Pivaudran: Aiming for “100% low-carbon aluminum”

2026 marks a new beginning for G.Pivaudran. It will see the company fulfill its commitment to “100% low-carbon aluminum.” During Paris Packaging Week, the French firm took stock of its progress toward sustainable luxury. The goal is to have converted its entire range to low-carbon aluminum by the end of this year.
“This transition will be a smooth one,” explains Marc Pivaudran, President, “as part of a zero-waste policy and in line with customer demand, i.e., by using up existing stock and gradually replacing it with new orders.”

Established in Souillac in the Lot region since 1948, G.Pivaudran designs and manufactures aluminum parts for the perfume, cosmetics, and spirits markets.
The company quickly became a major player in the Lot region’s economy.
It now has 15,000 m² of industrial space spread over two sites. The first is its historic headquarters in Souillac, and the second is on the road to Sarlat, where the production area was already expanded by more than 3,000 m² in 2018.
The SME is a major employer in the region and even one of the main employers in the Lot department. It employs nearly 220 people (180 on permanent contracts and 30-40 on temporary contracts). It is supported by various organizations and institutions such as BPI, the Occitanie Region, France Relance, and Territoires d’industrie. The long-term target turnover is €40 million (it was €28 million in 2024). €8 million was invested between 2023 and 2024 to install a new anodizing line. €500,000 to €600,000 was also allocated in 2025 and 2026 to install two robots to automate the unloading of two of the presses.
The latest-generation automatic anodizing line took more than a year to complete
and replaced the old line dating from 1990. It required the construction of a 500 m³ pit, the installation of 80 3,000-liter tanks, and a 70,000 m³/h suction system.
The work also included the installation of an energy recovery system to preheat the extracted air and the fitting of 60% of the tanks with an exchanger so that they can be connected to the future wood-fired heating network (to be installed in 2027).
This installation has doubled the plant’s surface treatment capacity while reducing water, energy, and chemical consumption by a third.

“A year and a few months later,” says Marc Pivaudran, "the results are more than positive, with targets achieved and projects underway. In addition to doubling the company’s production capacity, this new unit is showing convincing results in terms of environmental responsibility, with a reduction in carbon impact, energy and water savings, and reduced consumption of chemicals. The investment in our new production unit was the largest in our history. It is concrete evidence of our ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainable growth."

100% green electricity!

Since January 1, 2026, the company has switched to 100% green electricity thanks to a targeted purchase agreement with EDF. In 2027, it will also benefit from a connection to a new local wood-fired heating network. This is an unprecedented move in the department: g.pivaudran will be the first company in Lot to connect to this type of infrastructure. “This transition,” explains Marc Pivaudran, "allows us to completely free ourselves from fossil fuels and marks a new stage in our commitment to decarbonizing our processes. Making a commitment is the first step, but having that commitment validated and its results verified by independent bodies is just as essential. Obtaining EcoVadis Platinum certification places us in the top 1% of companies worldwide in terms of CSR performance. We have also renewed our “Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant” (EPV) label for another five years. This distinction recognizes and celebrates our expertise. It highlights our commitment to quality, innovation, and the transmission of our industrial skills. Our commitments, investments, and the implementation of new production tools have borne fruit and will reach the market at the end of 2026.
Three new projects focused on an eco-responsible transition approach are worth noting. One involves a customer switching from a zamac product to a 100% aluminum product, using low-carbon aluminum and a glue-free assembly that is 100% sortable for better recyclability. This product will be launched on the market in late 2026/early 2027. In addition, another customer, also in the perfume industry, is changing its plastic packaging to aluminum (with steel ballast). This product will be released in late 2026.
It should be noted that the new anodizing line has enabled the production of a double-anodized cap thanks to its advantages in terms of cost, quality, and capacity.

The first mascara made from recycled aluminum

“I would like to point out that the launch of the first luxury mascara made from recycled aluminum,” emphasizes Marc Pivaudran, "was a key step in the eco-responsible transition of the beauty world. In collaboration with our partner Constellium, we conducted numerous tests to ensure, on the one hand, the technical suitability of the material to withstand the various transformations inherent in the manufacture of packaging and, on the other hand, its aesthetic appearance during anodizing and, finally, its ability to guarantee stable product quality over time.
The recycled material was presented to Chanel, which, as a major player in responsible beauty, wanted to incorporate it into the packaging of its three mascara formats: “Le Volume,” “Le Volume Révolution,” and “Le Volume Stretch.” With a PCR (Post Consumer Recycled) aluminum content of between 10% and 20% depending on the design, these products embody our shared commitment with Chanel Parfums Beauté to protecting the environment. In addition to recycled aluminum, we are working on “low-carbon” aluminum, produced using renewable energy, which limits its environmental impact. As part of a strategy to decarbonize and reduce our ecological footprint, these two options are real added value for beauty companies."

KEY DATES!

1948: Georges Pivaudran founds his metal processing company for caps, lids, and packaging in the perfume and cosmetics industry.

1962: Jacques Pivaudran, his son, joins the company, which is expanding into the fields of polishing and anodizing.

1972: Jacques and his brother Philippe take over the management of the company.

1984: The company begins exporting, particularly to the American market. The company will eventually generate up to 50% of its turnover overseas.

1990: Construction of a second production unit a few hundred meters from the head office.

1998: G. Pivaudran acquires shares in the Spanish company Tesem, expanding the SME’s offering.

2006: Marc Pivaudran, grandson of the founder, takes over the management of the company.

2011: A massive investment in assembly machinery launches the automation of production lines. An ambitious training program accompanies this.

2017: A new investment (€3.5 million) finances a building extension and the purchase of new, more modern equipment.

2018: A 3,000 m² industrial building is inaugurated, increasing production capacity.

2020: The SME obtains the EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label.

2024: A new automatic anodizing line is inaugurated in Souillac. This is the largest investment ever made since the company was founded.