A story of men and determination
They were fewer than 100 and cultivated 400 hectares, farmers already passionate about growing hemp. This was back in the 1960s.
They delivered their hemp straw to their only client at the time: a paper mill (SA des Papeteries BOLLORÉ) located in Troyes.
When the mill closed, determined to continue cultivating and producing to meet the demand of the paper market, they decided to form a cooperative, LA CHANVRIÈRE DE L’AUBE, on February 15, 1973.
From that date, passion would drive the company’s development:
In the first decade, decortication lines were developed. The number of producers grew rapidly: by 1977, there were already 273 producers cultivating 2,580 hectares.
By 1985, LA CHANVRIÈRE began entering the equine bedding sector, registering the AUBIOSE brand, now recognized throughout Europe.
In 1987, the cooperative established a production contract with its farmers, introducing quality-based payments. This gave the crop a new lease on life: from 2,639 hectares in 1992, the cultivated area grew to 4,336 hectares by 1994, and has continued to expand ever since.
Despite a fire in 1994 that destroyed the offices and storage facility, and a temporary reduction in cultivated areas, LA CHANVRIÈRE, driven by the determination of its members, took its first steps into the construction industry with “hempcrete.”
A new milestone in its development came in 1997, with the installation of a second production line to manufacture technical fibers for the automotive industry.
In 1998, it founded the CONSTRUIRE EN CHANVRE Association. In 2001, LA CHANVRIÈRE partnered with the Interval Group to establish AFT PLASTURGIE, focusing on the development of hemp fiber reinforced compounds for plastic applications.
That same year, LA CHANVRIÈRE received authorization to market hemp oil, produced from seeds harvested across 6,000 hectares at the time.
During the following decade, in 2003, the cooperative played a key role in the creation of INTERCHANVRE and the HEMP TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, providing the industry with its own structures, where both producers and processors could collaborate.
In 2007, it established FRD (Fibre Recherche Développement), serving as a vital interface between fiber producers and materials manufacturers.
On the commercial front, LA CHANVRIÈRE strengthened its market share in mulching, small animal bedding, and the construction and insulation sectors.
Investments in production and packaging equipment enabled the cooperative to offer a wide range of new products, catering to both B2C and B2B markets, solidifying its position as a key reference for clients and prospects.
In 2004, it launched its own subsidiary, AUBIOSE LIMITED, to expand into the British equine bedding market.
The cooperative spirit continues to guide the decisions of LA CHANVRIÈRE, with a focus on anticipating market trends.
As Georges Bernanos once said, « To build the future, not endure it ! »
