Cement, ready-mix concrete, premix, admixtures and mineral mortars are category 1 construction products (family 1.a), and a producer pays either Ecominéro or Valobat, the only two eco-organismes approved for category 1. A maker established outside France joins through a representative established in France (article L. 541-10-9-1). On the published rates cement costs €10.26 a tonne at Ecominéro and €7.70 a tonne at Valobat; Ecominéro has a lower line for CEM II Portland-composite cement (€9.23 a tonne). The choice also changes the paperwork: Ecominéro takes monthly declarations, Valobat one a year.Sources (6)
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 PMCBEcominéroEcominéro — Guide de la déclaration PMCB (juillet 2025), boîte à outils producteurs
Backed by data: Valobat PMCB lines in the calculator
What is covered
Family 1.a of the scope notice covers concrete and mortar and their components: cement, aggregates, admixtures, precast concrete products, aerated concrete and mineral mortars and renders. Lime is family 1.b. The test in article R. 543-289 is the use, not the material: products intended to be permanently incorporated into a building or its plot, including parking areas. Concrete used only for the works (formwork blocks removed after the job, temporary site products) is excluded. Journal officiel
The rates, side by side
| Eco-organisme | Product line (code) | Eco-contribution excl. VAT | Rate applies from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecominéro | Cement | €10.26 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Ecominéro | Portland cement CEM II/A-F, B-F, A-M, B-M or C-M | €9.23 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Valobat | Cement (010100500) | €7.70 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Ecominéro | Ready-mix concrete | €3.02 / m³ | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Valobat | Ready-mix concrete (010100300) | €2.40 / m³ | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Ecominéro | Cement-based premix | €2.52 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Valobat | Pre-mix (010100800) | €3.94 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Ecominéro | Admixture for concrete, mortar and grout | €5.53 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Valobat | Admixtures and other additives for preparing concrete (010100100) | €6.67 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Ecominéro | Ready-to-use mortars and binders, cement or lime | €9.25 / tonne | 1 Aug 2026 Ecominéro |
| Valobat | Mineral mortar and render, cement-based or lime-based (powders > 25kg) (010300200) | €0.43 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
| Valobat | Mineral mortar and render, cement-based or lime-based (pastes > 25kg) (010300100) | €5.79 / tonne | 1 Jul 2026 Valobat |
The two scales were published for different periods, printed in the last column. Compare like with like when you renew: Valobat publishes its scale per calendar year, Ecominéro updated its scale from 1 August 2026. Ecominéro
Worked example
Worked example: a cement maker outside France sells 2,000 tonnes of CEM I cement and 500 tonnes of cement-based premix to French distributors in a year.
| Product | Eco-organisme | Calculation | Eco-contribution a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEM I cement | Ecominéro | 2,000 tonnes × €10.26 Ecominéro | €20,520 |
| Cement-based premix | Ecominéro | 500 tonnes × €2.52 Ecominéro | €1,260 |
| CEM I cement | Valobat | 2,000 tonnes × €7.70 Valobat | €15,400 |
| Premix | Valobat | 500 tonnes × €3.94 Valobat | €1,970 |
Same tonnage, two bills: €21,780 at Ecominéro, €17,370 at Valobat. On cement alone the per-tonne gap is €2.56; on premix the gap reverses. The cheaper scheme depends on your product mix, which is why we price your actual list before you join. Sources (2)ValobatValobat — barèmes PMCBEcominéroEcominéro — Guide de la déclaration PMCB (juillet 2025), boîte à outils producteurs
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 the scheme on your real product mix: in the example above the difference is €4,410 a year for the same tonnes.
- Declaring CEM II cement on its own line where it qualifies, instead of the general cement line.
- Not declaring what is outside the scope: products used only during the works, and exports out of France.
- One declaration a year instead of twelve if Valobat suits you, less internal time and fewer late-declaration risks.
ADEME - Joining yourself so your French distributors stop paying as importers, which makes your price list easier to sell.
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
Is cement category 1 or category 2?
Category 1, family 1.a (concrete and mortar). Category 1 is the mainly mineral category, without glass, mineral wool or plaster.
Can I join Ecomaison or Valdelia for cement?
No. Ecomaison and Valdelia are approved for category 2 only. For cement, the choice is Ecominéro or Valobat. Sources (2)ADEMEADEME — Filière REP Éléments d'ameublement (EA)ADEMEADEME — Filière REP PMCB : éco-organismes agréés, données
My French distributor already pays the eco-contribution. Do I need to join?
Not if the distributor declares as importer, but it then carries the cost. Many distributors ask foreign suppliers to join so they can prove the exporter contributed, which exempts them.
How often do I declare?
Ecominéro: monthly, online or by Excel file. Valobat: once a year. ADEME
Do I pay on cement I deliver to a building site in France that I install myself?
Yes. Placing on the French market includes products you bring in to use on your own works.
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.
Connect on LinkedIn →