos removal market in France has experienced a substantial influx of new entrants, with the number of establishments quadrupling between 2015 and 2020, reaching a total of 1,000. Predominantly, 80% of asbestos removal involves asbestos-concrete across various sites. However, the sector's profitability has been challenged by stringent regulations, resulting in a decline in the gross operating surplus rate from 11% in 2011 to 6.5% in 2018.

Despite this, innovation, particularly in robotics, offers opportunities to reduce labor costs and health risks, exemplified by companies such as Arnaud Démolition and SFTP developing asbestos removal robots. The market is influenced by the construction sector, which aligns with the rising trend of urban renewal and the need to upgrade older industrial sites. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a 20% decline in the market was estimated for 2020; however, a swift recovery was anticipated in 2021.

The industry includes a range of players from major construction groups like Vinci, Bouygues, and Eiffage, to leading environmental services such as Veolia and Suez, and specialist asbestos removal corporations such as Snadec and DI Environnement. With the market achieving maturity and a valuation around €1 billion, it is poised to stabilize, although many buildings still require asbestos removal.

**Trends and Dynamics in the Asbestos Removal Market**

In recent years, the asbestos removal market in France has experienced significant growth and evolution with new entrants quadrupling the number of establishments from 2015 to 2020. The market, now hosting around a thousand establishments, operates within a highly regulated landscape due to the hazardous nature of asbestos. Asbestos, a harmful silicate mineral, presents notable health risks, especially in buildings constructed before its ban in 1997. Asbestos removal services are exhaustive and stringent, requiring dust removal, containment, extraction, quality control, and waste destruction.

However, the booming market is facing threats to profitability; companies have seen their gross operating surplus drop from approximately 11% to just over 6% in a span of seven years. The introduction of tighter legislation has increased operating costs through certification, protection, and training without a commensurate rise in charges to customers—eroding margins in the process.

Innovation is a beacon of hope for the market. Asbestos removal robots are a particular point of interest, with the potential to revolutionize the industry by reducing labor costs and health risks. The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is also enhancing the design, supervision, and execution of works. From an industry perspective, the construction and industrial sectors are the primary consumers of asbestos removal services, accounting for half and a quarter of the activity, respectively. The need for asbestos removal is further underscored by local initiatives to rehabilitate urban spaces and by the industry's drive to upgrade old production sites. The market is tied to the construction sector, as indicated by the congruent growth patterns between asbestos removal services and the construction industry.

Moreover, asbestos removal has benefited from new segments such as ship and train dismantling. France has started tapping into these domains with projects to dismantle military submarines and old train models, bolstered by the prospect of robotic and eco-friendly technologies. The asbestos removal market is relatively mature, forecast to stabilize around a turnover of approximately one billion euros.

Despite the apparent plateau, the potential remains untapped—many buildings still await asbestos abatement. Regulatory changes and COVID-19 notwithstanding, the market is on a trajectory for a comeback, aligning itself with the broader restoration and reconstruction trend. As for the segmentation of industry players, it's a mix of large construction groups, environmental service leaders, and specialized asbestos removal enterprises. Vinci, a major construction group, boasts a turnover of over 45 billion euros, while specialized players like Snadec and DI Environnement show.

### Diverse Spectrum of Market Leaders in Asbestos Removal

The landscape of the asbestos removal market is an intricate network of companies ranging from colossal construction groups to specialized asbestos removal firms. Each one plays a critical role in shaping the industry, navigating stringent regulations, and pushing the boundaries through innovation.

#### Construction and Infrastructure

Titans At the zenith of the market structure are the behemoths of construction and infrastructure: **Vinci**, **Bouygues**, and **Eiffage**. These conglomerates are not just limited to constructing edifices but are deeply intertwined with the asbestos removal niche. Their extensive resources allow them to tackle large-scale projects that often involve comprehensive asbestos eradication components. Their dominance in the construction sector offers a seamless integration of asbestos removal services, fostering trust and reliability among clients in need of full-spectrum construction and rehabilitation solutions.

#### Environmental Stewards and Service Providers

Charting environmental sustainability and waste management, **Veolia** and **Suez** have made a formidable entry into the asbestos removal market. Their foray pivots on their core competencies in environmental services, ranging from waste management to water treatment. Their entry into asbestos removal is a natural extension of their commitment to environmental health and safety. Leveraging their global presence and expertise, these leaders contribute significantly to advancing safe decontamination practices and advocating for responsible waste disposal.

#### Pure-Play Asbestos Removal Specialists

The market also celebrates pure-play specialists like **Snadec**, **DI Environnement**, **Serpol**, **Wig France Entreprises**, and **DFD**. These companies offer tailored services and exhibit a razor-sharp focus on asbestos decontamination, positioning themselves as experts in this niche area. Their dedication to this hazardous material allows them to develop cutting-edge techniques, operate with high efficiency, and ensure compliance with stringent health and safety standards. These specialists operate with a deep understanding of asbestos abatement complexities and often become the go-to choice for projects requiring meticulous attention to asbestos-related challenges. Each category of player brings its own set of strengths and expertise, crafting a market that is rich with options and solutions tailored to varying asbestos removal needs.

Together, these key players create a solid foundation for the market, drive transformation through technological advancements, and ensure the safety and well-being of environments contaminated with asbestos.

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  • Last update : 04/11/2021
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Summary and extracts

1 Market overview

1.1 Introduction and scope of activity

The asbestos removal means the activity of removing asbestos in a building (collective and individual residential buildings, warehouses, factories and offices) as well as on the vehicles (trains and ships). Because of the health risks associated with the development of asbestos, asbestos removal is strictly regulated in France and throughout the world

Asbestos comes in many forms and appears on materials such as mortar, plaster, slab, roofing, bitumen or partitions. To remove asbestos from spaces and buildings, several steps keys are necessary: dust removal, containment, asbestos extraction, quality control and destruction of waste

The asbestos removal market in France is reaching maturity with a multiplicity of actors market players: construction industry players (Vinci, Bouygues) work alongside asbestos removal and site rehabilitation specialists, as well as site maintenance/improvement and deconstruction groups. Ancillary activities enable engineering groups and diagnostic specialists to carve out a place for themselves in certain market niches. As a result, players are trying to penetrate new adjacent market segments such as nuclear dismantling or asbestos removal for vehicles: this is the case of Vinci through its NAOM entity.

I mean, come on, innovation is key to the market with the rise of the robots asbestos removers and digital to simplify on-site diagnosis. The future challenge will be to succeed in combining the different professions and to tame digital and technological methods in order to survive in a market that still has a lot of potential.

List of charts

  • Entreprises enregistrées sous le code 39.00Z
  • Principaux types de matériaux traités
  • Taux d'excédent brut d'exploitation (EBE) des entreprises de désamiantage
  • Répartition des types de chantiers recourant au désamiantage
  • Répartition des lieux traités entre intérieur et extérieur
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Latest news

Veolia's hazardous waste treatment business in France transferred to Suez. - 06/05/2022
  • Transaction value 690 million euros
  • Photovoltaic panel recycling market set to boom by 2030
  • The scope of these assets covers 22 sites, mainly incinerators and landfills
Suez recovers its former UK waste business - 21/09/2022
  • Suez leader in waste management in France
  • Suez acquires Veolia's UK waste management business
  • Additional sales of 1 billion euros and 6,000 employees
  • Sales rise to 9 billion euros
  • Group now employs 44,000 people, up from 35,000 in February
Suez in Lorraine for the chemical recycling of plastics - 17/02/2023
  • Suez to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic and polyester fiber waste in France
  • Planned investment of around €450 million
  • Planned production capacity is 70,000 tonnes
  • Commissioning in 2027
  • The plant will be supplied by GazelEnergie, which will provide green steam
  • French SME Carbios is also active with its project for an enzymatic recycling plant for plastic polymers.

Companies quoted in this study

This study contains a complete overview of the companies in the market, with the latest figures and news for each company. :

Suez Groupe
Snadec
DI Environnement
Serfim Groupe - Serpol
Wig France Entreprises
Desamiantage France Démolition
Valame
Véolia Groupe
Valgo
Codepa (Livio groupe)
Ouest Contôle Environnement CICEA OCE
Baelen groupe 3DNext

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