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Colourful and timeless designs have long defined French outdoor furniture brand Fermob. Since the 134-year-old brand was taken over by Bernard Reybier in 1989, the company has also been defined by its eco credentials and commitment to employee wellbeing.
Fermob’s sustainability considerations are no afterthoughts – they’re built into the production process from the very beginning. Its designs use recycled metals, such as aluminium and steel, which can then be recycled. At the other end of the production cycle, products are given a 100-per-cent recyclable, solvent-free polyester powder coating, which contains no volatile organic compounds and is harmless to both the environment and Fermob’s employees.
Durability is also key to Fermob’s design process, and the company is the first major French industrial manufacturer to assess the lifecycle of every one of its products. Its in-house repairability index (IREP) rates each product based on its ease of repairability, with an impressive 87 per cent of Fermob’s pieces classified as easy to repair without professional help. Similarly, its recyclability index (IRCY) measures the potential for recycling a product at the end of its life – almost 95 per cent of products have been classified as fully recyclable.
Cutting-edge design is also integral to the company’s processes. The Fermob design studio develops its own unique products – such as the arresting OTO Lamp, a wireless table lamp that’s both a light source and design object and which recently won a prestigious Red Dot Award – and collaborates with leading designers on covetable new pieces. This innovative spirit infuses the brand’s new indoor product lines, which continue Fermob’s dedication to design-forward furniture with an environmentally friendly focus.
While Fermob is already a pioneer in eco-friendly and socially responsible initiatives, its future looks equally as impressive. In 2023, the company joined the Business for Climate Convention (CEC) in France’s Lyon region, which aims to halt negative impacts to the environment and climate through initiatives like reforesting, green roofs and the creation of biomimetic factories.
With plans to be a regenerative company by 2035, Fermob has years of experience in active climate-change measures; in 1998, it reduced the temperature of its paint line furnace by 10°C to conserve energy and, in 2010, it began redirecting heat from its furnace to heat its workshops. Its factories in Thoissey and Anneyron run on energy-efficient LED technology and, in 2023, Fermob installed photovoltaic panels at Thoissey. It’s not hard to imagine this French furniture powerhouse leading the way into the future.
