Humens recognised in the Choiseul Conquérants 2025 ranking

Humens recognised among the pioneers of the sustainable transition in the Choiseul Conquérants 2025 ranking 

A distinction that underlines our environmental commitment 

On 3 June 2026, our President Christian Bouigeon attended the opening dinner of the 6th edition of the Choiseul Conquérants, organised by the Choiseul Institute at the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty. An evening that confirmed our place among the "pioneers of the sustainable transition". 

Mid-cap companies at the heart of French industrial sovereignty 

At the invitation of Sébastien Martin, Minister Delegate for Industry, more than 150 leaders of award-winning mid-cap companies (ETIs) gathered around the major challenges of industry and innovation. 

One theme ran through the discussions: the reindustrialisation of France, and the role mid-cap companies have to play in achieving it. As the minister noted, "reindustrialisation must be carried out with business leaders and within territories that support the consolidation of French and European economic sovereignty".

Humens among the companies shaping the future 

Unveiled at the end of 2025, the Choiseul Conquérants ranking distinguishes 200 French mid-cap companies (ETIs) each year that are firmly on the rise, positioned between start-ups and the large CAC 40 groups. 

This year, the ranking is organised into several categories. We were selected among the "pioneers of the sustainable transition", a recognition of our action for the environment. 

Decarbonisation, water, biodiversity: concrete action 

This distinction rewards a path we set out on long ago. Our CSR approach is advancing along several lines: reducing our greenhouse gas emissions, diversifying our energy mix, managing our water consumption and preserving biodiversity on and around our sites. 

Decarbonisation is playing out first and foremost at our historic Novacarb site, in Laneuveville-devant-Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle). For nearly 170 years, we have been producing sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate from salt and limestone. Novacarb's energy transition rests in particular on two flagship projects: 

• Novawood: a biomass cogeneration unit, commissioned in 2023 with Engie Solutions, producing heat and electricity from recovered wood. 

• Novasteam: a plant that turns solid recovered fuels (SRF) into renewable, local heat, developed with Suez. 

These two projects are set to cut the site's CO₂ emissions by 50% and allow us to phase out coal entirely by the end of 2026. Our approach does not stop at energy: it also covers water management, waste reduction and the preservation of biodiversity. Around the Lenoncourt salt concession, Novacarb looks after the health of the wetland and runs awareness-raising initiatives there. 

A recognition that commits us to the future 

From phasing out coal to the sustainable management of water and biodiversity, we are pursuing an environmental transition for the long term. The Choiseul Conquérants 2025 ranking salutes the direction we have taken and encourages us to go further. 

Discover Our CSR strategy - Humens