Manutan & Sical Creil: a partnership for sustainable logistics
As part of its CSR strategy, Manutan Group, European leader in B2B e-commerce, has established a partnership with Sical Creil, a subsidiary of the Rossmann Group. This collaboration forms part of a broader approach aimed at moving towards more sustainable packaging solutions, while actively promoting the reuse of materials.
Two committed partners working to reduce their environmental footprint
A French, family-owned and independent group, Rossmann is one of Europe’s leading players in the corrugated cardboard packaging industry. The company is strongly committed to the responsible use of natural resources and to a circular economy approach designed to limit its environmental impact.
Since September 2025, Sical Creil, a subsidiary based in Nogent-sur-Oise (Oise), has become Manutan’s official cardboard supplier for the automated conveyor system at our European Distribution Centre in Gonesse (Val-d’Oise). All of the boxes supplied – around 700,000 units per year – are manufactured in France, FSC® C104831 certified, ensuring that the materials come from responsibly managed sources, and are 100% recycled and fully recyclable.
This is also a strong local partnership: only 41 kilometres separate our two sites. This proximity is expected to save more than 10,000 kilometres of transport each year, leading to a 73% reduction in CO₂ emissions.
Continuous improvement at the heart of the partnership
Both partners work together with a shared focus on efficiency and synergy. This began at the tender stage, with an eco-design study aimed at reducing waste at source. A functional analysis of packaging requirements made it possible to reduce the height of large-format boxes and, in doing so, cut down on the amount of material used.
The result is better-protected orders, more efficient use of space in delivery vehicles (less empty space transported) and an improved customer experience. Overall, this represents a potential saving of nearly 32 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year.
More recently, a recovery system has also been introduced for the wooden pallet collars used to stabilise pallets. Previously recycled, these collars are now reused by Sical Creil for other orders, with no additional transport required thanks to optimised return journeys. This initiative fully embodies the principles of the circular economy.
This partnership clearly demonstrates our determination to play an active role in contributing to a better planet. By combining innovation with responsibility, we are creating long-term value for our entire ecosystem.