For nearly 15 years, we have been committed to building a sustainable future for all through efficient and environmentally friendly alternative materials. We are the first French association dedicated to the promotion of high performance industrial alternative materials.
Recycling of industrial mineral co-products
In the 20th century, industrialists became aware of the health, economic and environmental impacts of mass production waste, particularly in the construction industry. Thus, an obligation emerged: to process and value these co-products by transforming them into efficient industrial alternative materials, adapted to the specific needs of this industry.
Today, AFOCO is dedicated to optimizing the use of these alternative materials as secondary resources for the construction sector. AFOCO-affiliated companies are actively engaged in the modernisation of their facilities and laboratories, while ensuring that their staff are systematically trained. This approach aims to provide environmentally friendly and high-quality solutions to meet the requirements of the building industry.
Produce quality alternative materials
Choosing alternative industrial materials is a commitment to value the mineral co-products generated by industry. AFOCO member companies are at the forefront of developing processes to produce alternative materials that meet customer needs and expectations. Thanks to their extensive experience, they guarantee efficient and responsible production.
Valorize by ensuring performance and traceability
Maintaining a constant level of quality on alternative materials is fundamental for AFOCO-affiliated industrialists. This is why they guarantee:
- total traceability from primary producer to users,
- compliance with environmental acceptability guidelines SETRA/Cerema,
- compliance with specific user standards and requirements in the industrial process.
Preserving the environment and ensuring health impacts
In the face of the climate emergency, the BTP and industry sectors face two imperatives to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050: decarbonizing and recycling.
AFOCO's industrial development model enables:
- Preserving natural material resources by replacing alternative materials,
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by saving extraction and processing, energy, energy and release operations;
- Protect spaces by limiting waste storage areas and opening new quarries,
- Rehabilitating land by transforming former industrial waste disposal areas into constructable sites or recreational areas.
Innovate by changing techniques
In order to meet the needs of public or private contractors and businesses, new manufacturing processes are being developed by AFOCO member companies in permanent liaison with producers.
To meet each of their requests, they provide personalized and specific responses to their clients. The marketing of alternative materials is always carried out in a way of quality, transparency and compliance with technical and environmental standards.
The circular economy has become widespread in all sectors of industry and the efficiency of recycling of industrial mineral waste by AFOCO creates both economic and environmental value and contributes to revitalizing industry.
Train and inform users
AFOCO's dynamic ecosystem is a platform for exchange and innovation that captures the attention of new generations of researchers and entrepreneurs. Thanks to actions such as the Annual Technical Days, AFOCO creates an enabling environment for presenting the latest advances and discoveries in the field of alternative materials.
These events provide a unique opportunity for researchers and entrepreneurs to keep abreast of new trends, emerging technologies and practical applications of alternative materials. They also explore opportunities for collaboration, share innovative ideas and build successful partnerships.
By highlighting the benefits and potentials of alternative materials, AFOCO inspires and motivates researchers and entrepreneurs to engage in sustainability and innovation projects. This promotes a dynamic exchange of ideas, knowledge and good practices, thus contributing to the emergence of innovative solutions for the current environmental and economic challenges.
