The Manutan Group’s Product Environmental Impact Score methodology reaches a major milestone with the Bureau Veritas assessment
The Manutan Group, a leading European B2B e-commerce player specialising in the distribution of equipment and supplies to businesses and public-sector organisations, has set itself a dual objective: to support its customers in making more responsible purchasing decisions and to foster supplier engagement in an eco-design approach.
Two years after launching its Product Environmental Impact Score a market-leading rating system focused on the environmental footprint of products the Group is strengthening its approach through an independent assessment of its methodology by Bureau Veritas, a globally recognised auditing body.
A robust methodology assessed by Bureau Veritas
Launched in 2023, the Product Environmental Impact Score aims to provide an environmental rating index ranging from A to E. Based on the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology developed by the European Commission, this scoring system informs users about the impact of products throughout their entire life cycle going beyond carbon footprint alone by taking into account 16 environmental indicators. These include impacts on climate change, resource depletion, fine particulate emissions into the air, and human health. This initiative encourages more responsible purchasing behaviour among customers while supporting suppliers in their eco-design efforts.
In autumn 2024, Bureau Veritas, a globally recognised independent auditor, carried out an assessment of the Score’s methodology. This verification confirms:
- the methodological framework of the Environmental Impact Score;
- the scientific and technical validity of the rating method (A–E);
- the transparency of the approach and the clarity of communication to customers and suppliers.
“At a time when regulations are becoming more stringent and our customers are expecting more responsible solutions, we chose to have our system assessed by Bureau Veritas. This approach enables us to measure the maturity of our methodology and to help raise market standards beyond the sole measurement of CO₂ emissions. The Manutan Group is the first B2B distributor to offer such a level of transparency on the environmental impact of the products it sells, guaranteeing the reliability of the information,” emphasises Xavier Guichard, President of the Manutan Group.
“The Environmental Impact Score has been a real lever in structuring our decarbonisation support. The independent assessment carried out by Bureau Veritas recognises the rigour of our methodology. It also provides genuine reassurance, offering a reliable benchmark to engage our customers and suppliers on a more responsible trajectory,” explains Marine Varret, Head of Sustainable Development for Offer and Supply Chain.
A pioneering initiative led by the Manutan Group, leader in B2B e-commerce
For the past two years, the Manutan Group has rolled out its Environmental Impact Score across more than 33,000 products in its range, spanning multiple categories (furniture, industrial supplies, hygiene products, office supplies, packaging, trolleys, storage bins, skips, worktops, etc.). In the longer term, the Group aims to extend the score to its entire catalogue, representing nearly one million product references.
This strategic project is designed to support one of the Manutan Group’s key transformation objectives: offering a more responsible product range, while guaranteeing the reliability of information and its compliance with current and future French and European regulations. In this respect, a study conducted in May 2025 among 250 customers revealed that 87% consider the score useful or very useful for their purchasing decisions, and 80% already use it or plan to do so.
As part of its environmental strategy, the Manutan Group is stepping up its actions to meet its carbon neutrality objectives by 2050 and to accelerate the ecological transition. Among the initiatives underway, the Group launched the Circular Economy Hub in 2024, an integrated reuse centre dedicated to used professional furniture aimed at extending product lifespans.