·         A turnover of 377 million euros in the 1st quarter of 2008, up 12% over the past year

·         5,800 businesses and organizations with a workforce of more than 13,000 employees

·         Work value of €1.5 billion/year

·         8,000 new recruits each year and 2,400 students and apprentices in training

·         € 7.7 million invested in this sector, up 18% over the past year

 

Since several years the “BTP” sector has been the main engine of the Vaucluse economy.

 

Vast mineral resources make the Vaucluse a prime choice for manufacturers of building materials:

  • Largest gypsum bed in Europe
  • 4th French producer of silica sand, 9% of national production
  • Other minerals: limestone, alluvials, a wide variety of cutting stones as well as clays and ochres

Market leaders

·         Headquarters: GSE (European leader in logistics facilities); Lafarge Platres; KP1; Valerian; Bouisse CMBC; Haladjian, etc.

·         Production sites: Eiffage Construction, SIFRACO, SAINT-GOBAIN ISOVER, SAINT-GOBAIN SEPR, Lafarge Plaster, SBECM, etc..

·         R & D centers:

o        SAINT-GOBAIN - CREE (Centre de Recherche et d'Etude European): Cavaillon more than 200 researchers and engineers working on high-performance materials

o        LAFARGE PLATRES - Development Centre Technique de l'Activity Plaster: this location in Avignon, where the headquarters of the activity, strengthens the trade and synergies with the marketing and production
  



Construction in the Mediterranean region is subject to specific rules with regards to thermodynamics. Today, all market players recognize the need for innovation and training in this area.

  • Big companies have significantly increased their investment in the fields of low energy housing and eco-construction
  • Industry federations (FBTP, CAPEB) in association with chambers of commerce, frequently organize specialized training sessions in response to high demand from their members
  • Regional and local political institutions support the development of this sector with the creation of a regional innovation center 

EnviroBAT Méditerranée
The EnviroBAT Méditerranée association promotes and develops environment-friendly construction and urban planning operations within the Mediterranean region. It brings together players from all activities in the sector - construction: builders, local authorities, architects, engineering firms, artisans, businesses, landscape architects, urban planners ...

 

PRIDES Sustainable Buildings in the Mediterranean

The role of PRIDES (Regional Clusters for Innovation and Sustained Economic Development) is to bring together companies in the same sector of activity and promote their cooperation and development.
The launch of a PRIDES label for Sustainable Buildings in the Mediterranean is the result of the strategic synergies between the building and renewable energy industries in PACA. The Vaucluse General Council supports this PRIDES initiative which has a dedicated team based in the département.