Bricks, perforated blocks, clay roof tiles, terracotta floor tiles and flues are category 1 construction products (family 1.d, fired or raw clay), and the producer pays Ecominéro or Valobat. Here the two scales are far apart: Ecominéro charges €1.35 a tonne across fired-clay products, Valobat €2.54 a tonne for masonry and roofing. For a brickworks that difference outweighs the extra paperwork of monthly declarations at Ecominéro. A producer outside France joins through a representative established in France (article L. 541-10-9-1).Sources (5)
Ministère de la Transition éMinistère de la Transition écologique — Produits et matériaux de construction du secteur du bâtiment (PMCB), page mise à jour le 24 novembre 2025Journal officielJournal officiel — Avis relatif au champ d'application de la filière REP PMCB, JO du 17 juin 2023 (NOR TREP2315866V)
LégifranceLégifrance — article L. 541-10-9-1 of the Environmental Code (full text)EcominéroEcominéro — Barème à compter du 1er août 2026ValobatValobat — barèmes PMCB
The rates, side by side
| Eco-organisme | Product line (code) | Eco-contribution excl. VAT | Rate applies from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecominéro | Perforated bricks and blocks | €1.35 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Ecominéro | Solid bricks, brick slips and accessories | €1.35 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Ecominéro | Roof tiles and accessories | €1.35 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Ecominéro | Floor coverings | €1.35 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Ecominéro | Cladding, flue parts, structural elements and other | €1.35 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Valobat | Clay masonry elements (010200600) | €2.54 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Valobat | Clay roofing element (020100500) | €2.54 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Valobat | Clay roofing accessory (020500600) | €2.54 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Valobat | Raw earth elements (010200200) | €0.94 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
Worked example
Worked example: a brickworks sells 4,000 tonnes of clay bricks and 2,000 tonnes of clay roof tiles into France a year.
| Product | Eco-organisme | Calculation | Eco-contribution a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay bricks | Ecominéro | 4,000 tonnes × €1.35 Ecominéro | €5,400 |
| Clay roof tiles | Ecominéro | 2,000 tonnes × €1.35 Ecominéro | €2,700 |
| Clay bricks | Valobat | 4,000 tonnes × €2.54 Valobat | €10,160 |
| Clay roof tiles | Valobat | 2,000 tonnes × €2.54 Valobat | €5,080 |
Ecominéro: €8,100. Valobat: €15,240. The gap is €7,140 a year on 6,000 tonnes. This is the opposite of cement, where Valobat's line is lower: one scheme is not cheaper for everything. Valobat
Who is the producer
Under article R. 543-290 of the Environmental Code, the producer is whoever manufactures or has manufactured the product under its own name or brand for use in buildings in France, or imports it or first places it on the French market. The 2023 scope notice names three importers: a French site's client buying abroad, a contractor buying abroad to install, and a distributor buying abroad. Each of them pays “sauf si elles sont en mesure de prouver que l'exportateur a lui-même contribué”, unless they can prove the exporter already contributed. A foreign manufacturer that joins an eco-organisme itself, through a representative established in France (article L. 541-10-9-1, mandatory since 10 July 2026), takes that cost and paperwork off its French customers. Distributors increasingly ask for that proof. Sources (2)LégifranceLégifrance — article L. 541-10-9-1 of the Environmental Code (full text)Journal officielJournal officiel — Avis relatif au champ d'application de la filière REP PMCB, JO du 17 juin 2023 (NOR TREP2315866V)
How a representative saves you money here
- Choosing Ecominéro for fired clay at these rates: €7,140 a year less in the example. Ecominéro
- Handling the twelve monthly declarations Ecominéro requires, so the lower rate does not cost you staff time.
ADEME - Keeping concrete roof tiles, if you also make them, on their own line (family 1.a). Journal officiel
What we need from you
- Company name, registration and VAT numbers, and the person who signs
- Your product list with the eco-organisme product code for each line (we map it with you) ADEME
- Quantities placed on the French market per line, in the unit the line uses (tonne, m³, m², metre or unit), for the past year and an estimate for the coming one
- Who your French customers are (distributors, contractors, end clients), to settle who is the producer for each flow
Price
Our fee. Construction products are quoted separately, because the work depends on the eco-organisme (Ecominéro takes monthly declarations, Valobat one a year) and on your tonnage. Plus Pro starts at €990 a year for up to 10 tonnes; above that we send a written quote. Setup is €0. Eco-contributions go to the eco-organisme at its published rate, with 0% markup. See pricing or the construction products service.
Frequently asked questions
Are concrete roof tiles the same line as clay tiles?
No. Concrete roof tiles are family 1.a; clay tiles family 1.d. Each has its own line at both schemes.
Is raw earth (adobe, compressed earth blocks) covered?
Yes, family 1.d covers fired and raw clay. Valobat has a line for raw earth elements at €0.94 a tonne. ADEME
Why not join Valobat for everything?
Valobat makes sense if you also sell category 2 products and want one contract. For a pure fired-clay range, Ecominéro's rate is lower. ADEME
Razvan Toma is the founder of EPR France Rep, a France-established authorised representative (mandataire) for producers with no French establishment. He has worked in waste management and recycling since 2009, running waste-separation programmes inside large B2B organisations in France for clients including Chanel, Microsoft, Decathlon, Pirelli, IKEA, Vinci, Capgemini and E.Leclerc.
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