CEME: measuring the environmental impact of electrical equipment
Context & Challenges
Groupe CEME, a long-established French player in electrical and mechanical engineering, has made sustainability a central pillar of its business strategy. Already certified ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, and rated Silver by EcoVadis (2024), the Group wanted to go further by quantifying the environmental impact of its own products. To strengthen its CSR approach and meet upcoming CSRD and eco-design requirements, CEME decided to measure the full carbon footprint and life-cycle impacts of two key products manufactured internally : an electrical junction system and an assembled electrical cabinet.
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Sector: electrical engineering & industrial services
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Activity: design, manufacturing, and maintenance of electrical and mechanical systems
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Revenues: ~€200 million
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Employees: ~1,000 across 20 operational entities in France
Approach & Methodology
The Needl expert designed a structured mission in three steps:
Step 1
Definition of objectives, study boundaries, and data-collection methodology. Training session for internal teams on LCA principles and data requirements. Preparation of data-collection templates and coordination with CEME’s QSE department.
Step 2
Collection and validation of production data across the two product lines. Modeling of full life-cycle inventories using EIME software, covering raw materials, manufacturing, logistics, use phase, and end-of-life. Calculation of environmental indicators (CO₂ eq, energy use, water consumption, material depletion, etc.). Sensitivity and data-quality analysis to ensure robustness of results.
Step 3
Consolidation of results into a standardized LCA report compliant with PEP ecopassport requirements. Identification of eco-design opportunities for material optimization and energy efficiency. Final debrief session with management to integrate findings into the Group’s sustainability roadmap.
Key Success Factors
- Cross-functional collaboration between engineering, production, and CSR teams
- Methodological rigor aligned with ISO 14044 and PEP ecopassport standards
- Action-oriented recommendations directly integrated into product design and procurement processes
- Reinforcement of CEME’s role as an industrial actor committed to low-carbon innovation
Results & Impacts
- Completion of two comprehensive LCAs providing a detailed understanding of environmental impacts across the product life cycle
- Identification of key emission drivers and priority reduction levers in materials and manufacturing processes
- Integration of eco-design practices into R&D and production workflows
- Strengthening of CEME’s CSR positioning and transparency, supporting its future CSRD reporting