Certifications and Commitments

Contributing towards a sustainable future

Aware of the economic, social and environmental impact of our activities, we commit ourselves to bring together performance, innovation and positive impact.
Each initiative reflects our commitment to bring together economic performance and social responsibility.

Certifications

The different entities of the VICARD group are certified PEFC since 2009. This certification is based on the implementation a chain of control whose aim is to monitor the entire wood industry, from the forest to the end user. Thanks to this programme, the Vicard Group also contributes to sustainable management of forests through concrete actions regulated by international rules (ONF).

To adapt to the new regulatory and food safety requirements, we have implemented a HACCP system recognition.

In order to ensure the highest traceability, Bureau Veritas recognizes and certifies the French origin of our ROV woods.

The Vicard Group is A.E.O certified (Authorized Economic Operator). This certification, issued by customs, aims to ensure optimal safety of your products. This involves controlling international logistics flows, the flow of people, goods and vehicles circulating on our production site.

Since 2025, Tonnellerie Vicard is certified as Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, recognising six generations of outstanding expertise in the manufacture of oak barrels, vats and oak casks.

Focus on: ECOVADIS

ECOVADIS is an international reference that assesses companies on their social responsibility, environmental and ethical practices. ECOVADIS awards mark our commitment to sustainable practices.

1. ENVIRONMENT
2. RESPONSIBLE PURCHASING
3. SOCIAL AND HUMAN RIGHTS
4. ETHICS
EnvironmentResponsible PurchasingSocial and Human rightsEthics
1.

Environment

Environmental preservation is central to our approach. At every stage, we set up concrete initiatives that intend to reduce our ecological impact. Aware of our clients' expectations, we have integrated rigorous environmental practices so as to establish a lasting relationship of trust.

Environment

Our commitments:

Control of resources, recycling of 100% of wood waste, continuous optimisation of waste management, recycling and reduction of paper and of water consumption.
Our electricity consumption is optimised through a program of precise metering, as part of an energy self-sufficiency initiative. This includes waste heat recovery (backed by ADEME), installation of photovoltaic solar panels and recycling of wood waste, while reducing our water consumption.
Consideration of the life-cycle of our products and continuous improvement of the sustainable management of wood waste resulting from machining.
Assessment of our carbon footprint according to the ADEME methodology. This assessment enables us to propose possible ways of reducing our carbon emissions.
2.

Responsible Purchasing

Our purchasing practices are built on sustainable responsibility, with strict criteria so as to ensure a supply chain that respects the environment and human rights. Wood, a noble resource, is at the centre of our products, and we act ethically to preserve forests, local populations and biodiversity.

Responsible Purchasing

Our commitments:

Ensuring a sufficient stock so as to meet our customers' expectations.
Promoting the sustainable forest development through certified wood purchases.
Working with local and European suppliers sharing our values, ensuring the exclusive use of non-controversial materials and promoting local processing in Europe (recognised by the APECF Transformation EU since 2019).
Maintain and renew our PEFC certification, with a procurement target of at least 60% PEFC-certified wood over a rolling period of 24 months.
Ensuring access to relevant information (see Ethics section).
3.

Social and Human rights

We make sure to valuing our employees by providing a safe, inclusive working environment and respectful of human rights. Aware of the rarity of the cooper's expertise, we consider our staff as a key asset. Our aim is to create an environment where everyone can thrive and develop in complete safety, with a real quality of professional life.

Social and Human rights

Our commitments:

Enforcing human rights and labour laws.
Continuous improvement of health and safety conditions, with a rigorous monitoring of risks and initiatives to reduce strain.
Developing well-being at work by improving production tools and social benefits.
Implementation of advances in technology (tongue and groove machining, joining of the barrel heads, molecular heating) to improve the working conditions of the coopers.
We follow a rigorous safety action plan and continuously work towards reducing risks for our staff.
To ensure employability and the continuity of our expertise, we encourage the transfer of skills. We encourage multi-skilling through tutoring actions and train at least one apprentice every year.
Equal opportunities for everybody, with a partnership for the integration of people with autism and collaborations with organisations promoting inclusion (e.g. French Red Cross for the greening of the wood yard and an ESAT (French Sheltered employment Organisation), for the manufacture of pine pegs and bars.)
4.

Ethics

Innovation, expertise and independence have been guiding our ethics since six generations. Our approach is built on trust, integrity and transparency, in our commercial as well as in our internal relationships. We commit ourselves to respect the highest standards in terms of compliance, data security, food safety and fair-trade practices.

We believe that our friendliness and our integrity are essential to build strong relationships with our stakeholders, particularly in an international business environment in which anticipating challenges and preventing risks are essential.

Ethics

Our commitments:

Compliance with French and international law, backed by experts to ensure our compliance.
Stakeholders' data security protection according to GDPR, with robust systems in place.
Application of the HACCP methodology, to ensure the safety of our products, providing a strict traceability and regular checks.
Our PEFC, Bureau Veritas (French origin of our ROV wood) and Opérateur Économique Agréé (OEA) certifications are the guarantees for transparency and ethics in our raw materials and trade flows management.
Bronze ECOVADIS medal since 2021 in progress, reflecting a significant improvement despite the tighter criteria.
Raising awareness of our teams to the ethical principles in business, adherence to the United Nations Global Compact.
The company shares its technological advances and its practices with the whole sector so as to promote better and more sustainable working conditions.
Participation in communities of entrepreneurs to exchange best practices, collaboration with the Fédération des Tonneliers de France

By adopting the ECOVADIS rating system, we line ourselves with the standards of our most prestigious partners as well as committing ourselves to constantly improving our practices to ensure greater competitiveness and increased recognition of our efforts in sustainable development.

Towards a sustainable future

At Vicard, we believe that shared responsibility is important for the success of our company, in which each actor plays a crucial role. Together, we are building a company that combines performance and respect for social and environmental values. VIEW OUR CSR charter